I just did an oil change and found a few brown plastic specs and a few very small aluminum slivers. I am told they are from friction with the timing chain. Is this normal? The garage is suggesting they take look at the timing chain. Guess around $2000 just to id the problem. This is the first time I personally have changed the oil on it. thanks

 

perhaps a little background - year, engine and mileage ?

.....doesn't look like anything to worry about

 

Looks normal to me

 

Thank you. It is a 2000 3.4 54K cabriolet

 

Thank you.

 

Brown bits are from the timing chain tensioner pads. Probably nothing to worry too much about, yet. Aluminum is bits from bearing surfaces. If there is a lot or big pieces, I would save some money for that. If you have magnetic pieces, then it's really time to worry.

 

Perhaps getting a Porsche specific OBD scanner would be a good idea at this point - those are not that expensive (cheapest are 100usd +) and what to look for in this case is a camshaft deviation values. If those are within +-6% then no need to worry yet - although if it's close then it's time to at least start planning how to change those chain tensioner pads (the most likely source for that brown plastic). The benefit of that ODB scanner is that it'll show a lot of useful other info like fuel trims etc - it's like an inside view to the overall health of the engine and being 20 year old engine there will be smaller or bigger issues and it's a good idea to be aware of changes that happen before those changes are actually seen because many times the issues has developer much worse before any visible symptoms are seen. Oil analysis is good practice but a scanner is needed as well in my opinion and it can maybe save some money like in this case.

 

Drop the sump to look for larger pieces and as suggested above get the cam deviations checked.

 

Yes, chain pad debris. Check your cam deviations and if out of spec might as well change the pads and chains.