ugh...ferrous metal found...

[Gelbster]

How were the cracks caused?
1. road debris ?
2. jacking under the sump
3.'off-roading' ?
I ask because perhaps the metallic debris is related to the incident that cracked the sump plate ?
Since your plate is cracked, you need a deep sump(Mantis /FVD?) not just an space+baffle kit.

[Viper10000]

I am really not sure how they got there. I never bottomed out with it but the previous owner probably did. I didn't jack the car up from there but i did support it on that plate while replacing the front engine mount. This was last year.

[Sisu guy]

Viper, no need to worry about your sump plate. The "cracks" you see are ridges in the die casting due to surface cracks in the die itself caused by thermal stress over time. This is normal and very common, plus there is no stress in the sump plate that would cause these to become an issue!

[BYprodriver]

I would replace the sump plate with a good used one & not do any racing. I have one I could sell you, but it may not get there til after Christmas. Permatex grey ultra seal works great for the sump plate only. The metal doesn't look bad. I would reassemble & check the new oil filter every 100 miles til 3,000 miles, then change & get a oil sample analyzed.

You should also get the cam timing deviation tested A.S.A.P. If the vario-cam solenoid chain wear pads have never been replaced, they should be done A.S.A.P. that's the source of most of the plastic chunks!