When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Oil Squirter / Sprayer came loose and found in oil pan
R56 with 60k miles. During a timing chain replacement the mechanic dropped the oil pan and found an oil sprayer nozzle. Not good. I’m running the car without an oil sprayer in one cylinder as this shop would not attempt to replace it from beneath. Has anyone run their engine without an oil sprayer cooling the underside of the piston? Any oil pressure issues?
Last edited by RedlineR56; Jun 25, 2025 at 07:35 AM.
Reason: Edited to make more concise
I don't see why it couldn't be done with the engine in the car.......I changed rings and bearing with the block still in the vehicle....
That was my thought as well. I requested the shop to do this and they declined. They wanted to do a complete tear down of the engine and when I heard this I asked for the car back.
I’ve since seen a video of an R53 oil sprayer replacement done from below and I’ve ordered a new sprayer and oil pan gasket and will search for the right shop in South Florida to do the work.
Redline, the problem is you don't know when that nozzle dropped, so you have no idea if there was damage to the piston, cylinder wall, rings etc. Both the N14 and the N18 have bed plates that serve as the crankshaft main bearing caps; I don't think you can get to the nozzle (to install a new one) with the bed plate installed. If you don't want this engine creating problems for you in the future, I'd suggest removal, teardown, inspection, rebuild. Salvage engines are freaking expensive, and you have no idea what you are getting.
They sent me this pic looking up at the sprayer location so that I could know what they were talking about. Looks like you can see straight up to it.
As for damage, what’s done is done. Engine is toast now or later. It’s running fine. Been driving it around for a week pondering what to do about the whole situation. If it’s just a few hundred bucks to drop the oil pan and access it from below I think it’s worth a shot. If it’s not possible I’ll probably just run this engine until it dies.
