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My engine has about 2000 miles on it but when I cut open the filter I still find shinny non-magnetic particles in the pleats. This is the 4rth oil change and it has been getting better over time. Looks like aluminum but not sure where they are coming from. My heads and rocker arms are aluminum but offhand I can't think of anything else. Other than that I see the typical black smudge that accumulates on my drip pan magnet, the magnets that are located at the head drain-back ports and the filter magnet. Nothing unusual there. Any thoughts?
? WAG
V Spring seated directly on/in Alum pocket ?
Good point. If you buy already assembled aluminum heads, they would come from the factory with a steel shim under the valvespring and laying in the spring pocket.
If you are one to build your own heads from scratch, you would likely forget to put a shim in there causing chaffing of the spring coil end into the soft aluminum head.
No, I have checked all of that. I recently went through the heads removing all springs and checking all clearances. Shims are all in place and clearance appears to be OK between the retainer and the rocker. All rockers inspected and no signs of interference or wear in that area. I also checked the pushrod to head clearance and that appears to be all OK. I also use lash caps which increase my retainer to rocker clearance as well. Are there any other non-magnetic metals used? Is bearing material typically magnetic? I think my rods and pistons are aluminum but what could they be hitting? The engine sounds fine, no evidence of knock or any other metal to metal sound that might be deemed abnormal.
No, I have checked all of that. I recently went through the heads removing all springs and checking all clearances. Shims are all in place and clearance appears to be OK between the retainer and the rocker. All rockers inspected and no signs of interference or wear in that area. I also checked the pushrod to head clearance and that appears to be all OK. I also use lash caps which increase my retainer to rocker clearance as well. Are there any other non-magnetic metals used? Is bearing material typically magnetic? I think my rods and pistons are aluminum but what could they be hitting? The engine sounds fine, no evidence of knock or any other metal to metal sound that might be deemed abnormal.
Bearing material ... the softer layer that the journals ride on... is Not magnetic ... it's either Aluminum or Babbit.
WAG ?
Likely have a good crank with a good large radius on journals ... which require bearings that're either chamfered or narrowed ... what's in there ?
From: Some days your the dog and some days your the hydrant.
Royal Canadian Navy
I don't know how long it takes for the various elements to leech into the oil for an accurate analysis. Suggest you call Blackstone or other company that provides this service. Maybe they also do filter debris analysis. Costs nothing to ask.
If I had to guess, I would say piston skirting material.
I wouldn't read too much into this. To me, that is just break-in glitter. Its non-magnetic so I would not be as concerned as metallic.
I bet if you cut open 10 oil filters on C3s that 7 out of 10 would have something showing glitter in the filter media. Parts wear. Especially soft ones.
Drive it. Enjoy it!
Last edited by HeadsU.P.; Aug 5, 2019 at 09:02 AM.
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Metalic Particles in Oil Filter
