Hey,

I have plastic peices and felt in my last oil change. It’s a 92 Dakota 3.9. No idea what this is but it seems bad. Anyone know what it could be?

 

IDK of any way stuff like that could fall out of the motor into the oil pan. It might be the result of a sloppy mechanic changing the timing chain. When you do that the front top of the oil pan is exposed. Stuff may have fallen in if the guy wasn't careful.

 

That's all I can figure. It entered through the fill port on the valve cover...accidentally. Don't see any other way plastic could get in there.

 

How many miles on the engine? Specifically the timing chain set. I'm not sure if they still had nylon covering on the timing gears but if they did,they get old and come apart. Check your timing for slop. It my be time for timing set.

 

There is a Technical Service Bulletin for adding a chain tensioner. I added one when I had it apart for the plenum and it had a black plastic or nylon guide. That plastic or nylon might be the guide having worn out? IDK about the felt.

 

I've put the tensioner in engines before. I quit talking about it quite a while back when trolls kept telling me there wasn't a tensioner in there. Since you have to take the timing cover off to put it in, it would be time for a new chain set too. I put one in a '94 Ram 1500 with the 3.9 and there was a LOT of chain rattle. New chain set and tensioner, and mileage jumped from 17 mpg to 24. The engine warmed up properly and the heat that winter would cook you.

 

I also put in a double roller. I only get 15mpg which is more than twice what it got when I bought it. But I keep a 180 thermostat in it because it just gets too hot with the 195 especially in summer.