Metal flakes in oil filter

[Kupplung]

Hi. Asking for the collective advice from the forum here. Below is the UOA and pics from the oil filter of my 2010 Volvo XC90 with the 3.2 L6. I think I have a problem . UOA shows fine, but that's way too much stuff in the filter as far as I know. The flakes are magnetic. Different hue in pics as I switched between regular and macro. Any ideas as to what might be going on? Car is almost 15 years old and has over 150k so doesn't owe me anything. Was hoping to get it to 200k as it's been well maintained and everything works great on the car. I'm guessing drive it until it blows up at this point.

Thanks all for your input.

 

[ZeeOSix]

I think I have a problem . UOA shows fine, but that's way too much stuff in the filter as far as I know. The flakes are magnetic.

This is a prime example of how a UOA won't raise a big red flag on a one-time UOA. Even the comments from Blackstone say they don't see anything abnormal going on, but there obviously is. If you have previous UOA history on this engine with lower iron ppm/1000 miles, and then saw 15 ppm of iron in 7500 miles, then it might raises a little red flag. If you have previous UOAs, how do those compare to this one? The ICP Spectroscopy type UOA like Blackstone uses can only see particles less than the 5-7 micron range. Obviously, the debris caught in the filter are way larger than that.

 

[twouvakind]

Owes you nothing? Drive it till it grenades.

 

[Hootbro]

Yeah, that is a lot of material. I would suggest a pan drop to inspect but that looks like the whole lower half of that engine. Since the rod and crank bearing soft wear metals are low, suggest valve train wear to me.

 

[dbeau]

Could it be maybe from the filter can itself when you cut it? I recently cut a filter open and was kinda shocked at how much metal flakes were in there but I was using a rather primitive pipe cutting device and am hoping it came from the can. Waiting for next filter change to verify,

 

[Kupplung]

This is a prime example of how a UOA won't raise a big red flag on a one-time UOA. Even the comments from Blackstone say they don't see anything abnormal going on, but there obviously is. If you have previous UOA history on this engine with lower iron ppm/1000 miles, and then saw 15 ppm of iron in 7500 miles, then it might raises a little red flag. If you have previous UOAs, how do those compare to this one? The ICP Spectroscopy type UOA like Blackstone uses can only see particles less than the 5-7 micron range. Obviously, the debris caught in the filter are way larger than that.

The only other UOA is on the sheet above. Higher ppm than this last one.

 

[Kupplung]

Could it be maybe from the filter can itself when you cut it? I recently cut a filter open and was kinda shocked at how much metal flakes were in there but I was using a rather primitive pipe cutting device and am hoping it came from the can. Waiting for next filter change to verify,

It's a cartridge filter so no can.

 

[Kupplung]

Yeah, that is a lot of material. I would suggest a pan drop to inspect but that looks like the whole lower half of that engine. Since the rod and crank bearing soft wear metals are low, suggest valve train wear to me.

I ran a magnet over some of the pleats and it picked up everything. So something iron based and flaky. Should pull the valve cover and see if anything there. This engine also has a READ unit which is known to fail at times. Used engines are cheap if I feel like doing it. $700-1200.