I found a small black object (see attachment) in my oil while doing an oil change. It seems to be made of hard rubber. Haven't dropped anything into the oil fill so I'm assuming it came from within. Does anybody have any ideas where this came from? Thanks.

 

We are gonna need a little more than that

Model miles. Are you good with oil changes do u do them all yourself.

Is it hard plastic of soft plastic.

Any issues? Warning lights and or engine noise?

Await ur responses

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Thanks for the quick response. It's a 2009 cooper hatch with 51K miles. I've done routine oil changes using valvoline synpower. I've been doing them myself for the last 3 years before that it was the Mini dealership. The object is pretty hard but can be deformed by pressing on it with some force. No warning lights or engine noise.

 

Ok. It looks chewed up on one side. So that leads me to believe it was caught in something rotating. It's to big to come from the valve cover. But it would could come from the front ( timing chain area) of the motor I attached a pic of the timing chain assay. Does it look like any piece of those pieces? No noise from engine? If I had to guess its one of the guides coming apart. Have you ever had the timing chain tensioner replaced or checked? There is a recall. Service bulletin. Sent from my iPad using NAMotoring

Mind you # 3 2 and 10 are made of plastic

 

looks like a worn out plastic seal or gasket to me. They become hard and brittle after so many years of service in intense heat..........

 

What color are the caps/rings on your brand of oil? Could be one of the rings that breaks loose as you remove the cap during oil changes/adding oil might have fallen into the engine while the plastic bottle was upside down and in the filler hole.

 

This one has my vote..

 

@ Drivehard
I checked to see if the recall for the timing chain tensioner pertains to my car and it looks like I'm in the clear. Also, the mystery object is not as stiff as the plastic would need to be for those guides, unless there are some softer pieces on those guides.

@michi1201

The caps/rings are grey. Also, I use a 5 gallon jug and pour it into a funnel which the cap/ring would would not be able to pass through.

The car appears to be leaking oil around the oil pan gasket so I am thinking of pulling the pan to see if that is it or seeing if I find anything else...

 

Timing chain tensioners have a white or after a bunch of heat cycles they get a brownish look. The oil pump gear cover is the only plastic piece inside the engine that is black. Besides a rubber seal of course. But you stated it was plastic.