I went to harbor frieght today to get some new feeler gauges to do a valve adjustment, and after I was all done with the adjustment I realized that the nut has come off the bolt that holds off the feeler gauges togeather. So I looked my *** off and found the nut in a small crevice in the #4 cylender valve spring area. So I was really happy I got it out. Then I put it all back togeather and crank it over, and I hear this rattling/knocking sound from the engine a few times a second, kinda randomly. So I immedialtly turn off the car and look at the package that the feeler gauges came out of and see that there is a washer imprint as well as a nut imprint(vaccum sealed plastic). So I removed the valve cover again and took the cams out and lifted up the LMA's and couldn't find anything. So next I'm thinking it fell in the spark plug whole which was open for the reason of getting rid of compression to turn the engine over for TDC. The nut fell right next to the whole for the spark plug, so I think the washer might have gone down there, or hopefully made it's way down to the oil pan, but I'm really not sure. I did hear a rattle/knock but the engine idled fine - it was only on for 5-6 seconds. Could it be that the little *** washer fell into the combustion chamber, and if so any tips on getting it out? The head looks perfect so I doubt it in there, but any tips on checking this out? Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks guys, it's been a sucky day

By the way, this is on my 91 Si w/b18c1

 

Sorry about the horrible night.

I am not too familiar with how the oil flows through the head, but one thought is that it could have escaped the head and is in the oil galleys. Only way to check is to remove the oil pan and windage tray. [Bummer]

[fingers crossed] I hope it's not in a cylinder, as that could wreak havoc on a valve. I don't hav any ideas how to check this, but you can buy [or have a freind pick one up on the way oveer] a magnetic extendible pen. It's just a pen that extends like a pointer with a magnet on the end. This could help for proping the cylinder.

On the same note, you can get a large magnet and pull it along the oil pan towards the drain plug, as if your were drawing radiused lines towards the drain plug.

Best Luck to you.

Anyone familiar with the oil flow in a B18C1?

 

Good ideas man. Thanks for the tips. I'm going to get a magnetic probe thing like you said and probe the cylender as well as the oil pan. The stupid washer is only like a 1/4" in diameter and like .010" thick. It sucks that all this is because of a tool that I just bought
Thanks again, I know I'll figure it out, but it just sucks doing this stuff because I was just about to get my car tuned on wednesday and I just ran out of money.
---Evan