Have had the motor out for a while to replace pan gaskets and check VVT noise. Finally took the pan off today and inspected things. Found some debris that looks like a plastic bearing retainer but I can't think of where a standard ball bearing would reside anywhere at all internally and even if it did it would never have a plastic ball retainer.

Could it be anything from an oil filter?

What could this be?

 

Turbo?

--Ian

 

...double post

 

pretty sure thats a cage from a bearing. even wheel bearing use a plastic cage. most probable to me- the front bearing in the oil pump.

 

Having installed a BE oil pump and spending time debating it's purchase price I studied it for a while. The only moving parts are the large steel pump gear and then the relief valve component's.

Maybe I dropped something inside the bottom end during assembly years ago? If it was a bearing where is the evidence of the steel *****? I've never seen anything more than metal paste in my magnetic drain plug. I might cut open the oil filter and see if anything noticeable is in there. I can't think of what I have worked on in the last many years with just a plastic bearing cage sitting loose then I magically flipped it up into the air.

Is this my own "Junior Mints" episode?