Metal Chunks in Oil Pan - How much is too much?

LibTimothy · Post by **LibTimothy** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 3:40 pm

Greetings Gang!

Let me preface this question by saying that the last time I did an oil change myself (vs paying someone to do the oil change for me), Regan was president. It's been a while since I got dirty.

But with the Pinz, I thought "How hard can it be?" So I did the oil change on the Pinz myself. The only thing that shocked me, besides how much it cost to buy all the toys to do it correctly, was how big the chunks of metal stuck to the drain plug magnet were.

Now there wasn't enough metal to build a Buick or anything like that, but some chunks approached 1/8 inch across. They were big enough to get my undivided attention and to force me to go get the correct glasses to actually see the little beggars.

So, how big is too big? The magnet caught them, so that is good right? Should I be worried?

Thanks friends!

Timothy

Jim LaGuardia · Post by **Jim LaGuardia** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 4:07 pm

You would need to post a picture of the debris if you want it identified.

LibTimothy · Post by **LibTimothy** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 5:15 pm

Ohhhh....

I was way too slimy to touch a camera. I still have all the oil and metal bits. I'll see if I can pull the metal bits out and take a picture of them tomorrow.

Timothy

Twin Pinzies · Post by **Twin Pinzies** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 6:10 pm

Flakes or chunks?
How about sticking some magnets on the outside of the oil filter to catch any more metal bits floating around? It works better than the magnet on the drain plug because ALL the engine oil circulates through the filter.

LibTimothy · Post by **LibTimothy** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 9:38 pm

Some chunks. Some like a paste. Nothing that looked to me like flakes.

But what do I know. I'll pull the metal out with a magnet this week and take a photo of it with some kind of reference in the picture.

Timothy

Heed · Post by **Heed** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 4:58 am

Tip for some cheap, strong magnets;

I use the magnets from old computer hard drives. They are strong, and there is no chance of them falling off by themselves. I just attach them to the sides of the oil filter.

You could also use some large "Rare Earth" magnets. They are super-strong but you'll have to pay a few bucks apiece obviously.

Of course, the magnet trick just keeps me from seeing metal in the drain pan!

krick3tt · Post by **krick3tt** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 5:09 pm

I also use the rare earth magnets, but I put them on the oil filter. Don't want to trap them in the pan. Better in the filter that I throw away. I also have the magnet in the drain plug. When I changer the oil the first few times I noticed very few metal bits, small and seemingly not dangerous, I expected something in a vehicle this old. That is when I decided to put the magnets on the filter.

Morris

Anthony · Post by **Anthony** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 5:50 pm

I think that is an excellent idea, to use a strong magnet on the oil filter! You get gold stars for that advice.

Heed · Post by **Heed** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 7:31 am

Thanks Anthony...it's been a while since I've gotten one...I'm chuffed now!

Just think, you're doing you're part to be "Green" whilst recycling computer parts!

Twin Pinzies · Post by **Twin Pinzies** » Wed Sep 03, 2008 11:03 pm

Twin Pinzies wrote:Flakes or chunks?
How about sticking some magnets on the outside of the oil filter to catch any more metal bits floating around? It works better than the magnet on the drain plug because ALL the engine oil circulates through the filter.

Hey... It was MY idea!^^^^^ See^^^^

Heed · Post by **Heed** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 7:10 am

I stand corrected...

I'll give the gold star to Twin Pinzies.

I thought I had been a Pathfinder! Oh well, I'll take credit for expanding on your original BRILLIANT idea for magnets ("great minds think alike"...or was that "fools seldom differ"?...I can't remember what my Mom used to say

).

LibTimothy · Post by **LibTimothy** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 4:22 pm

OK, Back to mysterious metal in the oil pan.....

I have some of the metal now that the oil has drained away. The biggest chunk is still in the oil, and I'll get a bigger magnet this weekend and see if I can retreive it. Most of this is flakes that look rusty.

And since my photography skills are only slightly better than my brain surgery skills.... Well, I'm sure you'll see. These are the good photos I took.

What think you all? Anyone for a Lobotomy? I mean serious or not?

Timothy

krick3tt · Post by **krick3tt** » Fri Sep 05, 2008 6:13 pm

Changed the oil today. Not one little flake in the pan on the drain magnet.
I think that the magnets on the oil filter are doing their job very well.

They were left over from a woodworking project that was supposed to use them for keeping the door closed. They were so strong, couldn't use them.

Great for the pinz though.

Cheers,
Morris

Jim LaGuardia · Post by **Jim LaGuardia** » Fri Sep 05, 2008 7:06 pm

Your debris appears to be rust flakes from the oil fill tube.

krick3tt · Post by **krick3tt** » Fri Sep 05, 2008 10:12 pm

As I was posting the idea of the magnets on the filter on another forum that I use, it came to me that absolutely no bits on the drain magnet will not allow proper periodic inspection of the condition of the engine.

In the rush to feel I had done something very clever, I was in fact, circumventing the design and use of the magnet in the oil pan.

...soooo, it appears this may not be that great an idea, after all.

Morris

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