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Having previously seen posts about examining a freshly-removed oil filter for metal I decided to give it a try this time. I've searched the forum and the broader web for photos and discussions on the subject and while I found some discussions, I didn't find anything that helped me clarify what is "normal" debris and no photos of other Porsche owners' filter media.
So, does anyone here have experience with what to expect in an oil filter examination? Please see the attached photo that shows an example of what I see in the filter I just cut open. The number of particles you see is present through most of the filter. There are a few very tiny particles (so small I can barely feel them or see them without my glasses) but I would think that would be expected and the filter is doing its job. The closest posts I found on the web were with respect to airplane engine inspections and this seems to be normal or even better than normal.
I'm not really worried since whatever is there doesn't appear to be a lot of them or anything big... I'm more curious than anything. Overall I thought the filter looks pretty good.
And if you have photos of other filter examinations, good or bad, please show them to me so I'll have some point of reference. Thanks!
If your car is a 997-1 I would send a sample each oil change to a lab. Look in the oil filter canister and see if you see sparkles. Particles on your filter and abnormal levels of metals in your oil are the first indication of a problem.
I see you have a 997.2 without an IMS. So, if there was an issue, It would more likely be from some normal wear and tear. I would keep changing the oil regularly and inspect the filter. It is likely nothing but you could send you oil to an analyst such as Blackstone Labs.
Yep, 997.2... I should have been explicit. This time around I didn't capture any oil, just the filter. Next time I'll be sure to get a sample and send it to Blackstone just for peace of mind. Thanks for the help!
Anyone else have photos or metrics of what to expect as far as particle counts/sizes? I'm tending to think these are normal.
It also has occurred to me that one a small device it may be hard to see the particles in the photo. The largest particles I saw are just like the one just top right of center in the photo, maybe the size of a flake of fine-ground pepper. There are only about ten of these in the entire filter. The rest are much tinier and are on the verge of not being visible and are present at the rate of about two or three per square inch of filter surface area on average (mostly in the bottom of the pleats where you would expect them). In the photo I can see about eight of these if I look hard.
Of course, I assume there are even tinier ones I don't see, but overall I thought the filter surface looks very clean. I could find no oil gunk, no metallic "paste" like I've seen on a motorcycle having problems, and no traces of visible carbon chunks were present (apparently a sign of ring blow-by and other problems according the the aircraft articles I saw).
I changed the oil recently on my 997.2 and my filter looked similar. I sent an oil sample to Blackstone and it came back with a great report. I say is normal.
I changed the oil recently on my 997.2 and my filter looked similar. I sent an oil sample to Blackstone and it came back with a great report. I say is normal.
That was the specific answer I was hoping to see! Thanks Robocop and everyone.
9 Years later after the last thread was posted…wondering what everyone’s thoughts are on this…was unable to find a whole lot of information on this when searching the forums.
The car (2009 997.2 C4S MT) new to me as of April 2023, had 136xxxkm on it…now sitting at 157xxxkm.
Since she has been in my ownership, the oil changes have been every 5000km with a 5W40 oil along with Liqui Moly Ceratec.
I follow the rules of little idling, and avoid RPM above 3000 until I see the oil temp needle move.
For the most part, it is a daily commuter, but I do take her through the RPM range…been to the track once so far.
Just got back from a 5200KM trip with the car…
I had briefly looked at all the other oil filters before; seeing about the same amount of particles in them.
Engine runs normal and does not burn any oil in between the oil changes. Only code is O2 sensor bank 2 warmup once in a while.
Pictures are of the entire oil filter…all of particles are nonferrous
I think this is a very pertinent question and am following the post with interest. MAybe someone knows and engineer with specific experience in this area?
9 Years later after the last thread was posted…wondering what everyone’s thoughts are on this…was unable to find a whole lot of information on this when searching the forums.
The car (2009 997.2 C4S MT) new to me as of April 2023, had 136xxxkm on it…now sitting at 157xxxkm.
Since she has been in my ownership, the oil changes have been every 5000km with a 5W40 oil along with Liqui Moly Ceratec.
I follow the rules of little idling, and avoid RPM above 3000 until I see the oil temp needle move.
For the most part, it is a daily commuter, but I do take her through the RPM range…been to the track once so far.
Just got back from a 5200KM trip with the car…
I had briefly looked at all the other oil filters before; seeing about the same amount of particles in them.
Engine runs normal and does not burn any oil in between the oil changes. Only code is O2 sensor bank 2 warmup once in a while.
Pictures are of the entire oil filter…all of particles are nonferrous
Any thought would greatly be appreciate…
I've never seen that many pieces in one of my filters and not a piece as large as that one on your finger. I would send an oil sample off to Blackstone or Speed Diagnostics to see what the aluminum ppm content is and go from there. Bore scoring on 997.2s is less prevalent but still a possibility.
I've been holding off replying with exactly what Petza said. I've changed oil many times in my car as well as several friends' cars and generally see two or three flecks.
But trying to stay positive, metal gets left behind in the galleys during machining. Sometimes, stuff gets shaken loose. So the sky isn't falling.
Still, vigilance is due.
FWIW ... Adding MoS2 to the oil has resulted in near zero (and zero) flecks amongst our group. This is for a fleet of cars with near six figure and six figure miles on them.
09-30-2014, 11:23 PM
Oil filter particles - How much is normal?
