Metal In Cylinder z482 Engine

[bazlow]

This is a wierd one to me. A month ago, my excavator started making a slight ticking sound. Listening around with a stethoscope it sounded like it was coming from the #2 cylinder exhaust and I though it might be a vavle making the sound. I kept an eye on it for a couple of days and then on day 3 it started sounding louder. I pulled the engine and stuck another engine in the excavator and today I got the engine on a stand and started checking things out. It looks like a piece of metal found its way into the cylinder and the piston is pretty messed up. Surprizingly, the cylinder wall looks pretty good. It still has its cross hatching and there is not major wear or scoring. The bearings on the #2 cylinder look good. As do the rings. I am going to get a new piston but my question is what could have caused that? I though maybe a valve seat but they look fine. Pictures follow.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

What does the glow plug look like?

 

[Russell King]

Or maybe the injector tip? What does it look like?

Can you post a picture of the object or is it too far gone?

Is the air filter is in place and not damaged?

 

[bazlow]

What does the glow plug look like?

Pulled both of the glow plugs and they are fine. I did see however that the piston on the cylinder with the metal has a small chip of metal broken off on the bottom side. I wonder if this was a manufacturing QA miss since I cannot see how the metal would get from the bottom end into the cylinder.

 

[bazlow]

Or maybe the injector tip? What does it look like?

Can you post a picture of the object or is it too far gone?

Is the air filter is in place and not damaged?

I will pull the injectors. As for the piece of metal. If you look at the picture ending in 256 above which is the closeup of the piston, I think the metal is the long thin piece you see at the appx 1:00 position on the piston. I think it gets embedded and then breaks free and moves periodically??? Also, the air filter is in place and pretty new.

 

[ruger1980]

Looks like a piece of wire or something in that shape. I would be checking out the air cleaner and intake tract for any possible broken pieces.

As far as the piston I would check the piston height at TDC and compare to the other pistons. If the bottom of the piston skirt is broken it's very possible you could have a bent rod.

 

[whitetiger]

I would bet it is a piece of piston ring.

 

[ruger1980]

I also forgot to mention that I would have the valves and seats checked or replaced on that hole. They are more than likely bent from interference.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

I also forgot to mention that I would have the valves and seats checked or replaced on that hole. They are more than likely bent from interference.

Techniccly speaking that head is trashed.
Can you still use it yes, your just not going to get solid performance out of it.
The compression numbers will suffer a little too, thus effecting performance.