metal filings in oil ... is bad?

Question

('99 Cav, 100K)

Changing my oil today, I noticed what appear to be metal filings on the tip of the (magnatized???) drain plug. I think I would have noticed this before, if they'd been there. But, you never know.

- Is the drain plug supposed to be magnetized? I don't remember that, either. I suppose it would be a good way to tell if you had metal filings, but other than that, ...

- I recently had to replace the cam position sensor (CMP). The replacement was from a junkyard, but I got it from the same year and engine, and it looked the same. The interesting thing is, the CMP _is_ magnetized. Possible clue?

I guess I should take the CMP out and look at it. Alas.

Any thoughts appreciated.

George

Steve W. · Accepted Answer

Filings are not good. BUT unless there are a lot of them it is probably nothing important.

Yep, Most drain plugs are magnetic tipped.

Normal. The CMP has a coil in it that creates a magnetic field that changes as the cam moves. That change is what it actually senses.

disston · Answer

When you scrapped the fillings off the plug with your finger, were that hard metal particles, maybe sharp, or was the material more like a paste, soft? disston

George · Answer

Sad to say, I don't know. My (limited) powers of observation had apparently gone out for lunch right then. About all I can say is that I didn't NOTICE any sharpness to them when I cleaned them off. I suspect sharp would be worse?

G

Brent P · Answer

If there are large sharp bits there is likely something wrong. If you're looking at what is essentially metal dust mixed with oil (a paste) or a dust like one would find in those magnetic children's toys, I would shrug it off as normal wear.

metal filings in oil ... is bad?

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