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Re: Metal flecks discovered during oil change

You'd better attach an oil filter magnet to stop circulating metal flecks into your engine.

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will be affordable.

Try cutting open the oil filter spread the element out and see what is > trapped in there, check with a magnet for steel particles, see if you see > the same particles that were in the oil. > > > Change the oil & filter cartridge every 3,000mi/3mo myself on Saturn L300 > > (3.0 V6 DOHC 24V) using Mobil 1 5W-30 and Saturn or NAPA Gold filter > > cartridge since first change. > > At 21,000 mile oil change I was pouring out oil caught from removing the > oil > > cartridge (caught separate from crankcase oil), as sunlight hit the > plastic > > pan I was draining from. What I saw were many microscopic flecks of metal > > suspended in the oil. Maybe I had just never noticed this before, but it > > looked something like the oil from a lawnmower after its first oil change, > > where one would expect to find some suspended metal flecks. It would > appear > > that the oil filter cartridge caught the metal flecks, but short of having > > my oil analyzed by a lab (which analyzes oil from crankcase), any thoughts > > on my observation at this many miles since engine was "broken in"?? > Should > > I have it analyzed and if problems, take analysis to dealer while under > > warranty, at least so it would go on the record for this car?? > >
Reply to
SL
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I'd sure check with a magnet too because it's a cheap test. You may very well find that what you see is NOT metal at all buy carbonized oil or oil that has crystallized (not a chemical definition). You see it all the time inside the engine and it too can be abrasive, but not like metal.

Reply to
WasteNotWantNot

On 16 Sep 2003 03:46:03 -0700, snipped-for-privacy@neverbox.com

If you suspect metal in your oil I would send a sample off for an analysis. Here are a couple of places that do it.

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luck, MR

Reply to
MR

One thing with a magnet, though, is that it won't attract lead, aluminum, copper and other non-ferrous metals.

Best to get the sample analyzed to better narrow down your problem. Also, you might want to re-think your drain interval if visible bits are present.

--- Bror Jace

Reply to
Bror Jace

Cut open the old oil filter. You'll see what's what then. I have never seen metal in engine oil that didn't mean bearings were shot or some other catastrophic failure.

Brian

Reply to
Brian

Correction - except for old style Mini engines. They have the transmission in the sump of the engine, share the same oil, and always throw a lot of crap into the oil. Unless you are using bronze syncro rings, all of the transmission garbage is magnetic.

Brian

Reply to
Brian

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