Club Triumph

My Sprint engine, will the oil filter have stopped the swarf getting into the mains and ends ?

Thats the question ?

Any opinions, am I safe to leave the bottom end or does it need to come apart ?

hmmn tricky one that.

Yes it should, I would say - assuming it's not been blocked to the point that the bypass valve operated.

if you have the standard filter, have a look to see what is in the bottom of the pot, also pull the paper element apart - should give you some idea.  

However, I would expect that most of your swarf would have ended up in the sump - if mine, I would be wanting to pull that off to make sure it's fully cleaned out. If you have the sump off, then you may as well pop a few caps off for a reality check on the shells anyway!  With the sump off, you can flush downwards from the jackshaft area, again for piece of mind.  

More work I know, but you are going to keep/use the car, so no real point in cutting corners, other than your tight deadline - good luck!

You know you will never be happy about this unless you strip it down.  :X

The vast majority, if not all of the swarf should have been caught by the filter.  As Mike has already said, the only way past is if the bypass has opened and that should only happen if the filter was clogged.  The oil pump may well be knacked though - that could have been damaged by swarf small enough to be picked up in the oil, but too large to slip through the tolerances.  If the pump is very chewed up I'd probably remove the sump to inspect the shells.

Nick

The issue is that there's no practical way to drop the sump on a dolomite with the engine in situ  :-/

There's no clearance between the sump and the subframe, and the subframe supports the engine.

There were traces of fine metal in the oil filter and the bottom of the filter bowl.

Its what has got past the filter, and how much of the fine bits have lodged in the bearings and will be gently grinding away at the crank.

I'd prefer to strip it all, (which is the right way as Richard says) but its a question of time for the HCR

as I said decisions  / decisions.

I have a spare engine I want to rebuld long term, and I don't want to waste money on a temporary fix now when I have plans for the spare engine for the future

I forgot to mention the ooil pump, being on the outside of the block, that should come out in situ.  Worth a look.

If it's any help consolation, on Stag, Sprint, and a couple of 1850s' of mine, both current and previous, at every oil change I have always found a small quantity of grey sludge with metallic fines in the bottom of the filter pot....

Only ever pulled a filter apart once, again a few fines found in it.  

A magnetic sump plug (aka gearbox) could be your friend  :-)

If you do nothing then it will always be a risk but if you are treating the engine as sacrifical to some extent as you are planning rebuilding of another, maybe you could be prepared to take that gamble.

Have you got a "plan B" for the HCR?  

I've pulled the oil pump, its Ok, a few fine marks, but I will replace it anyway.

Plan B is the Stag

I second what Carl has said about dropping the sump in situ which would be a quick and easy way to check the bearings. An alternative to a magnetic sump plug would be to use a flat magnet on the sump. If the crank bearings are fine then you should put some cheapo oil in once you've rebuilt the engine and change it after a few hundred miles and refill with some quality engine oil. I recommend the Millers engine oil. I've already got some for the oil change I'm going to do on the 1850 if I ever get the chance.