johnb74

Had my small block re-built 2,000 miles ago and continue to find spec size metal particles in bottom of second oil change drain pan. First oil change was done at 600 miles. Is this normal and if so, when should it stop.
John

johnb74

Anyone had a rebuild

ZD75blue

it might be that the engine wasnt cleaned properly originaly when it was rebuilt? did you change the heads/intake?

the could have had flakes of metal stuck to them?

Hope to hear you cure

ZD

MIKER

I changed the break in oil on my 383 the other day. It had maybe 45 minutes of total run time on it. I could see metal particles coming out of the filter as it was turned upside down to drain on my oil catch container. It is hard for me to quantify the amount for comparison to yours.
Is this normal? I dunno? I would guess that most rebuilt engines would have some of this but how much is too much? Again, I dunno!
I plan on changing this next batch of oil after I run a full tank of gas through it. I'll report back to see how much metal particlate that I see coming from the filter after that.
I would like to see more input on this subject as well.

I'm guessing that a perfectly blueprinted engine would show very little if any signs of metal in the break in oil.

vert2go89

Depends what the metal particles look like.If they are brass or silver looking then you may have a real problem.It could be that the rod bearing and main bearing caps were not sized and thus were out of round causing the bearings to wear quickly thus giving the metalic particles you are seeing.You should nothave metal particles in the oil on a new rebuilt motor.Either the block,pan or other parts weren't cleaned very well or you have bearings wearing quickly.
I saw one engine long block that three times had to be torn back down due to out of round or weak tensil cranks.two crank journals had worn really bad and this happened twice with only a few hundred miles on each engine.Builder ended up using a junk yard crank and haven't had anymore problems.It's been known for a rebuilder to get weak cranks.
I imagine if you keep seeing particles in oil change then your engine won't last much longer.I would suggest removing pan and bearing caps and check the journals and bearings if next oil change has particles in it.

johnb74

Anyone else with rebuild experience. The metal particles are a few tiny specs. Could this be a leftover from first oil change left in bottom of pan. Why is this first oil change needed at such few miles and what should be seen in oil.

midyearguy

I just got my engine rebuilt and when I first started it up it had a lot of white smoke coming out the exaust. Is this normal, and if so how long will it last?

marky mark

Although I'm having a problem with my motor leaking ehxaust into the coolant I have chaged my oil 3 times within it's first hundred miles (I know, overkill) and saw zero metal parts in the oil.

I would change the oil more frequently to see if volune of metal get smaller or stay the same. Also, one of those magnetic drain plugs might help find the metal parts. Was motor built by a machine shop?

Good luck, mark

69er

Recent rebuild no metal particles that I saw but I would imagine there were some tiny particles that I couldn't see.
I've changed the oil twice in a 1200 mile period and now use synthetic.





[Modified by 69er, 6:24 AM 8/20/2001]

johnb74

Mark,
Had it rebuilt by a very well known shop and they say it is normal for the first couple thousand miles. To spot such metal particles, I poured my oil out of its light color catch basin and saw a number of specs left in the coating of oil on the bottom of the basin. Otherwise, you would never find such particles.

73Ken73

It is normal to have very fine metal particles in a new engine. I have seen it in four new rebuilt engines that I have put in my cars and in many crate engine from my friends cars. I allways change my oil after I break in the cam and then after about 200 miles and then about 500 miles. I don't think that I see much metal after the second oil change.

marky mark

Sounds o.k. I guess. I would expect that this would subside after a couple more oil changes. I would do two or three of them 100 miles apart to see if it goes away.

Good Luck, mark

theandies

My ZZ4 had a little after break-in (500 miles). I also cut open the filter ( I used to work on airplanes and we did this after every oil change) to check it out and there was a little in it but nothing I was concerned with. I will cut it again at the next oil change. Buy a magnetic oil plug and see how much get deposited on it. Unless the particles become larger and more in quantity I don't think you have anything to worry about.
John

marky mark

I changed my oil and looked closely and did see these small parts of metal in the drain pan. Motor has about 300 miles on it and I have changed oil 4 times (had some overheating issues ).

So, please forget what I said about not finding any previuosly.

I also had this rebuilt by a well regarded local shop so I must assume they did a good job. I just wonder if it's coming from the bearing materialS???

Regards, mark :chevy