Large debris found in factory oil filter, now what?

[ToyotaA25]

Did my first oil change on my new Rav4 at 2500 miles. Saved the filter to open it up when I had time. I opened it this past weekend and was not happy with what I found inside.

There were 4 aluminum shards just under the size of a pencil eraser, some thinner peices that looked like fine nail clippings, and generally a lot of debris in the filter pleats. Lots of what looks like yellow paint which I think is from the valve springs. Lots of general debris in the remaining oil in it. Question is where do I go from here? I have already done 3 oil changes and I am at about 8 k miles. Took the second filter apart and it looked a lot better. When is a good time to do a uoa to make sure things are okay?

 

[millerbl00]

Save the pictures and filter. Take to a toyota dealership and document.

 

[Dr_Dr3i]

Toyota might call that "machining debris" but who really knows. Have you tried using a magnet to see if anything sticks?

These kinds of posts is why many folks like to do an early flush of the factory fill stuff.

 

[millerbl00]

Thats too much "machining debris"

 

[cptbarkey]

Yep, that is what the first oil filter will typically look like. UOAs are a waste of money until about 40k. Even then there will not be much to see as long as the oil was changed regularly. You should see the rear end of a John Deere tractor hydro fluid change, chunks and chunks of RTV. Or buy yourself a Predator generator and see how nice it is after a 3 hour break in.

 

[Vercingetorix]

Oil filter works.

 

[millerbl00]

Thats too much "machining debris" for a TOYOTA. Document it at a dealership

 

[SC Maintenance]

Is this is a new Toyota? If so - dealer and Toyota won't care either way - even if this isn't normal there is nothing there currently obligated to fix.

Open the next filter - see what its like.

Thanks for sharing BTW. I have always been an advocate for early first oil change.

 

[demarpaint]

That imo is why you dump the factory fill early. The engine is breaking in, you have a warranty if something does go wrong. I'd refill the oil, replace the filter and motor on.

 

[thunderfog]

That's why I didn't look at mine lol

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

Did my first oil change on my new Rav4 at 2500 miles. Saved the filter to open it up when I had time. I opened it this past weekend and was not happy with what I found inside.

There were 4 aluminum shards just under the size of a pencil eraser, some thinner peices that looked like fine nail clippings, and generally a lot of debris in the filter pleats. Lots of what looks like yellow paint which I think is from the valve springs. Lots of general debris in the remaining oil in it. Question is where do I go from here? I have already done 3 oil changes and I am at about 8 k miles. Took the second filter apart and it looked a lot better. When is a good time to do a uoa to make sure things are okay?

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Keep on moving. Toyota isn't going to pay a dealership to chase ghosts.

 

[JoelB]

Break in is messy. If you don't like it don't cut open the OEM filter. Nothing can be done about it. My advice would be don't waste any more time thinking about it and just drive the vehicle.

 

[dogememe]

I don't know, but it seems like the oil filter was working as designed. If you have done, say, 5 oil changes on the vehicle, and you cut open that filter, and still have chunks, I'd continue to document and notify Toyota. But if it's only the first one? I wouldn't worry so much.

Do you intend to keep this vehicle past 200K miles or trade in in a few years? Unless you intend to keep it "forever" this will probably never matter.

 

[oil pan 4]

Toyota might call that "machining debris" but who really knows. Have you tried using a magnet to see if anything sticks?

These kinds of posts is why many folks like to do an early flush of the factory fill stuff.

Yep Toyota have been blaming everything on machining debris lately.

 

[JTK]

I hear you. I've cut open lots of factory filters over the past ~20yrs and if I find anything, it's never been that much. If all is well now, it's likely going to stay that way. Just keep up on your oil change documentation to support you've done them per Toyota recommendations.

 

[Hall]

That's why I didn't look at mine lol

How many miles is it at now ? Please say something like 247,000 miles....

 

[Bladecutter]

Did my first oil change on my new Rav4 at 2500 miles.
Saved the filter to open it up when I had time.
I opened it this past weekend and was not happy with what I found inside.

There were 4 aluminum shards just under the size of a pencil eraser, some thinner pieces that looked like fine nail clippings, and generally a lot of debris in the filter pleats.
Lots of what looks like yellow paint which I think is from the valve springs.
Lots of general debris in the remaining oil in it.

Question is where do I go from here?
I have already done 3 oil changes and I am at about 8 k miles.
Took the second filter apart and it looked a lot better.

When is a good time to do a uoa to make sure things are okay?

Okay, it took me a couple of tries to understand everything.

Your car is currently at 8k mile mark, and you've already done 3 oil changes.

This oil filter was actually from your first oil change at 2500 miles, and you decided to cut it open, because Halloween isn't coming fast enough for you, and you needed a good scare.

The yellow paint is most likely from the engine builders when they mark the various bolts when they are torqued down to the correct specs. So, nothing to worry about there.

The bigger piece is just flashing from the block or head casting, and that is also normal.
The oil filter did a great job of capturing that, and not allowing it to get sucked into the oil pump, or going further downstream into the crankshaft or cylinder head journals.

Where do you go from here?

Nowhere.

If your engine sounds normal, then all is good.
Its that simple.

 

[thunderfog]

How many miles is it at now ? Please say something like 247,000 miles....

2,470mi. Actually about 2600mi. It's new and I did a change at like 1800mi.

 

[Urshurak776]

That's why, again, we dump first change early. Always have, but others don't agree.

I cut open the factory oil filter on our Mazda CX-5 at 2,300 miles. Super clean. I was expecting some tiny little things, but it was remarkably clean. Have had others that had a lot.

Cut open the next filter. Probably looks fine.

 

[oldcodger]

This is one of the things you would have been better off not knowing.