Metal "sparkles" in oil after new bearings?

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Hey guys, been a while. Let me give a quick rundown as to my problem. I got totally lazy and took my car, a 2000 VW Jetta VR6 12v, to a shop to have a shaking diagnosed. Well my car is loud and I heard the mechanic take off like a bat out of [censored] in it twice and it came back smelling like hot brakes and clutch. The next day when I started it up, it had a click coming from the bottom end. Not a knocking, just a clicking, which was a bearing just starting to go. Wasn't spun yet but it would have if left alone. So, long story short I'm in talks with a lawyer and you know how this goes. Well, I need my car and I'm in school driving almost 100 miles a day. Thankfully my mother loaned me her car but I have put a new set of rod bearings in mine, and I didn't feel the need to polish the crank at all because it was smooth and only one spot barely had the tiniest little spot that you could just catch with your nail. I mean teeny tiny barely catch it. Anyway, fast forward to today. I have 70 miles on the bearings and I changed my filter because I did use assembly lube to put them in, and I plan to change the oil soon, probably at an even 100 miles, just because I wanted to inspect the filter and the oil that came out. Well, it's very sparkly. No really big chunks that I saw, but this oil is 70 miles old, has already darkened significantly, and as I said has loads of tiny little sparkles in it. They're much smaller than say a can of metallic paint would have, but they're there. Is this normal after fresh bearings?Is it just them wearing in? Or am I about to have a serious issue 50 miles from home? Thanks guys
 
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Originally Posted By: Red00Jetta
the tiniest little spot that you could just catch with your nail. I mean teeny tiny barely catch it.


That's more than enough to cause a problem, did you at least polish that spot out with a very fine stone and 1000 grit with kerosene and a piece of rope.
If the crank is smooth, you used an assy past and it has oil pressure the new bearings should not be shedding anything unless something is gouging it. I don't like the sound of it.
Wait and see, is what I would say.
 
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Originally Posted By: Trav
Originally Posted By: Red00Jetta
the tiniest little spot that you could just catch with your nail. I mean teeny tiny barely catch it.


That's more than enough to cause a problem, did you at least polish that spot out with a very fine stone and 1000 grit with kerosene and a piece of rope.
If the crank is smooth, you used an assy past and it has oil pressure the new bearings should not be shedding anything unless something is gouging it. I don't like the sound of it.
Wait and see, is what I would say.
+1
 
I did polish that spot with 1000 then 2000, but not the whole crank. Let me get these pics of the oil uploaded to a hosting site and I'll post them
 
Gonna fail ain't it?

jj2nsy.jpg


2jczsd1.jpg
 
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Run it 100 miles and drop the oil again. See how many flakes after that. I have seen a few new builds do that for the first 200 miles or so. If it doesn't subside I'd tear it down and do it right.
 
Originally Posted By: Blkstanger
Run it 100 miles and drop the oil again. See how many flakes after that. I have seen a few new builds do that for the first 200 miles or so. If it doesn't subside I'd tear it down and do it right.
I agree. If the oil shows no more material, drive on.
 
Well 100 is just 30 miles or so away. When I drop the oil would it benefit to run some of that zddp additive when I refill?
 
Originally Posted By: 901Memphis
If there is something wrong a zddp additive won't help you. What oil are you using now?


Vaico 5w-40 full synthetic with the VW 502.00 505.01 rating.
 
Originally Posted By: Pontual
Could be possible wrong assembly?


No I marked the caps and used OEM bearings. Never took the crank out only changed the rod bearings.
 
Oh I was vocal about it. The first thing i told him was don't shut the door with the key in it. He shut the door with the key in it and got locked out, got rough with the slim jim, and then took off beating on it. Sounded like at least 5000 out of the parking lot. I told them to expect a repair bill if they hurt it. Now lawyers are involved but they keep saying I don't have a case.
 
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What is new from last year..? last year it had sparklies in the oil and got dark in 20 miles? Also you were using 5w30 at the time?
 
Good memory. This time I've had to change the rod bearings because of a worthless pile of [censored] shop employee. Also this is wayyy more metal than I had before. The car has been utterly fine for the last year and has accumulated around 15000 miles. I stopped worrying about it after changing to 502.00 rated. This time it's different because I don't want the thing to fly apart 50 miles from home, and I'm a student now so I can't afford jack squat.
 
I'd just keep doing short flushes and see if it settles down.

That oil is very dark for 500 miles, maybe it is just cleaning out stuff.

Also, I'd use cheaper 15W-40 HDEO for short runs.
 
^^^ Yup.

Short flushes with a conventional 15/40 until things settle out.

If it starts looking clear of metallic flakes, do a UOA to see if the oil/engine actually has normalized.
 
Originally Posted By: addyguy
I'd just keep doing short flushes and see if it settles down.

That oil is very dark for 500 miles, maybe it is just cleaning out stuff.

Also, I'd use cheaper 15W-40 HDEO for short runs.


That ain't 500, that's only 70. But I did use quite a bit of assy lube and it was green so... My engine is VERY clean inside. I've gone to great pains to maintain this thing and keep it reliable. Don't know what it is about this car, but I love it so so so much.
 
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