Something is chewing itself up, and that looks like some debris beyond "normal wear".
Post your latest oil change
- Thread starter Superbuick96
- Start date
1995 Mercedes E320 m104 3.2l
131,100miles
Out: 2yo Kirkland Signature 10w-30 that was still fairly clean with 1000miles on it from 6/2/2024 and a Mann filter.
In: 7.5l of Castrol Euro Car a3/b4 5w-40 with a Hengst Filter
Cam and internals look nice and clean. Car has only put on 6,000miles in the last 9 years so I’ve decided we need to make it our drive to church car to keep the cobwebs from forming. It’s hard to top the feel of driving old German cars that are well loved, they sure return the favor
131,100miles
Out: 2yo Kirkland Signature 10w-30 that was still fairly clean with 1000miles on it from 6/2/2024 and a Mann filter.
In: 7.5l of Castrol Euro Car a3/b4 5w-40 with a Hengst Filter
Cam and internals look nice and clean. Car has only put on 6,000miles in the last 9 years so I’ve decided we need to make it our drive to church car to keep the cobwebs from forming. It’s hard to top the feel of driving old German cars that are well loved, they sure return the favor
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That was my thought when I looked at drain plug. I tried to handle it carefully so I could get the pictures.
It now has a Filtermag on the filter also for next round but running the Castrol Edge not Restore and Protect.
I paid I think $2500 for it 7 years and 60k miles ago. It got my son through 3 years of college, Physician’s Assistant school and a year of work so far. It really owes nothing. I saw no glitter in oil drain pan. I checked the filter for any glitter and some very small at bottom of filter can, nothing I saw in pleats. I did see a lot of carbon stuff. Filter C&P will be later today or tomorrow.
Currently running well, nothing that would lead me to look for issues besides the drain plug. Maybe I should have left the stock non magnetic one?
I had posted the valvetrain pics last year.
It was burning about 1/2 quart over 5k interval. Prior to todays change I added 1/2 quart at 4500 miles a month ago. I wasn't sure when I would get to change it. I was also holding off so it had the least miles on new oil when my son takes it back to VA this weekend.
CleanSump
Site Donor 2026
Maybe the metal on the magnet is stuff that has been stuck in lacquer over the years and was released by the Valvoline dissolving what was holding it to the block. You probably will see less and less as you do future changes.
Yep, the next OCI and magnet check will tell you more. If the level of ferrous debris doesn't change or goes up then something is definitely getting chewed up. Does this engine have a cam-chain or belt? Fingers crossed it shows less debris on the next OCI.
- Joined
- Aug 5, 2025
- Messages
- 14
Very similar to my previous post because both vehicles are on a similar cadence.
Onto my second run of Valvoline Restore and Protect 5w-30. Unsure if I spilled some oil somewhere but I've made the error of not checking the level before doing the change, and about 3.5L is accounted for from a 4L total drain and fill + filter. Will check this regularly moving forward to monitor possible consumption, but it's not been a problem historically, it never seemed to consume any measurable amount on the dipstick.
2017 Holden Astra R+, 148,525km / 92,289mi - Oil life indicator showing 45% life at time of change.
Out - Valvoline Restore and Protect 5w-30, Sakura C-7971
In - Valvoline Restore and Protect 5w-30, Sakura C-7971
OCI - 5328km / 3310mi
And while I was there (again), ~4L drain and fill on the transmission too, last done at 133,360km making the transmission fluid drain and fill interval 15,165km/9,423mi
Onto my second run of Valvoline Restore and Protect 5w-30. Unsure if I spilled some oil somewhere but I've made the error of not checking the level before doing the change, and about 3.5L is accounted for from a 4L total drain and fill + filter. Will check this regularly moving forward to monitor possible consumption, but it's not been a problem historically, it never seemed to consume any measurable amount on the dipstick.
2017 Holden Astra R+, 148,525km / 92,289mi - Oil life indicator showing 45% life at time of change.
Out - Valvoline Restore and Protect 5w-30, Sakura C-7971
In - Valvoline Restore and Protect 5w-30, Sakura C-7971
OCI - 5328km / 3310mi
And while I was there (again), ~4L drain and fill on the transmission too, last done at 133,360km making the transmission fluid drain and fill interval 15,165km/9,423mi
OVERKILL
$100 Site Donor 2021
Higher than the M1, around 32psi, just went and looked through older photos.
Remember, the relief pressure on the pump is at 65psi, so if you are running into the relief at moderate RPM, you are basically just generating heat in the pump and reducing volume moving through the engine.
That was my thought
It was an inexpensive synthetic used in a low demand application. Luckily the engine didn’t spin enough revolutions to realize it was fed an oil that wasn’t officially MB certified.
I should be safe now.