Do you still have the original filter ? If so cut it open and see if there is any metal in it. Or take the present filter off and do the same with it. That will give you some clues as to whether you should run the engine any more or tear it down before any additional damage is done.

No oil temp gauge yet but planning on making some changes to the cluster this off season... oil temp being at the top of the list.

I do actually... not a bad idea. Although nothing looked off when I changed the oil... it was dark but not milky or iridescent. I know idling for about an hour wasn't the best choice but I did maintain good oil pressure the entire time. Maybe that saved the motor.


I'm tempted to put one more QT of oil into the pan as I'm seeing oil pressure improvement as I add more - at least as reported by the elec sender. Assuming the sender is correct is it completely unreasonable to run 10qts with a 8qt pan, remote filter (about 10-12 ft of oil lines) and an oil cooler? At that point I'd be a good inch or so above the Full line on the dip stick. Other than foaming the oil which I can easily pump the QT back out, is this a bad test that could cause more damage than provide good info?

Don't fill it above the full line

If the gauge is not the problem then I would pull the pan. Pick up could of fell off.