Metal in oil detroit 12.7 (pictures)

Has that engine ever been inframed? Is it still running great? Reason I ask is 3 years ago I had a 3/4” long piece of piston ring come out of the pan during an oil change on an old 855 Cummins we have. Had me freaked out but the engine was and still is running like a top. It had been inframed back some 30 years ago and best I could figure is that little piece was stuck somewhere in the block out of sight and wasn’t cleaned out during the overhaul and after all that time finally made its way down to the pan plug.

 

I hear ya! Took a while for me to relax.

 

I'd be pulling the valve cover. Check the bushings and gears on the oil pump too.

 

i drove a 12.7 detroit threw metal shavings and pieces for 2 years. finally sold it, other guy still uses as a farm truck 6-7 years later

 

Maybe pull the pan if you haven’t already, Might be a piece of the thrust washer that fell out, kind of looks like a piece of an oil squirted nozzle, or the bracket part of the nozzle. maybe something off the oil pump, if that’s even possible. Might get lucky, and avoid serious damage.