Last Lemming

Ok, I'm not sure if I should panic or not.

I was checking my oil the other day. I don't know about you but my oil dip stick is tight fit and takes a little effort to seat. Well when I checked the dip stick I noticed between the two "v" notches a piece of metal about the 1/8" long that had a curly hair shape to it. Like something had lathed a small hair of metal off of something. I looked at the dipstick and noticed that there was a metal bur extending off the edge of the dipstick on one of the "v" notches. I had a sharp feel to it. I filed it down, cleaned it up and checked the oil level 10 or more times with clean results.

Here is my thinking but I'm open to other thoughts: metal doesn't float, so I presume that I had to pick this metal up on the way up when removing the dipstick. The dipstick doesn't go to the bottom of the pan so a metal shaving wouldn't float in the oil and stick on the dip stick by accident - esp. since the car had been sitting for a day or so. I cant think of anything else that could make a curly shaving like that in the engine, but maybe one of you do.

Only thing of note is that a few weeks earlier I had taken off and reinstalled my cam housing, but I was pretty careful plugging the openings to the engine while working on it and it housing went on pretty much without a hitch, other than the bottom of a lifter catching on a spring hat because the housing was tilted over and not square to the head when I first went to install it.

I'm going to pull the drain plug and a little oil to see if anything else pops up.

Any thoughts?

konakat

Yikes. I'd say bite the bullet and drain the oil completely to make sure there isn't any more metal in there. It could be your #2 rod bearing.

Last Lemming

Hope not since those were replaced about 1000 miles ago!

mj951

I agree, drain the oil. Do you still have a stock drain plug with the magnet?
Hopefully it's nothing.

Last Lemming

I am going to drain the oil and I do have the magnetic drain plug. It's a painful oil change since it's joe Gibbs synthetic oil and that stuff ain't cheap.

mytrplseven

Cheap insurance, though. I'm puzzled about the problem getting the dipstick inserted fully. Trying to remember what is in the area of the end of the dipstick inside the pan.

HICKS

Cut open the oil filter too. It'll be pretty obvious if there's a problem.

Last Lemming

what's the easiest way to cut open a filter without introducing metal shavings from the casing?

HICKS

I have this:
Before that, I used some snips. When the can is opened you cut the paper filter just under the caps with a box cutter, and check inside the pleats of the filter. this is where I found my #2 rod bearing, lol.

I think your bearings are fine, but I would still check to see if any other metal was caught.

BikePilot

A shaving as you describe is not from a rod bearing and unlikely to be from anything bad happening in the engine. More likely left over crap from production that finally worked free or a burr created by the tight dip stick fit. I'd still drain the oil, inspect and cut open the filter to be safe, but I think you'll not find any major issues.

Last Lemming

Okay, drained oil all is perfectly fine nothing on the drain plug or any kind of metal filings or shavings in the oil itself.

Will proceed to cut open oil filter and check. But I think I will be fine.

Last Lemming

Hicks,

I noticed you have a 2011 WRX. I have a 2011 Limited STI how are you loving yours?!

I feel pretty invincible in my car I don't know about you!

HICKS

It's just a 2011 Impreza premium, not a WRX....Wife cant drive a manual....But I do like the the car in general.

Last Lemming

Crap, crap, crap - and crap!!!

Cut the filter open and found gold dust. I don't know what's normal or not. The PO put new rod bearings in about 1000 miles ago so I don't know if this is normal break in or not. Probably not knowing my luck.

HICKS

Did he replace the bearings because he spun one? Any chuncks in the pleats?