So Worried - Flakes In 3500 Oil...

[PCGUY112887]

Well I did my usual oil change yesterday, with Mobil 1 5W30 fully synthetic and an M1-201 extended Mobil 1 filter.

Anytime I change my oil I look over things very well to make sure everything is OK. I wipe out my pan before putting the oil in so I can see if there is anything. There has never been anything... until now...

It's very hard to get a picture, but in the very bottom of the pan there were a number of flakes that were shiny in the sun. Not a WHOLE lot, but enough to notice. There was nothing on my magnetic drain plug, and I kept the oil filter so I can cut it open once I find a correct tool to do so. The rest of the oil I poured I looked at while pouring and I didn't see anything in the actual oil I was pouring, just in the pan on the bottom.

A few of these flakes are bronze in color, a few are silvery, and a few just seemed like a tiny little hard bit of something, sorta whiteish in color. None of them were very big but you could definitely feel the grittiness of them when I ran my finger across the pan to pick them up with my finger.

I have no idea why this would happen, I've been running this motor for 2 years now and I baby it so much I still have never even been to the track! It does seem like this motor uses a bit of oil though, since I have no leaks but oil slowly disappears over my longer oil change cycles. It does not smoke or anything at all though.

Is my motor dying?

FYI my oil is not the color it looks in the picture.

[robertisaar]

engines NEED to be exercised every once in a while. northstars have the same oil consumption issue, not sure if its for the same reason, but they have a very rough crosshatch pattern in their bores, meaning more oil usage than normal motors, but usually when they let them got WOT through 2nd gear getting on the highway, it helps since it causes the rings to expand, or something similar, its been a while since i read about it.

[PCGUY112887]

Well it's not like I never go fast, or it would defeat the purpose of the car! By baby it I mean I usually daily drive it like normal and sometimes will aggressively pass or run up to 110 on the highway, but I don't race all of the time or go WOT everyday.

[34blazer]

usually you get those flakes if you burn up a rod bearing. did you cut open the oil filter and check its contents?

[60dgrzbelow0]

Is there any chance that you can remove the oil pan and examine the main bearing caps? If you see one or more that are discolored on the edges ...or look burned, then in all likelihood, there is a spun bearing under that particular cap, thus the metal super-heating from from the sudden friction, causing the discoloration. If you can unbolt the suspected cap and eyeball the bearing and condition of the crank journal...you will be able to confirm the condition and then take action to do the necessary repair. If you find nothing amiss under the main bearing caps...the culprit might well be a press or floating connecting rod bearing against a chromed wrist pin. On occasion, engines with chrome-molybdenum rings will fracture and flake off over time as the pistons rise and fall and leave deposits of metal flakes into the oil pan. The metal flakes can also be introduced into the motor during an oil change by pouring fresh oil into a funnel or oil guide that was otherwise used around some type of metal working event and contaminated with metal detritus. Last but not least are the circular bearings supporting cam shaft. From what your description of the flakes are, Tri-Metal Clevite 77 and their brethren will leave the bronze (actually copper) and silver looking debris (either Babbit, lead alloy or even Aluminum Silicate) in the like manner. Cutting off the end of the last used oil filter and flushing the contents with light kerosene into a container will reveal the extent of the contamination. None of this bodes of good news. We will all be sorry if any of these conditions turn out to have occurred in your engine.

[MidnightriderZ24]

engines NEED to be exercised every once in a while. northstars have the same oil consumption issue, not sure if its for the same reason, but they have a very rough crosshatch pattern in their bores, meaning more oil usage than normal motors, but usually when they let them got WOT through 2nd gear getting on the highway, it helps since it causes the rings to expand, or something similar, its been a while since i read about it.

northstars only "consume oil" higher miles. 99% of the time they leak from the case halfs not rings.

[95Grand-Am]

I have never had it done but it might be an idea. If you still have the oil you could send a sample in to a oil analyzing companies to see what they say about it.

[Barry]

My cars always develop problems when I baby them.

[robertisaar]

MOST vehicles develop issues if they aren't run all over the place at least once in a while...

[geldartb]

and thats why my car will have the snought run out of it. im gonna use it for the purpose i built it for.

[3400-95-Modified]

Really not much you can do other than take stuff apart and start inspecting... Could be cam bearings or the chain going out on you, since IIRC you did do a larger cam and springs right?

[PCGUY112887]

Yes see signature for mods.

[3400-95-Modified]

What chain set did you end up using?

[PCGUY112887]

Stock 3500 gears and chain.

[asylummotorsports]

The bottom line here is that you have an engine issue/failure.

Not good news, but if you get on it now you may save it..

Having said that! Another 3500 might be cheaper than saving that one in the long run.

Hell I have seen them for $300 but you have to look.

www.car-parts.com or even ebay are a good start.

But your's does have a serious issue.