So I changed my oil today with my usual Amsoil Series 2000 0w30 (IIRC), and in the rim of the oil catch pan I noticed what looked to be sparkling metal bits after the car was drained and I put the receptacle in the sun. This specific oil had been poured from the oil filter into the pan, and it sparkled a tad in sunlight. The bits weren't big enough to pick up or really touch, but it sure looked like a lot of real small metal shavings.

Here's the problem. Although the Amsoil Series 2000 is good for something like 20k, the filter still needs to be changed at 3k. I didn't change it until today, which has been 5k since my last oil/filter change. I definitely waited too long to change my oil filter.

I still have the oil if I want it sampled, but since it was dumped in the container with other oil residue, so I don't think it would be an accurate sample.

How worried should I be about this? The engine can't have more than 50k on it and runs smooth for the most part.

BTW, every time I change my oil I pour 1/2 quart of fresh oil down after all the other oil has drained so I can catch some of the dirt that may still be in there. It does eventually get the oil coming out to look fresh, so I like it. Does anyone else do this?

One last thing, I noticed my old oil filter was made in Japan, but the new ones I bought are from China. What in the world happened? I thought I saw a thread about this before....somehow I get the idea the new ones aren't as nice.

 

The only way to really tell is to send a sample to Blackstone and get it tested. There could have been a slight tint to the oil that looked like metal shavings and it really isnt. You really never know till you send it to have tested.

-matt

 

if you're talking about the 9E000 filters; DaveB told me about that switching over to the chinese makers. according to what he saw of the filter he was duely impressed. I don't know how relavent my observations are but I bought one and staring down into it, It looks VERY nicely constructed. being that they are now the fastest-growing auto market, I'm not entirely worried. their food products on the other hand...

 

if you have a magnet, take it and run it through the oil and see if you pick up anything... another trick is to slide the oil pan on the cement and see if you hear a slight clanking noise... thats what i did after i drained my tranny fluid with metal shavings in it

 

The oil you are using is arguably the best oil on the market today. I've used it in my own car for the past ~8-years and I have customers who have used it very successfully in engines for over 200K and still going strong. I agree with matty...the only way you're going to know the true condition of the oil is to have it analyzed. But since you've poured the oil in a container with other "oil residue", your test will not be valid. Recommend you wait until your next oil change and take the sample from the stream of oil as it is draining from the engine...let the oil drain for several seconds before taking the sample...don't take the sample from your drain pan. Concerning your observation, did you start with a clean oil dran pan, or had it been used to drain oil from any other component?

Concerning the filter, IMO it's a waste of your time, money and the environment to be changing your filter every 3,000 miles...particularly since you appear to be using OEM filters in conjunction with AMSOIL Series 2000 oil. The observation you describe, if there's anything to it, has nothing to do with the fact that you let the filter stay in use for 5K miles...if you have a mechanical problem you'll still have a mechanical problem even if you changed the filter every day! With the OEM filter you can safely double your current 3K interval.

 

I've been seeing that crap in the bottom of my pan for 30 years. Haven't lost an engine yet. Pretty normal I'd say.

 

The drain pan I drained the oil into has only been used for engine oil, but I'm sure there was residual oil on the edges that would taint my sample.

One other thing, I accidentally ran the car for a minute without the oil fill cap on. Is this a bad thing to do?

 

The filler cap should obviously be in place, but you didn't do any damage providing there was oil in the engine.