A while ago I had to replace the timing cover on my 01 7.3. Due to a time crunch (and shop policy) I could not pull the engine, so I was restricted to just lowering the oil pan enough to unbolt the pick up tube. When the oil pan was down we found a beat up piston jet right at the front of the pan, Not like everyone describes, this one was intact with the base, just bent up a bit.

Finally after so long of stressing about burning pistons, I got approval to use the shop and pull the engine. Ripped it out today pretty quick, but SURPRISE, all 8 jets are in place and intact, There is NO sign of wear on this engine, and I mean NO wear, this thing is beautiful.

This truck has 269,181 miles, of witch the last 70,000 are from me. Is it possible that there was an extra jet fell in the the factory? Or am I missing something here, do they use a oil jet for the timing gears at all? Or could this just be someone rebuilt the engine and somehow left an old jet in the block?

I am thrilled at the condition of the engine and the fact that nothing was missing, but I am even more confused now.

 

I remember reading of a similar story years ago. Doesn't make any sense, but this isn't the first truck I've heard that had an extra cooling jet in the oil pan for some unexplained reason.

 

Ya, I was reading a post on another site from years ago, an owner of an excursion said something about the dealer told him it was an extra random jet, but apparently he didnt believe it and was trying to get a case together to get a free engine. But that is the only one I found regarding an "extra" jet. And for this thing to go undetected for 270k miles without ever working its way to the bottom of the pan is what is really confusing. We found it up at the very front witch is why when I first saw it I started thing "timing gear lubrication"

 

The one I remember the guy pulled his engine and showed pictures of all 8 jets intact and a picture of the 9th jet.

If you've had 9 the whole time, the mileage doesn't really surprise me. It's just been laying in the bottom of the pan. It's not going to get into the pick up and it's heavy enough to not get too caught up in the crank.

 

Good point about the weight.
Feeling a bit better knowing I am not the only one, I wasnt sure if the post I was reading was just the dealer spitting up b.s. (Or the truck owner for that matter)
Kind of sucks using up 2 of my vacation days on a problem that never existed. But atleast I got to replace the rusting oil pan, and I didnt need to disassemble the clutch but did anywase and found it still has atleast 1/2 -3/4 life left (came with the truck), that with the piece of mind knowing that the guts of the engine are in such great shape i guess was worth going to work on vacation haha.