Funny thing came out of the oil pan the other day...

[OldReliable]

Changing the oil on my ranger (2000 3.0L V6 Flex) these two guys came out with the waste oil (See Attachment). It looks like a ball bearing and a metal plug. This certainly can't be a good thing, but I'm not sure what engine component it came from. The truck runs like the juggernaut she is. Any ideas on what's about to break?

Thanks!

 

[RonD]

Looks like parts from the oil pressure relief valve.

Couldn't find a diagram for the 3.0l, but basically the relief valve consists of a ball held in place by a spring and cap, as RPMs go up oil pump produces too much oil and pressure pushes the ball open and some of the oil flows back into the oil pan instead of to the oil filter.
This can be part of the oil pump housing or located on the main oil passage to the oil filter.

I would watch oil pressure closely, maybe test with mechanical oil pressure gauge.

 

[ab_slack]

I was going to say, you can't watch the pressure unless you have an actual gauge. The one in the cluster is faked so even if your pressure ends up low, as long as it is some minimal amount the gauge shows half scale. So don't let the dash gauge fool you into thinking all is well.

 

[Rearanger]

If those parts are from YOUR oil pressure relief valve then you'd have no oil pressure at all - not even the faux gauge. Maybe factory joke/mis-assemble.

 

[OldReliable]

I guess next steps are to hook up a mechanical oil pressure gauge.

Where would I even find the oil pressure relief valve to verify its integrity? Drop the oil pan?

Thanks for the help folks!

 

[Kowboy]

Possibly someone put in a few magnets? Just a SWAG.

 

[Rearanger]

Where would I even find the oil pressure relief valve to verify its integrity? Drop the oil pan?

Oil pressure relief valve is a normally closed valve with a spring keeping it closed. If those parts are from the valve you'd have no oil pressure.

 

[kimcrwbr1]

I know oil filters have a pressure relief/bypass built in not aware of anything that would prevent oil from getting oil to the crank. It is possible someone just dropped them while the valve covers were off?

 

[RiggerWings]

I have seen something on an F150 tranny pan, it was a plug put in at the factory to block oil from coming out until everything was mated and the dipstick was installed. Once the dipstick was installed the plug would fall out and just sit in the oil pan. That could be what you have, but not positive. Not sure why it would have a ball in there as well. maybe it's the ball from the oil filter bypass. Next time you do an oil change verify that oil is actually cycling through the oil filter. Hopefully the filter wont be dry when you remove it.

Not sure if that helps, just my $.02.

 

[NIPs]

If u have a scanner and select global obd2 it read actual measurements, if a component is out of spec a lil bit but not so BAd to send a code then the computer will make up fake readings in order to keep itself happy, global obd2 is the readings that reading b4 the computer fakes it

Sent from my ME173X using Tapatalk

 

[KnockKnock]

I have seen something on an F150 tranny pan, it was a plug put in at the factory to block oil from coming out until everything was mated and the dipstick was installed. Once the dipstick was installed the plug would fall out and just sit in the oil pan. That could be what you have, but not positive. Not sure why it would have a ball in there as well. maybe it's the ball from the oil filter bypass. Next time you do an oil change verify that oil is actually cycling through the oil filter. Hopefully the filter wont be dry when you remove it.

Not sure if that helps, just my $.02.

This is exactly what I thought of. I remember dropping the trans-pan & searching for what/why there was a mystery what's-it in with the fluid on my F150. ...though, I would think that if this were nearly as common, then there would be nearly as much info on it, right?