Small ring in oil screen

[Skates97]

O360 A1D 

Pulled the oil screen during annual today and found this small ring in it. Very light metal with a small break/gap in the ring. Sent the pick to my AP/IA who sent it to his engine shop and they said this engine doesn't have that part in it. 

Possible it's been just floating in the pan since overhaul 1700 hours ago? I don't pull the screen in oil changes but this is the third time during annual and first time I've found anything. 

[ArtVandelay]

WAG, it’s a ring from a handle of a tool.


Tom

[takair]

Strange.  Only other point of entry seems to be through the oil filler tube.  Don’t recall any oil bottles or adaptive switch such a thing...but i have wondered if the plastic ring that locks the cap on...and on occasion stays around the bottle neck...could ever end up in the sump.

[Skates97]

I have heard of that happening with that plastic ring. I always make sure it's not still on the bottle before I pour the oil in. 

[Prior owner]

A piece of Spark plug heli-coil? But how would it get into the pan on a healthy engine? Is it small enough to fit into the filler tube opening? Seal retainer for magneto oil seal..?
 

Edited December 22, 2019 by PilotCoyote

[Skates97]

Very small, here's it next to a dime for comparison. 

[takair]

It’s some kind of circlip.  I’ve seen them in some connectors, but also in a quick drain. Have you had issues with your oil quick drain?  Here is an example.  Look near the top of the drain.  The size looks right.

[Skates97]

That could be, I had a small leak from it about six months ago and had my mechanic change it out. Had him replace it with this one. Has a cap that seals it off in addition to the actual valve. Only catch is to not lose the adapter to drain it with but that just stays in my small tool box that I keep in the plane. 

https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/eppages/saf_airF62.php

 

[EricJ]

I recently replaced my quick-drain and was just gonna say that looks like the circlip that retains the core.   It'd easily wind up in the screen.   Probably did zero damage on its way there, unless you've been doing aerobatics or something.

 

 

[RLCarter]

+1 on the clip off the quick drain....

[carusoam]

Nice Sleuth work, Rob!

If we were keeping score, you get a 10 for that one!

-a-

[FloridaMan]

It’s a good thing you’ve got a screen. The pump would have not liked that. 

[Skates97]

10 hours ago, FloridaMan said:

It’s a good thing you’ve got a screen. The pump would have not liked that. 

I was thinking the exact same thing. With the screen, no harm done.

I will say that the initial feeling in my gut when I pulled the screen and that fell out of it was not good... Initial relief when my AP/IA said his engine shop told him that is not an actual part of the engine followed up by Rob identifying it.

[Marauder]

34 minutes ago, Skates97 said:

I was thinking the exact same thing. With the screen, no harm done.

I will say that the initial feeling in my gut when I pulled the screen and that fell out of it was not good... Initial relief when my AP/IA said his engine shop told him that is not an actual part of the engine followed up by Rob identifying it.

Think of it as an early Christmas present. The Grinch could have given you a part of your cam instead.