Metal Flakes Found in Oil Filter

[ubii]

I recently changed the oil in my 1997 986 with 67K miles after about 5K miles and discovered several tiny flat metal flakes in the oil filter. The attached photo, shows most the larger flakes that I was able to pull out of the filter, using a magnet. There were about a dozen or so smaller flakes, that were much smaller, which I did not bother to include in the photo. Unfortunately, I did not think to check my last filter as thoroughly as I did this one, but do not remember seeing any metal fakes. I did not find any other debris in this filter, besides these tiny metal flakes.

My question is, how concerned should I be by this discovery? Is this a possible indication of an impending IMS failure or something less severe? Should I drop the sump to look for any additional debris? Is it safe to drive or should I just pony up and replace the IMS, as well as the clutch and RMS, while I am at it?

[Spinnaker]

Originally Posted by ubii

My question is, how concerned should I be by this discovery? Is this a possible indication of an impending IMS failure or something less severe? Should I drop the sump to look for any additional debris? Is it safe to drive or should I just pony up and replace the IMS, as well as the clutch and RMS, while I am at it?

I don't have a crystal ball, but from everything that I have learned on this forum, if you keep on driving it after finding metal particles in the filter, you will soon be shopping for a new/rebuilt engine.
I would think that most will tell you to contact Flat 6 Innovations, or someone else with Boxster engine expertise for their opinion ASAP.
There are only a few places in the engine that will produce metal debris, none of them are good.
If I were to guess the source, the IMS bearing or the timing chains, would be where I would put my money. Catch it early and you can save the engine. Let it go and you can upgrade to a 3.4-3.6 and have a lot of fun.

BTW, you aren't that far from Cleveland, GA.

[DenverSteve]

I would contact my dealership or mechanic and let them have a look at the pieces. Those are larger than what I would ignore. Do you have any unusual noises, sounds or concerns? If you are changing your own oil, do you always inspect the oil/filter? Ever found it before?

[ubii]

Originally Posted by DenverSteve

I would contact my dealership or mechanic and let them have a look at the pieces. Those are larger than what I would ignore. Do you have any unusual noises, sounds or concerns? If you are changing your own oil, do you always inspect the oil/filter? Ever found it before?

I do have an extremely faint knocking sound at idle, which has been there since I bought the car about a year ago. My assumption was that it was lifter or injector related and I recently changed from Mobil 1 0w-40 to Castrol Syntec 5w-40 and ran some Techron through engine, which has seemed to help it quiet down a bit, but that could be my imagination. I have only done two oil changes since I bought it and the first time (about 5K miles ago), I checked the filter, but not as thoroughly as this time and did not see any metal flakes. Normally, I do all of the wrenching on my car, but I might break down and take it to a local independent Porsche shop, who happens to be a LN Engineering dealer. I guess I will call them on Monday and get an estimate on how much it will cost to install the LN IMS retrofit kit, a new clutch, and RMS. I was planning on doing this next spring anyway, but it sounds like it is not safe to wait that long. Anything else, I should look at doing at the same time?

[san rensho]

I wouldn't start the motor, but definitely pull the sump plate and see if there are any bigger pieces that you (or your mechanic) can identify.

[Mark_T]

+1 on pulling the sump cover and doing some more exploring. Post pics of what you find.