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So I’ve posted several times about my 2012 low mileage stock grand sport having glittery oil with shavings. First question is where would you guys start in trying to diagnose this? I’ve pulled both valve covers and everything looks fine. Should the next step be drop the oil pan? Put a borescope in the cylinders?
Every time I change oil, regardless of mileage, I have glittery oil and also some small chunks as in the pics below…. Nothing is ever magnetic, the magnetic plug is completely clean. Also I’ve cut open two oil filters and both were very clean.
So my other question is how concerned would be if you were seeing this in your oil but your filter was clean? I’m working on getting enough miles on the oil to send in a sample to Blackstone for analysis.
My suggestion would be first to have a sample of the engine oil analyzed. A lab will be able to pinpoint exactly what may be present in the oil & thus lead to determining what may be at fault.
Do a search for "engine oil analysis services".
My suggestion would be first to have a sample of the engine oil analyzed. A lab will be able to pinpoint exactly what may be present in the oil & thus lead to determining what may be at fault.
Do a search for "engine oil analysis services".
Yes sir as I mentioned in the post I’m waiting until I get enough miles in the oil then sending a sample off to Blackstone labs for analysis. Regardless of the report I still want to attempt to diagnose, which is why I made the post.
To have particles in the oil but not in the filter is a tough one to figure. All of the oil eventually makes its way to the filter, so it's hard to see how some of those particles don't end up in the filter.
To have particles in the oil but not in the filter is a tough one to figure. All of the oil eventually makes its way to the filter, so it's hard to see how some of those particles don't end up in the filter.
Thats why I’m so torn and scratching my head. There has to be something wrong internally but the filter is very clean. I feel like I need to drop the oil pan and check it out
I would not tear into the engine until the oil analysis is complete, I would also have sent in that oil from your OP for analysis.
I thought about it, however that oil only has about 200 miles on it. Blackstone says they like a minimum of 1000 miles on the oil to give an accurate report
Also, I used to have a stock C6 that also had metal in the oil (my luck) so I sent in an oil sample to Blackstone. The report said everything was fine but turns out some valve seats were chewed up and I also had some ground down valve tips….. sooo not sure how much faith I put into an oil analysis
Last edited by bwill03z; Feb 22, 2026 at 02:42 PM.
when you drain the oil to send sample in. Maybe take all the oil to an engine builder you would want to work with and let them look at the particles in the oil. They should be able to steer you in the right direction.
when you drain the oil to send sample in. Maybe take all the oil to an engine builder you would want to work with and let them look at the particles in the oil. They should be able to steer you in the right direction.
Yeah that’s not a bad idea. Any engine builders on here close to East Tennessee, east Kentucky or SW Virginia?? I don’t know of anyone local that is capable or would be willing to help with it.
I have a possible explanation for your problem. The barbell may be missing. The purpose of the barbell is to direct oil flow through the oil filter. If the barbell is missing, oil will not go through the filter, but merely circulates throughout the engine without ever being filtered. That would explain why you have particles in the oil, but no particles in the oil filter. Unfortunately, you have to remove the rear engine cover to see if the barbell is there or not, and that is a big job any way you look at it. I wish I had better news.
I did a little looking around to see if there was an easy way to detect whether or not the barbell is present in your engine. I found this on the LS1 fourm:
You can pull the oil plug in the back of the block that goes in at a 45 degree angle up on the drivers side and see the shaft of the barbell if it is in place.
You should find that plug just above the oil filter. It should be a simple matter to remove that plug and have a look. A small inspection mirror may be required. Good luck!
Last edited by ClothSeats; Feb 28, 2026 at 08:21 AM.
I have a possible explanation for your problem. The barbell may be missing. The purpose of the barbell is to direct oil flow through the oil filter. If the barbell is missing, oil will not go through the filter, but merely circulates throughout the engine without ever being filtered. That would explain why you have particles in the oil, but no particles in the oil filter. Unfortunately, you have to remove the rear engine cover to see if the barbell is there or not, and that is a big job any way you look at it. I wish I had better news.
I did a little looking around to see if there was an easy way to detect whether or not the barbell is present in your engine. I found this on the LS1 fourm:
You can pull the oil plug in the back of the block that goes in at a 45 degree angle up on the drivers side and see the shaft of the barbell if it is in place.
You should find that plug just above the oil filter. It should be a simple matter to remove that plug and have a look. A small inspection mirror may be required. Good luck!
thank you for that information that’s something to consider. But why in the world would the barbell be missing on a bone stock motor?
i’m really on the fence as to which direction I should go from here. I actually found another grand sport locally that I’m interested in but they did not make me a very appealing offer as far as trade. I thought about maybe taking the car to Carmax or Carvana to see what they would give me for it.
this car isn’t paid for so that plays into my decision also. If I had it paid off then I would just drive it for a while and save up for a rebuild but I ended up having to finance this one.
