Posted this in the IMS thread but it's a little off the beaten path.

First oil change after IMS replacement. Old IMSB reported to be "like new". FF 5,000 miles and the filter looks like this:
















A couple flecks in filter housing. Don't have a magnetic plug (my bad) and the oil sample is being shipped off to Blackstone first thing in the morning.

I did find the thread from the guy who had metal in the filter 12k mi. after his IMSB change. He was advised to do an oil/filter change at 50 mi. and go from there. Oh, and, KK suggested he tear the engine down, replacing parts as you see fit.

TC

 

Metallic or non metallic?

 

Whatever the metal is, my next move would be to drop the oil pan and check what debris is in there....

 

Anytime an engine is disturbed this can result in an uptick in debris in the oil filter.

Absent any ferrous bits the shiny stuff is probably aluminum and could be from the IMSB being changed out. I hope it doesn't signal the bearing was pressed in crooked and shaved some aluminum from the bearing bore. While possible I don't think that's what happened.

It doesn't take much alum. after having gone through the gear teeth of the oil pump to make a small flake or two of alum end up as a lot of tiny specs of alum. in the filter element.

Wait to see what the oil analysis report has to say.

You can change the oil and filter and of course clean the filter housing out and run the engine some. Of course then the question becomes how long how much engine run time do you allow? If you want to err on the side of caution let the engine idle until warmed up and then remove the filter and examine the oil and filter after dumping both into a *clean* drain pan. What you find or do not find determines what you do next.

If clean or just a spec or two -- what I expect -- put in a new filter and top up the oil and drive the car a while. Always with an ear tuned to the engine in case it starts making scary noises. If you hear anything shut off the engine first and ask questions later.

After this second test run again drop the filter and check it and the oil. If it is still clean you were probably dealing with just the normal trash a disturbed engine produces.

Likely the next oil change will have you finding some more trash but it should be quite a bit less.

 

Ask the bearing kit manufacturer for their oppinion.

 

It's ferrous.

TC

 

Did the shop checked the oil filter and inspect the oil sump before they install the IMSB and what kind of IMSB is that?

 

That will be the first question I ask when I call him tomorrow.

When I cut open the filter two changes ago, (The last change I personally performed.) it was clean.

TC

 

Its will be easy to check if the sump plate has been removed as the new sealant "bead" will be seen, even if they didn't actually clean the pans exterior.

 

Is yours an mkII? I see some black chain pad like debris in your pics. I also second the suggestion of dropping the oil pan. If you don't find anything significant, I think installing an IMSB guardian will be a good idea if you decide to keep driving the car, at least the guardian can warn you earlier before everything in the engine is destroyed and become non rebuildable. Of course the guardian also doubles as a magnetic drain plug.

If your IMSB is the open type, the debris will also destroy the new bearing quickly.

Another thing to check is borescoping the cylinders and see if they are scored.

 

Thanks all! Getting on the phone soon as he opens.

TC

 

With the metal debris being ferrous that's a very good question.

 

In the shop now.

TC

 

I have also its flakes, I make a oil change every 5000 km
and I check the oil filter...
for my car the flakes are not magnetic : maybe this a aluminium ???

I've done the make oil
on a 986 to a friend
The oil filter was the same this pictures.
and there in small black plastic end like her pictures....

 

Oh man - fingers crossed the prognosis isn't too bad...good job catching whatever it is now.