I'd always tell some people i know that for break-in period, use a very good restricting/flowing oil filter like pure one in which it can trap alot of those smaller micronic particles in the oil. Of course id have to also say change it out earlier too so that the oil filter wont restrict oil passage ways.
Metal glitter in oil, Normal, or BAD???
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Well, the particles go on a more or less long trip through the engine, starting anywhere behind the filter, before getting trapped in the filter. I wouldn't be happy if I were to see any metal flakes in my engine oil.
Thanks for the responses guys. Yes it is a mustang, wish it was a Ford GT. I am confussed now because half of you are saying its normal and half are saying its not. But I guess we can all agree that if it has any metal in the filter next time that something is wrong. It seems like the engine probably shed this metal at the beginning of this oil's life and stopped a little while before this change. The reason I think this is true is because there was absolutely no metal in the oil pan oil. I ran a small sample through a microfiber towl and it showed nothing. I think if it were still going on it would have metal in all of the oil.
Regradless, this sucks. If that metal is from the bearings, it ran through the entire rest of the engine before being filtered out. My worst fear is that it keeps spitting out metal and I take the car and the "evidence" to the dealer and they say its not broke so they arent going to fix it. Is metal in the oil reason enough for a new engine?
Thanks for any more thoughts on the matter.
Regradless, this sucks. If that metal is from the bearings, it ran through the entire rest of the engine before being filtered out. My worst fear is that it keeps spitting out metal and I take the car and the "evidence" to the dealer and they say its not broke so they arent going to fix it. Is metal in the oil reason enough for a new engine?
Thanks for any more thoughts on the matter.
The flakes in the oil won't get you a new engine. But you should keep and eye on it. My last new car shed a lot of metal before it stopped doing it. I was very conserned about it, but it did stop and now has more than 100K on it. Nothing I ever built has shedded like that but a few sparkles are normal. If they are not big like rice like they look in the picture it is probebly good to go. A couple of oil changes and a few more miles should hook it up.
When my 2001 Dodge p/u was new, I had a lot of what appeared to be sand and metal glitter in the oil. I changed it at 500, 1500, then 3000 miles then went with the 3000 mile change interval. Five years later my truck doesn't use any oil between changes. It took about 3 changes to get it all out. When my 2002 Cavalier was breaking in I didn't see anything in its oil.
An unreliable source I talked to (mechanic) said that the modular engines are roughly casted. He the said that wear particles are high at first and then act like normal after a few thousand miles. He jokingly said that Ford just finds big chuncks of iron and someone chisles it out.
FYI, this guy believes that the taste of a motor oil can tell you a lot.
FYI, this guy believes that the taste of a motor oil can tell you a lot.
There is a very small amount of break-in on most modern engines and it happens quite quickly (often within a few miles for rings but a bit longer for other components like crankshaft bearings and camshafts). The machining tolerances are quite good and overall engineering quite refined that there really isn't as much "break-in" as there was at one time.
I believe a large majority of the break-in is done after 500 miles.
Regards,
Rich
I believe a large majority of the break-in is done after 500 miles.
Regards,
Rich
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