Chunk of metal in engine!!

[Big Papa]

My wife owns a 2002 Solara. I had the oil changed yesterday, and once they screwed off the oil cap there was a big chunk of metal. So we removed the top of the intake to get down were the timing chain & cams were and it was a piece of metal that broke off from the lining of the top of the intake? After further investigation, no other metal found was found, so we put everythng back together and refilled with fresh oil.

After looking at this piece, there were marks to were something was rubbing against it and it chipped off. I'm assuming it was the timing chain, the cams lobes looked fine. How could this happen? The car has never once gave us any problems with 65K on the odo? Never been wrecked, driven hard, & always cared for. It drives fine, and I hear no noise coming from the motor.

Taking a trip to the dealer this weekend to find out what could of happened, or what is about to happen to our beloved Toyota.

Any suggestions?

[noodlerooney]

I assume you have the 2AZ-FE since you mentioned a timing chain. Are you sure it's not part of the oil baffle that's in the valve cover, it covers about half of the oil filler hole. I have heard that the oil baffle can be broken if someone jams a metal oil filler hose into the oil filler hole. I think there was a TSB about this...

[Big Papa]

Hmmm. That might be a possible. This piece was broke off right near the oil cap hole. Maybe after many serveral oil changes, finally someone hit it hard enough to bend this piece down, and was scraped the timing chain and broke off. Well, I've driven the car for three days after this happened, and it drives fine. I don't hear any loose or grinding noises in the intake. That could of well be it.

[marc780]

Argument #1,000,578 for changing your own oil: Neanderthal humans are sometimes disguised as mechanics!

[WortownSolara]

^^^ Roflmao!