Changed oil found Metal Shavings

[Warren]

So I changed my oil today and found some tiny metal shavings. They range from small little crumbs of metal to a few that are the size of a tiny splinter. Put a magnet to them and they are magnetic. What would cause this inside of the engine? Last time I had my valve covers off I didnt see anything suspicious. I havnt taken the oil pan or the heads off ever so I dont know whats lurking under there.

 

[luigisho]

Hard to say for certain but I would drop the oil pan and look at the bearings and crankshaft to be sure.

 

[Irish Pride]

What year is the car and how many miles? Has the oil light been flickereing at all recently? With the history of these engines being what it is the obvious first thought would be that your rod bearings are about to take a dump.

Stop driving the car and check your bearings.

 

[rubydist]

bearing material is not going to be magnetic, so its more likely from some steel fastener like the oil drain plug or something like that.

however, it is a good idea to pull the pan and do a careful inspection - an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure...

 

[Racer X]

Timing chains getting lunched? Cams?

I feel like you hear either of those long before they got to the point of losing material, though.

 

[SHOtimer]

Either that or one of the pads on your cam chain tensioner has worn all the way through or come off and the chain is riding on the metal base for the pad.

When I did one of my 60k's I found one of my tensioners like that. It had worn significantly into the metal, no adverse effects yet. But, something to check.

I'd do that first, as it is much easier to pull the valve covers than drop the oil pan.

Doug

 

[Warren]

Its a 94 mtx with 183k miles. When I had the valve covers off a few months ago the hard material on the cam chain tensioner was still good and chains seemed ok. Oil light doesn't flicker at all unless I bog it down once in a blue moon while I'm in first gear and stuck in traffic.

I guess I'm going to have to drop the pan and poke around down there.

 

[zblackbeast]

At that millage on an mtx I would do bearings anyway.. if you tend to bog it often you may be one borrowed time. Im getting ready to drop my oil pan soon to check bearings and what not

 

[jimtash]

Metal in the oil can also damage the oil pump. Not the rotors themselves but the aluminum housing that surrounds them and cause even lower oil pressure. That's where you start running into real trouble.