Hi all,

I ran a search for metal shavings but only found threads talking about shavings from diff oil or massive metal chunks from on the bottom of the oil pan. Sorry for the new thread if there's been one already...

I just did an oil change today and as I was dumping the dirty oil back into the containers, these little guys revealed themselves at the end:



They are on average about half the size of a sesame. My last oil change was about 7,500 miles ago. I used the Castrol half-synthetic blend 10w30 with Mobil1 extended performance filter. I've tracked the car once and autocrossed it 3 times during these miles. I do drive spiritedly day to day, but had never previously found metal shavings after an oil change. The car currently has ~38k miles.

Could anyone tell me if this is a sign of bad engine wear?

Thanks in advance..

 

Yes its a bad sign. You should have an oil analysis done.

 

Look like sand, are you sure they are metal? Are the magnetic. Agree on the oil analysis.

 

look like sand to me too.

 

yeah, def does not look like metal. I see some red and blue ones too

 

seems like you've sand blasted your motor in the past or perhaps the previous owner did and some sand got stuck in the motor. If i were you i'd dump some more oil and flush it again just to get as much out as possible if there is any more shavings/sand left in the engine

 

If your going to flush yor engine and pan, use the cheap generic brands. No point using an expensive synthetic. Remove your oil filter and look carefully for any particles that it may have trapped. Hopefully you find nothing and these particles can be assumed to have setteled to the bottom of your pan and nothing was ever picked up by the oil pump.

 

7500 on synthetic blend? and tracked it a few times.....

 

Ahh, SAND. I took a closer look just now with a hand lens and verified that those are indeed just sand. Thank goodness. False alarm guys, sorry. Thanks for everyone's responses.

I am slightly baffled by the fact that they got into my engine oil. I suppose some sneak in through the intake?

 

I know, I know, it seems like a lot. But mind you, it was tracked once in the rain and the car was definitely not pushed to 100%. The engine sees high revs at autocross, but thankfully only for short periods of time. However I do feel it should see fresh oil in less miles - definitely next time.