Metal Shavings; Paranoid or is a serious problem in my [near] future?
10-25-2013, 10:03 AM
#1
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Metal Shavings; Paranoid or is a serious problem in my [near] future?
While doing a routine oil change, spotted this in the drain pain 
(towards top)
Smaller then a grain of rice but as you can see there are finer metal shavings present as well, all of which look gold (which I assume means brass, possibly from a bearing?).
(towards top)Smaller then a grain of rice but as you can see there are finer metal shavings present as well, all of which look gold (which I assume means brass, possibly from a bearing?).
- Car has a little over 100k on it
- regularly change (and top off) my oil
- Engine has survived a trip to 9k (due to a miss-shift 6 months ago)
- No ticking/knocking/squeaking of any sort, pulls strong and smooth
10-25-2013, 10:24 AM
#2
^
I was told that was normal... You should have seen how dirty my lower oil pan was when I removed it earlier this month. HORRIFIC
Also when I redid my transmission pan, it was cleaned and the fluid was less than 3 months old because the transgo kit got installed but still there were a ton of shavings...
I was told that was normal... You should have seen how dirty my lower oil pan was when I removed it earlier this month. HORRIFIC
Also when I redid my transmission pan, it was cleaned and the fluid was less than 3 months old because the transgo kit got installed but still there were a ton of shavings...
10-25-2013, 10:45 AM
#3
LMFAO that is not normal.
Cut the oil filter open, you can get a tool to do this. Here's an example of how to cut a filter open. Obviously a larger application but the procedure and theories are exactly the same.
Let's see what's in the filter.
Cut the oil filter open, you can get a tool to do this. Here's an example of how to cut a filter open. Obviously a larger application but the procedure and theories are exactly the same.
Let's see what's in the filter.
10-25-2013, 10:46 AM
#4
Normal??? Chunks are definitely not normal and are indicative of a soon to be problem. Those look like copper chunks. Not sure where else copper could come from, but the insides of bearings (rod, crank, etc) contain copper.
10-25-2013, 11:53 AM
#6
Brass, copper, h*ll they look like gold to me and no, I wouldn't call that normal. But what are you gonna do, rebuild the engine because you found a few metal flakes? All you can do for now is monitor your engine listening for unusual sounds and continue to change your oil on your regular schedule. I think you're doing the right thing, and I hope it doesn't get any worse. Good luck.
10-25-2013, 01:43 PM
#8
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Cut the filter open with a pair of tin snips (which took forever but Im not paying $75 for the tool) and didnt find anything in the filter itself which doesnt change the fact that I foud metal shavings in the drain pan but atleast thats better then finding a filter full of metal shavings.
I dont recall my last Maxima ever leaving metal shavings, and I had 135K on it. Hmmm, I wish I had the time and cash make me a "5.7" gen...
I dont recall my last Maxima ever leaving metal shavings, and I had 135K on it. Hmmm, I wish I had the time and cash make me a "5.7" gen...
10-25-2013, 02:49 PM
#10
Nice work Mesa! There are no sparkles? If not I would do as advised below. No sense getting crazy about it if the car runs well. Monitor it, save money, carry on 
Brass, copper, h*ll they look like gold to me and no, I wouldn't call that normal. But what are you gonna do, rebuild the engine because you found a few metal flakes? All you can do for now is monitor your engine listening for unusual sounds and continue to change your oil on your regular schedule. I think you're doing the right thing, and I hope it doesn't get any worse. Good luck.
10-25-2013, 03:08 PM
#11
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Posts: 175
There were a couple of very small shavings (smaller then the ones I found in the drain pan) in a couple of the pleats, upon closer examination, but the majority of them were clean. Guess thats all I can do for now, thanks for the advice on cracking open the oil filter.
10-25-2013, 04:35 PM
#12
The important thing is that anything that went through that filter could be in your bearings, oil galleries, etc, which is very bad. Likewise, it could have come from one of those locations. I don't think the thrust bearings/washers for the crankshaft are brass on the VQ, but maybe they are, a lot of thrust bearings/washers are brass
But if the filter is clear you can only hope that the galleries are clear, and the brass came from somewhere else.....
EDIT: just had a look at my old thrust bearings and they do look like they are brass at some layer, but appear to be layered similar to main and rod bearings. Without cutting one I dunno for sure
But if the filter is clear you can only hope that the galleries are clear, and the brass came from somewhere else.....
EDIT: just had a look at my old thrust bearings and they do look like they are brass at some layer, but appear to be layered similar to main and rod bearings. Without cutting one I dunno for sure
Last edited by TunerMaxima3000; 10-25-2013 at 04:41 PM.
10-25-2013, 04:51 PM
#13
thats a large piece of metal, if anything the next time you change the oil i would strain the old oil with a very fine strainer and see what you get. at work ive opened the box to brand new oil filters and for whatever reason they had chunks of metal in the inside from manufacturing i assume, sent them back for warranty but that could be your case too
10-26-2013, 02:47 PM
#14
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Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Austin
Posts: 1,155
I wouldn't expect to find anything too large in the filter. The oil pump has a pick up screen that prevents larger particles from entering and damaging the pump.
http://www.blackstone-labs.com/what-is-oil-analysis.php
might be worth looking into
http://www.blackstone-labs.com/what-is-oil-analysis.php
might be worth looking into
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