Unknown part in oil pan

[frankahola08]

I pulled my oil pan today and found no metal filings but I found a small freeze plug about the size of a nickle. Any clue where it may belong and is it important? I have attached a photo any help would be appreciated.

[wvicary]

The cylinder head has a plug about that size but I think if it blew out you would have coolant/oil mix as it's under the valve cover area.

[JFP in PA]

The cylinder head has a plug about that size but I think if it blew out you would have coolant/oil mix as it's under the valve cover area.

That's what I was thinking; if any of the plugs in the engine came out, there should be "consequences", but you haven't mentioned any. I wonder if it was an "extra" left in there when the unit was assembled?

[frankahola08]

The cylinder head has a plug about that size but I think if it blew out you would have coolant/oil mix as it's under the valve cover area.

That's what I was thinking; if any of the plugs in the engine came out, there should be "consequences", but you haven't mentioned any. I wonder if it was an "extra" left in there when the unit was assembled?

It does look like it may have never been used, the only place that I think it could have come from is perhaps the in the return oil galley from the head to the oil sump. I have attached more photos tell me what you think.

[Topless]

The cylinder head has a plug about that size but I think if it blew out you would have coolant/oil mix as it's under the valve cover area.

That's what I was thinking; if any of the plugs in the engine came out, there should be "consequences", but you haven't mentioned any. I wonder if it was an "extra" left in there when the unit was assembled?

+1

It doesn't look like it was ever pressed in. Like a clamp that a medical doctor left in a patient during surgery... it happens. It just went along for an extended oil pan ride and luckily didn't trash the motor.