Mystery Items Found in Oil Pan

[tetragrahamaton]

Just yanked my oil pan to install a time-sert in the drain hole, and found this stuff floating around at the bottom:

http://imgur.com/a/hAH7V

The plastic bit is from that shroud thing that sits in the pan, I'm pretty sure, but I have no clue what the metal pieces are. Does anyone recognize them? They don't look like engine parts to me, especially the one that says TAIWAN, but then how the heck did they get in there I wonder?

 

[Votblindub]

That's like a fastener/strap from something o.0

 

[Enabled]

Looks a lot like a spring toggle https://www.google.com/search?q=spring+toggle&tbm=isch

or a gravity toggle https://www.google.com/search?q=gravity+toggle&tbm=isch


Both of which I'll never know where they could possibly belong....

 

[belome]

I swear I've seen a different thread with the same issue, but I can't find it.

 

[belome]

Here you go

http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=284173&highlight=taiwan

 

[TDI smile]

Somebody must have put that in the pan during lunch, when they put the engine together.... Who knows what is in my oilpan?

 

[gforce1108]

Funny that belome referenced another thread I posted in At some point somebody definitely had one of those quick fix oil plugs in there. The only way to remove it completely is to drop the pan.

 

[Jet 02]

Suzie homemaker stops the oil leak.

That looks like the nut portion of a toggle bolt.
Hmm, fender washer , rubber washer and a toggle bolt to temporary fix a stripped drain plug.
That's my guess

 

[muzy]

Yikes

 

[tetragrahamaton]

Thanks belome! Mystery solved. I love this forum.

 

[Herm TDI]

Who ever would use something like this in any engine is an idiot.

Universal oil drain plug my arse

 

[turbocharged798]

Usually the same people who use coolant leak stop and compression fittings on brake lines....

 

[325_Guy]

Usually the same people who use coolant leak stop and compression fittings on brake lines....

Yes, but those make for the best threads!

OP: I had X malfunction
Forum: This is what you need to do (info complied from dudes with combined decades of experience with TDI engines)
OP: Ok cool, good info but not interested, my friend with the Acura says this: (insert eBay part replacement / halfass repair here)
Forum: Noooooo!
OP: it's all good!
.....
OP: um, had an engine runaway...where do I get new rods? prothe? I saw a turbo on alibaba...

 

[gforce1108]

I have seen one of those in use in person - it's the only reason I knew what it was. My sister in law's brother brought me his Chrysler pacifica for a oil change shortly after he bought it and it had one of these contraptions on it. What a PITA... It can't be removed - you just loosen it and let the oil drain. Then hope it stays tight enough when you are done.

He still had it on the car 100k later when his son wrecked it.

 

[mittzlepick]

why not put a new pan on instead of a timesert? under 40 bucks

 

[MateoCicoria]

You can use compression fittings on brake lines? Tell me more.

 

[gforce1108]

You can use compression fittings on brake lines? Tell me more.

NO! he was being sarcastic.

 

[JB05]

Nice find, belome and gforce. I never knew such a thing existed.