How Much Metal in Oil Is Too Much?

[CobaltFilly]

This is a pic of the dark spots on a paper towel showing the metal I got off my steeda magnetic oil drain plug yesterday during oil change. 3.7L V6 mustang, 51k miles, how much metal shavings is too much and worrisome?

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[CobaltFilly]

Next time I will be sure to cut the oil filter open to check it out.

Car has no real issues or codes, will be detuning it (MPT 91) later today in an attempt to save gas mileage :/

 

[robvas]

I'd check the oil again in a couple weeks

 

[GregO]

This is a pic of the dark spots on a paper towel showing the metal I got off my steeda magnetic oil drain plug yesterday during oil change. 3.7L V6 mustang, 51k miles, how much metal shavings is too much and worrisome?

Looks perfectly normal.
Send it and sleep well at night.

 

[Skye]

https://www.mustang6g.com/forums/threads/first-oil-change-and-analysis.132878/

This is a thread I've commented in. I have several posts of what my drain plug looked like. But I'm in a completely different situation, one with an engine only at several thousand miles.

While I don't see anything that bothers me in the residue you displayed, it's not really accurate, is it? Engines and mechanical parts will shed metals. Further, different engines, different mileage, will show different characteristics. Yours appears to be a fine residue. The drain plug is doing what it's supposed to do.

If concerned, go to the Blackstone labs web site and request a free test kit. They'll send you a sample bottle and instructions. At the next oil change, take a sample, pay for the test then and ship it back. https://www.blackstone-labs.com/

 

[CobaltFilly]

https://www.mustang6g.com/forums/threads/first-oil-change-and-analysis.132878/

This is a thread I've commented in. I have several posts of what my drain plug looked like. But I'm in a completely different situation, one with an engine only at several thousand miles.

While I don't see anything that bothers me in the residue you displayed, it's not really accurate, is it? Engines and mechanical parts will shed metals. Further, different engines, different mileage, will show different characteristics. If I physically saw shavings, yes. But it looks like yours is a fine residue. The drain plug is doing what it's supposed to do.

If concerned, go to the Blackstone labs web site and request a free test kit. They'll send you a sample bottle and instructions. At the next oil change, take a sample, pay for the test then and ship it back. https://www.blackstone-labs.com/

I did so. They said the following on my last oil change before this one:

With a track day once per month, we are not too concerned about wear metals being higher than universal averages. Those show
typical wear for the 3.7L Duratec after about 6,300 miles on the oil, and most of these engines aren't run
hard at the track. However, aluminum is further from average than iron and copper are, so there might be a
little excess wear taking place at pistons/bearings.

 

[coyote550]

Doesn't look too concerning but, go to Blackstone labs and order a test kit for the oil and the filter. Drive a couple of weeks and send the used oil and filter in for testing. Well worth the money. It will tell you what kind of metals are present and how much of it.

 

[robvas]

Don't forget blackstone can't detect metal larger than 8 microns

So if you can see it, they can't with their analysis.

 

[Skye]

Did you sample this oil change? If so, you can continue to trend things out and see how it progresses. If not, I'd sample each oil change. Along with that, continue to check and monitor the car for other tells.

It's great you're mindful of everything going on. But it doesn't seem there's anything to take action on just yet.

If the next sample returns with amounts worse still, I'd forgo the track days, even if once a month.

 

[CobaltFilly]

Did you sample this oil change? If so, you can continue to trend things out and see how it progresses. If not, I'd sample each oil change. Along with that, continue to check and monitor the car for other tells.

It's great you're mindful of everything going on. But it doesn't seem there's anything to take action on just yet.

If the next sample returns with amounts worse still, I'd forgo the track days, even if once a month.

Forgone all track days for now, since I have to save some dough to move. Will be building this girl into a NASA TT4 car later on and am saving for a daily too.

Will be sampling next oil change, forgot to this time around :(

 

[Johnny Rockit]

I firmly believe the metal that is found was probably from the machining process and while most is flushed out, there is still places where it cannot be removed. Then the panic starts. I bet a brand new engine at the factory is shipped with it. Luck of the draw I suppose and some of us have a shitty hand.

 

[WItoTX]

Normal. But I wouldn't listen to me, this was my oil last change. YMMV

I sent an oil analysis off. But my drain plug magnet looks about the same as yours every time I change oil (4-8 hours of hard use)

 

[ice445]

Normal. But I wouldn't listen to me, this was my oil last change. YMMV

I sent an oil analysis off. But my drain plug magnet looks about the same as yours every time I change oil (4-8 hours of hard use)

Oof, that's straight bearing material. Last time I had oil come out like that in a different car, the engine only made it another 9 months before rod knocking.

 

[Crew4991]

https://www.mustang6g.com/forums/threads/first-oil-change-and-analysis.132878/

This is a thread I've commented in. I have several posts of what my drain plug looked like. But I'm in a completely different situation, one with an engine only at several thousand miles.

While I don't see anything that bothers me in the residue you displayed, it's not really accurate, is it? Engines and mechanical parts will shed metals. Further, different engines, different mileage, will show different characteristics. Yours appears to be a fine residue. The drain plug is doing what it's supposed to do.

If concerned, go to the Blackstone labs web site and request a free test kit. They'll send you a sample bottle and instructions. At the next oil change, take a sample, pay for the test then and ship it back. https://www.blackstone-labs.com/

Yes Blackstone is great. Highly recommend! I've used them before to know when to get rid of cars... LOL

 

[Keeffa]

This is a pic of the dark spots on a paper towel showing the metal I got off my steeda magnetic oil drain plug yesterday during oil change. 3.7L V6 mustang, 51k miles, how much metal shavings is too much and worrisome?

That's nothing to worry about. Perfectly normal.

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