Metal in oil detroit 12.7 (pictures)

Well the air compressor does drain return oil through into the case where it bolts to it. There’s a couple acess covers on the front cover. You could take them off, bar engine over looking for broken teeth on the gears. I’m not a mechanic myself. Just guessing. Did you see all 6 oil nozzles still in place? Sure does look like pieces of an oil nozzle.

 

There is an ISM here with about 400,000 miles. It had some junk like that on the magnetic drain plug a few years agne owner and inframed once a year or so after that. It is still running and no more junk?
Maybe just check your plug regular and make a decision.

 

bull gear teeth

 

I see you figured it out.

If you stick a magnet to it and it is metal it is gearing from the front (bull gear, compressor, etc..) If non metallic that is when it could be bearings. Or at least that has always been the case when I found anything in a 12.7 pan. Now I have had the nozzle break off of piston oilers and found them but they were complete tubes and a big drop in oil pressure.

 

Bull gear is really not all that hard to do just a lot of work to get to it

 

Good you caught it before it went out and destroyed all the gears and possibly the valves hit pistons. Probably saved a potential $5000 or more worth of damage to the head and Labor. Was typically $2000 Labor. That was at an estimated 20 hrs. Detroit reman $900-$1300. It’s been 3 yrs. Glad you caught it. You got Lucky.

 

If you want to do it yourself, and need info. Check this guy out on YouTube. He’s good.