Valvoline R&P 3K filter: grit and glitter

[Elkins45]

I did a multi-day piston soak of my 2009 Scion xB and filled it with 0w-20 Restore & Protect. I pulled the first filter at 1k and the vallies of the pleats were full of carbon grit. I ran it another 3K with a new filter and changed it this week. This is the SuperTech filter media. It’s also full of fine carbon grit but now I see a few flecks of glitter. It doesn’t stick to a magnet so it’s possibly bearing material. Needless to say this does not make me happy. I wonder if in an attempt to reduce oil burning I’m doing more harm than good?

 

[rstcso]

Did you send a sample for UOA? This will help identify particles so you'll know whether it's of concern or not, and if so, quantify your level to be concerned. Those big enough to be seen in the filter with unaided eyes will not show up on a UOA anyway.

 

[cheesepuffs2]

Did you send a sample for UOA? This will help identify particles so you'll know whether it's of concern or not, and if so, quantify your level to be concerned. Those big enough to be seen in the filter with unaided eyes will not show up on a UOA anyway.

UOA will not be able to read large particles (say, large enough like this to be seen by the naked eye) for what it's worth.

 

[Elkins45]

Did you send a sample for UOA? This will help identify particles so you'll know whether it's of concern or not, and if so, quantify your level to be concerned. Those big enough to be seen in the filter with unaided eyes will not show up on a UOA anyway.

No, I just dumped it into the drain pan because I wasn't expecting to be concerned. I'm going to test the next one for sure.

 

[jimmyjamesndt]

I did a multi-day piston soak of my 2009 Scion xB and filled it with 0w-20 Restore & Protect. I pulled the first filter at 1k and the vallies of the pleats were full of carbon grit. I ran it another 3K with a new filter and changed it this week. This is the SuperTech filter media. It’s also full of fine carbon grit but now I see a few flecks of glitter. It doesn’t stick to a magnet so it’s possibly bearing material. Needless to say this does not make me happy. I wonder if in an attempt to reduce oil burning I’m doing more harm than good?

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I have a 2.3 ford duratec 16 valve ohc, I see flecks of aluminum like yours all the time in the pleats, I can only figure that it's the cam bearings, or I should say lack of bearings, the cam journals caps use the aluminum of the caps with no changeable bearing shell, so I think this is normal to see and I'm not going to worry about it!

 

[TwoC400s]

it's possible (likely even) that those glitter specs were trapped in years old carbon deposits, and the only reason you're seeing them now is the removal of the carbon.

 

[Elkins45]

it's possible (likely even) that those glitter specs were trapped in years old carbon deposits, and the only reason you're seeing them now is the removal of the carbon.

That’s an encouraging thought.

 

[JavierH19]

It's likely from what was trapped in the minor bit of sludge. Don't see how piston soaking could have done that and I assume 0w-20 is minimum. I'd bump up to 5w-30.

 

[Mewbs]

Pretty sure that VRP 0W-20 has been tinned out from the start by left over solvents from your piston soak... Kinda dangerous.

 

[Elkins45]

Pretty sure that VRP 0W-20 has been tinned out from the start by left over solvents from your piston soak... Kinda dangerous.

I sincerely doubt that.

 

[Panda87]

it's possible (likely even) that those glitter specs were trapped in years old carbon deposits, and the only reason you're seeing them now is the removal of the carbon.

@Elkins45

This is what I was going to say. Peep my HPL UOA lab results on my Navigator if you want. First run was with Amsoil. Second was with HPL. There was a remarkable increase in wear metals in the HPL sample. My filter changes also had beaucoup carbon grit and a few tiny flecks of metal as well. I know for a fact the internals of my engine are coated in carbon via borescope. The theory by several people on my UOA is the release of wear metals that had been trapped in that carbon material now making themselves known by being cleaned. Likely the same scenario as yours. My filter pleats looked VERY similar.

 

[Mewbs]

I sincerely doubt that.

Did you start your car with the solvent contaminated oil after your piston soak to smoke it before changing your oil or did you change your oil immediately after the soak and start your car?

If you have some used oil left from that drain if you didn't dump it out yet, try to get it analyzed.

 

[Elkins45]

Did you start your car with the solvent contaminated oil after your piston soak to smoke it before changing your oil or did you change your oil immediately after the soak and start your car?

If you have some used oil left from that drain if you didn't dump it out yet, try to get it analyzed.

After, but I left the plugs and filler cap open and the drain plug out for hours. Any solvent in there had plenty of time to drip through or evaporate.