The car is garage kept and I have a friend who is a mechanic and I have spoken to him about possibly him and I are pulling the motor and tearing it down sometime in the near future so I’m really on the fence as to what to do.
The last time I cut opened the filter I did find two small shiny silver specs in the filter but other than that it was clean. If the oil was bypassing the filter wouldn’t that significantly affect oil pressure?
thank you for that information that’s something to consider. But why in the world would the barbell be missing on a bone stock motor?
i’m really on the fence as to which direction I should go from here. I actually found another grand sport locally that I’m interested in but they did not make me a very appealing offer as far as trade. I thought about maybe taking the car to Carmax or Carvana to see what they would give me for it.
this car isn’t paid for so that plays into my decision also. If I had it paid off then I would just drive it for a while and save up for a rebuild but I ended up having to finance this one.
The car is garage kept and I have a friend who is a mechanic and I have spoken to him about possibly him and I are pulling the motor and tearing it down sometime in the near future so I’m really on the fence as to what to do.
The last time I cut opened the filter I did find two small shiny silver specs in the filter but other than that it was clean. If the oil was bypassing the filter wouldn’t that significantly affect oil pressure?
If you didn't buy that car new, then you don't know for sure what all has happened with that engine.
As far as oil pressure goes, I would think that if anything, bypassing the oil filter would result in higher oil pressure. The oil pressure sensor is on top of the engine (thus it is after the oil filter), so if the oil filter was bypassed, that avoids any pressure loss due to flow through the oil filter, which leaves more pressure to be detected by the oil pressure sensor. Honestly, though, I don't think there would be enough pressure loss through the filter to make any measurable difference to the oil pressure sensor.
It is a pretty simple matter to remove that plug in the side of the block in order to know for sure whether or not the barbell is present. I would definitely do that before anything else.
If you didn't buy that car new, then you don't know for sure what all has happened with that engine.
As far as oil pressure goes, I would think that if anything, bypassing the oil filter would result in higher oil pressure. The oil pressure sensor is on top of the engine (thus it is after the oil filter), so if the oil filter was bypassed, that avoids any pressure loss due to flow through the oil filter, which leaves more pressure to be detected by the oil pressure sensor. Honestly, though, I don't think there would be enough pressure loss through the filter to make any measurable difference to the oil pressure sensor.
It is a pretty simple matter to remove that plug in the side of the block in order to know for sure whether or not the barbell is present. I would definitely do that before anything else.
Yeah that is true. Can anyone maybe show me a picture or diagram of where this oil plug is located?
Yeah that is true. Can anyone maybe show me a picture or diagram of where this oil plug is located?
I don't have a picture or diagram, but, like I said in post #12, the plug should be pretty easy to find. It is located on the side of the block, straight above the oil filter. Maybe someone else has a picture or diagram.
I don't have a picture or diagram, but, like I said in post #12, the plug should be pretty easy to find. It is located on the side of the block, straight above the oil filter. Maybe someone else has a picture or diagram.
okay i’ll just have to go look and see if I can find it, the only oil plug I’m personally familiar with is the drain plug on the pan. It being on the side of the block I don’t imagine you would have to drain the oil to be able to remove that plug would you?
okay i’ll just have to go look and see if I can find it, the only oil plug I’m personally familiar with is the drain plug on the pan. It being on the side of the block I don’t imagine you would have to drain the oil to be able to remove that plug would you?
You will likely get some oil coming out once that plug is removed, but it won't be a whole lot. I would just put a pan under that area before removing the plug so you catch most of the oil that comes out.
You will likely get some oil coming out once that plug is removed, but it won't be a whole lot. I would just put a pan under that area before removing the plug so you catch most of the oil that comes out.
Got ya. So by removing that plug I should be able to see part of the barbell? I will be surprised if it is not there but at the same time I’m pretty baffled as to how I can have so much contamination in my drained oil yet my filter be so clean it’s just not really adding up. I’m also going to pull my valve covers off today and see if I have any flakes or specs in the heads
Got ya. So by removing that plug I should be able to see part of the barbell? I will be surprised if it is not there but at the same time I’m pretty baffled as to how I can have so much contamination in my drained oil yet my filter be so clean it’s just not really adding up. I’m also going to pull my valve covers off today and see if I have any flakes or specs in the heads
The barbell is not missing don't waste your time. You would have 0 oil psi
Im showing you a picture. Stock barbell is superior to this one. This is just a gimmick that is not needed. Million of LS engines have OEM have this and not one ever failed. So don't go there. Waste
Last edited by helga203; Feb 28, 2026 at 11:52 AM.
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Where to start? Diagnosing engine
