Found In My Oil Pan

Found this in my lower oil pan today, it's plastic. Anybody recognize it?

 

Is that plastic?

 

Oh sorry, yes it is, should have said that.

 

Looks like a piece of timing chain guide.

 

Oh, lovely

 

Looks like the bottom part of a chain guide, lower area near the sprocket.

 

That begs the question then, should I even bother putting oil back in it yet? I wouldn't think the chain would be going bad at 178k miles but who knows

 

I would start googling images for everything you can think of, including timing chain stuff. You should be able to narrow it down. Send pic to car care nut guy on you tube?

 

What made you pull the pan? ALready showing some sort of symptoms?

 

Pan had a dent and I am suspicious of a dropped valve, wanted to see what was in there.

 

My first thought was timing chain guide as well.

 

I'll take you as the final word. Looked at some pics of parts earlier and saw what must be it. Do you think it's trouble?

 

That's the $10000 question. That part could've been in your oil pan for years, or for an hour. I must admit I'd have a hard time tearing everything apart to fix that if there's no other signs of anything wrong or anything else (like the case) wearing badly. Course with that part gone the timing chain may have undesirable slop and if it falls off your engine could get fucked... Despite that I'd still have a hard time pulling everything to fix it. Your call how you wanna bet

 

This my current trouble, not sure it could be related though - https://www.tundras.com/threads/rich-hard-start-the-ongoing-struggle.155667/

 

I don't think so. I don't think there's anything noticable or even happening from that guide piece falling off.