Originally Posted by Timco (Post 495005)

Did you use a new filter with last oil change? Open it up? Time for a magnetic oil drain plug.

Test oil for presence of antifreeze of it looks milky.

Originally Posted by GTsilber (Post 495008)

Used a new oil filter for the change. Already using a LN magnetic oil plug, but I stripped it [emoji35] No coolant in oil, just tested. I think I'm going to get the ims replacement - possibility of buying a new engine doesn't sound great. What else could it be, variocam?

Originally Posted by thstone (Post 495011)

I see those little teeny tiny sparkles (when the light hits the oil just right) when I change oil on all of my cars and have never worried because there are only two options: (1) tear down the engine to find the source.; (2) do nothing.

It seems like it would be hard to justify tearing down an engine because of these microscopic metal particles, but its your car and your budget so you will have to make whatever decision you feel is right.

If you're really worried, have the oil tested and then you'll know exactly what is in the oil.

For reference, this is what a real problem looks like:

http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/...ps112ad98b.jpg

Originally Posted by j.fro (Post 495041)

Send a sample away for an oil analysis. They'll tell you exactly what's in your oil and add insight. FWIW, I use Blackstone labs.

Originally Posted by Bobiam (Post 495769)

Analysis poo........ Time for a MS bearing change. I would not drive that car AT ALL until its done.

Originally Posted by Bobiam (Post 495769)

Analysis poo........ Time for a IMS bearing change. I would not drive that car AT ALL until its done.

Originally Posted by JFP in PA (Post 495881)

The quickest way to destroy a new, and expensive, IMS bearing retrofit is to do it on a car that already has metal circulating in the oil. If this car was in my shop, we would decline to do the retrofit.

Originally Posted by Bobiam (Post 495892)

So then, what would you suggest to save this engine if those particles are a deteriorating bearing retainer or race????

Originally Posted by Bobiam (Post 495892)

So then, what would you suggest to save this engine if those particles are a deteriorating bearing retainer or race????

Originally Posted by flaps10 (Post 443739)

...What cracks me up more than a continuous flow of IMS threads are the number of people who wish to have such threads deleted. Let's not talk about ass cancer, so no one will get it. It is as if jamming your head in the sand and refusing to talk about it will make the "myth" go away, or that it will keep the value of your awesome sports car from tanking any more than it already has. If that is the case, then buckle up because these cars now cost more to fix than they are worth (just look at the number of rollers for sale). But take heart because according to the past two issues of Exellence after 30 years of looking up the nostrils of 911 drivers, the 914 is now officially an awesome car and a true Porsche! So there is hope.

Here:
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/...psi9k0syh6.jpg
This is the MINIMUM pile of parts you could expect to get away with and reassemble an M96 when an IMS bearing lets go. And I don't mean coming apart and destroying valve timing. My engine ran perfectly and I caught metal in the filter on an oil change. Not even very much metal. My car is a double row IMS, the kind that supposedly don't fail often.

Thanks to a single direct comment from Jake I abandoned plans to replace my IMS and flush the engine. I'm SO glad I followed his advice (never spoken to the man or paid him a dime). I put the past several months of my spare time into getting my car back together with the minimum of damage to my wallet. Honestly I should have spent about $6k more than I did. All I'm getting for my efforts is the 120k mile car I bought, and not a new engine.

When I took my engine apart I found evidence of a previously welded cylinder head (#15), a busted oil ring (not on the list), a spun rod bearing on cylinder six (#5), and of course the IMS (#8). So either my engine is a complete s*** show or these engines have some "flaws". Some of both I suspect.