Hello, 

Yesterday decided to change engine oil and when inspecting old, used filter - spotted glitter trapped inside and also in the oil.

Odometer reads about 100k miles, never skipped oil service. Always used quality parts. Engine runs just fine, no strange noises or warnings on the dashboard. No excessive oil consumption. Timing chain replaced, as preventative maintenance, on some 60k miles. The glitter is not magnetic, but then again it could be non-magnetic bearing cementation.

This engine is known for all sorts of problems above crankshaft but rarely with bearings.

Has anyone had similar experience?

Any thoughts on this subject?

P.S. Waiting for my mechanic to be available to do some initial tests like measuring oil pressure and compression.

 

If it ain't broken, don't fix it.

 

I've seen glitter like that before, it'll be from the main bearings, don't worry about it until you can hear it or the oil pressure light comes on.

Probably found in most filters if people looked, have you always done this before and was there no shiny material before?

 

Rub some between your fingers, if it feels sharp like it would cut you then maybe look further, removing the cam cover would be my first thing, if it feels relatively soft then it will be the main bearing material and quite normal.

 

If you are really concerned then you can send away an oil sample for analysis.

Edited 15 December, 20232 yr by J.R.

On 15/12/2023 at 11:43, sepulchrave said:

If it ain't broken, don't fix it.

 

I've seen glitter like that before, it'll be from the main bearings, don't worry about it until you can hear it or the oil pressure light comes on.

Well, I agree and disagree with you. If I wait to hear something or wait for oil light it's going to be too late to save engine components. 

On 15/12/2023 at 11:48, J.R. said:

have you always done this before and was there no shiny material before?

 

Rub some between your fingers, if it feels sharp like it would cut you then maybe look further, removing the cam cover would be my first thing, if it feels relatively soft then it will be the main bearing material and quite normal.

Yes, on every oil change used to check filter and there was no glitter.

Tried on one of the bigger chunks and no it wasn't sharp, managed to fold a little one piece, it was soft material, much like Aluminium, but then again flakes are soo thin that it could be any metal.