So, about a year ago, I started a thread about my Vortech sedan being close to getting tuned. However, since then, life again, popped up so it went on the backburner for a year.

In the last 2 weeks, I finally got my gauges wired up, sent the DW 600cc injectors out for cleaning and testing, installed them and was finishing up the spark plug installation. On the final one (Cyl #6) I was able to crack the ceramic on the OEM plug. After fishing out some of the ceramic and removing the old plug, another piece fell into the actual cylinder. So, I got it towed this past Thursday to Project Import to have them remove the dropped ceramic, and then to finally get it tuned via UpRev.

Got a call back, they told me that they were able to remove the ceramic, but found some fine metal pieces within the cylinder. After some discussion, I was laid with 2 options:

1. crank it, and hope the high pressure blows out the particles to the low pressure areas, or

2. spend roughly $1800 to remove head, clean everything out and reassemble.

In both scenarios, they obviously aren't able to guarantee that any metal would have fallen between the piston and cylinder. So....I decided to have them go with Option #1 and hope for the best. If its worse case scenario, I'll need to replace the block. I figured I'd rather use the $1800 to a built short block, than to simply clean out some shrapnel. Probably not a good idea, but oh well.

Wish me luck, I should have some more updates early next week.

 

Can they not pour oil through the spark plug and the vac it out? Wash rinse repeat until happy

 

from how it was explained to me, he said that their main concern is if any shrapnel may have gone past the pistons, into an area where they can't access without an entire disassembly.

 

Once its past the pistion its down in your oil pan. Change your oil by pulling the lower pan...clean everything you see that sparkles.

 

How big is this metal shaving? And assuming that they are (relatively) big they won't get to the oil filter because they wont get past the pickup screen...in which case they will fall out when you drain your oil next round...

Similar to what Cux says, can you get a shop vac and rig-up a small hose that would slide through the spark plug hole and into the cylinder and pull out any debris?

On a long term note - I would suggest you read up on removing the heads yourself...take that $1800 and pay someone to shadow you doing the work...I would think of many many mechanics that would take $1000 to watch you work and make sure you don't f' anything up. In reality, it's not that hard...

 

Another ******** shop.


Go buy a shop vac, and vacuum it out yourself. Pour some oil in there and suck it all out a few times. Rinse a gallon of oil through the block. Let the block over fill and drain, a few times. Buy a cheap USB boroscope webcam and look for debris. Or even rent a nice one. For a couple hundred bucks you could do a pretty good job inspecting and cleaning the thing. Look for scarring on the walls too to tell how bad the damage is.
For the vaccum just get a 1/4" hose and duct tape it real good to a shopvacc extension.

They're literally being asshats.

Or just tow the car home, and learn how to remove your head yourself. Don't pay them 1,800 for that. They're trying to Jew you. Yeah labor and time might be that much, but that's one of their ways to hitch the price on you.

I've seen this kind of stuff before. And once they get away with something like that, the pain train keeps rolling, and in no time your bank account is dry.

 

I totally agree, there are certainly many different ways you could go about doing this. I wouldn't waste your money taking the engine apart! Best of luck, I'm sure you can fix it without too much hassle. Next time I change my plugs I am going to be extremely careful!

 

my thought...

 

Exactly


Once I had a washer fall down into an open spark plug hole. Couple of Neodymium magnets from home depot later it was out.

Just be creative. Even your most elaborate ideas will cost less than the price they want

 

Thanks for the replies. As for outcome: they were able to blow out and vacuum the particles. They also inspected my car and did a smoke test to double check my install, since it's my first time ever wrenching on a car. They found a few vacuum leaks, which they have resolved. Long story short: tuning scheduled for Friday at Church Auto!

 

To add to this when scope, oil swap, shop vac which meh they all work dufferently based on price we know....from 05 maxima winter dd yrs ago, massive failure on spark plug, shrapnel everywhere...got 97% of it through above methods....turn over hope for the best...rattle Shi^ still a piece.....old goat says ahh **** it, itll blow out....and assuredly 3 miles down the rd...no cats obv, rattle stopped.
So, theres all sorts but through that awful 4-6hrs+ of BS you learn a lot about internals, density and etc...pistons were fine, but TAKE heed and your time removing any plug ever bc they aint built like they used to be

 

Awesome, great everything turned out ok with you. Good luck with your tune!