tiny chip in oil

[Oliver S.]

Since my garage had overfilled my Vette at the last oil change I drained the surplus (0,1 gal) with a hand pump and hose through the dip stick tube. When removing the hose a tiny chrome like chip - 0,02 inch diameter - clung to it. I filtered the drained oil but found nothing more. I'd like to know if this is normal tear and wear or not. The engine was rebulit by the last owner and has around 4000 miles on it. Since I have the oil changed by a garage I have no clue what came out with it. At leat I wasn't told anything suspicious.
Oliver

[Michael G.]

Re: tiny chip in oil

Oliver,

If it ain't broke don't fix it....so to speak. Should all systems be performing, functioning as they should keep on trucking and monitor. If there are issues they will show up or not, till then rest easy sir.

[Michael W.]

Re: tiny chip in oil

The oil filter will collect and hold any engine generated debris. Cut your old one open if you're curious.

[Paul J.]

Re: tiny chip in oil

Oliver, it's possible that this was left over from the rebuild, and it was lodged somewhere until the overfill floated it out. If you don't see any more during the next oil change, I would'nt worry too much about it. You should do the next oil change yourself, carefully look at the waste oil and maybe cut the filter open, as Michael suggests.

[Stuart F.]

Re: tiny chip in oil

Is your air cleaner chromed? My 63 L-76 is and it's been peeling off the chrome plate from the inside for nearly 50 years. When I see some loose ends, I peel it off myself, but I have no idea where the rest went to.

Stu Fox

[Oliver S.]

Re: tiny chip in oil

The air filter is the original one but the mentioned chip was supposedly not from it. After I bought the car the oil pan was removed in order to replace the broken dip stick tube. The engine was overfilled last year, too. The surplus was removed by the shop. I inserted the hose deeply - if the chip survived the previous actions - it may be a
remains from the overhaul. I have never found such a chip on the dip stick while checking oil. I'm going to invest 90 bucks to have the oil examined to derive the engine condition.

Oliver

[Al E.]

Re: tiny chip in oil

I have seen this before.. Not that I am a "know-it-all" But smetimes when you change the oil and refill it the foil cap protector that you have to peel back on some oil bottles come off and flow into the oil filler tube. I have done this myself, with the radiator fluid or the oil additives. When it gets hot it gets a little hard and you may think it is a harder metal..
Trust me, if it was something nasty you would have seen more shavings sticking to the oil drain plug.. if you have a magnetic one.
Al

[Michael W.]

Re: tiny chip in oil

I'm going to invest 90 bucks to have the oil examined to derive the engine condition.

Oliver

Oliver, I'll give you my 2/5ths of a nickel since we no longer have cents (pennies) in Canada.

A single oil analysis sample is of very limited value and may confuse more than help. The sample will invariably come back showing the presence of all sorts of materials. Interpreting these results without knowing what's normal for a particular engine is black magic voodoo at best except in the case of impending failure which an owner would already be aware of with other tell tale signs.

Save your money, again I'd cut open an oil filter to see what, if anything, your engine has been doing. My guess is it's just fine.

[Oliver S.]

Re: tiny chip in oil

Oliver, I'll give you my 2/5ths of a nickel since we no longer have cents (pennies) in Canada.

A single oil analysis sample is of very limited value and may confuse more than help. The sample will invariably come back showing the presence of all sorts of materials. Interpreting these results without knowing what's normal for a particular engine is black magic voodoo at best except in the case of impending failure which an owner would already be aware of with other tell tale signs.

Save your money, again I'd cut open an oil filter to see what, if anything, your engine has been doing. My guess is it's just fine.

The company doing this kind of check claims to have a hugh data base with numerous engines and oils etc.. BUT: the oil needs to be in for 5000 km ~ 3200 miles. I only drive a third a year and then the oil gets changed. I'll have a closer look by the end of this season. In a slight paranoid mode I've checked the dip stick several times before and after a test drive as well as when the oil was cool again. Nothing.

Oliver

[Michael W.]

Re: tiny chip in oil

The company doing this kind of check claims to have a hugh data base with numerous engines and oils etc..

But they don't have YOUR engine- and that makes all the difference. No two are alike.

[Oliver S.]

Re: tiny chip in oil

Today, I've put a magnetic screw driver in the bottle with the surplus oil (17 ounces). The bottle (plastic) was brand new and I cleaned the screw driver carefully. This flake stuck to the screw driver. One side is very shiny the other appears to be dull. It is approx. 0.02 x 0.04 inch in size.

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Honestly, I'm a bit concerend. Is it worth having a closer look - i.e. remove the oil pan and have a look at the drained oil and the remains in the pan as well as visually inspect the engine from below. Maybe remove the valve covers. I appreciate your comments.

Oliver

[Daniel R.]

Re: tiny chip in oil

Oliver, I would do as Al suggested and install a magnetic drain plug. Rosco

[Stephen B.]

Re: tiny chip in oil

Have you pulled the valve covers yet. If you see metal in and around the rockers you may have a bearing problem. If the rocker area is clean you more than likely have a freak stray unexplained chip. You may never know exactly where it cam from . If you find metal in the rocker area don't run the engine any more until you drop the pan and check it along with some rod caps. This is all worst case scenario, but if you've got a rod or main bearing thats chewed up catch it before you lock the crank up and have to spend the big bucks. There's no more hideous a sound than a crank locking up.
Stephen Barrettt 21558
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