How Screwed am I? (metal particles in oil)

[Petecomplete]

Edit: might have found another reason for the metal in the oil container. Read my last reply.


Today was a bad day. I jacked up the car to drain out some oil to make room for 5dl of Liqui Moly Ceratec.

When i got out from under the car i noticed that the oil had a bit of "shine" to it when poured. This was under a strong LED flashlight. I got me slightly worried, as the car has only been driven less than 90 miles since oilchange last fall.

When pouring the oil over to another container, my heart stopped when i found metal particles resting at the bottom! NOOOO! See attached pictures.

A couple of them where pretty big as well, maybe 3mm. I took the particles in to the kitchen and put them under a strong magnet. No response, they are NON-magnetic.

Note that when I did the oil change last november, i dissected the oil filter and found NO metal particles what so ever (only some brown plastic) I did not think to look for oil shine then as i did not use a LED flashlight. The car had done 1550 miles on the oil I changed. Could it be that the metal is just debris from the block, that just sits on the bottom of the sump? As the filter was clean last oil change 90 miles ago.

Can the experts please chip in here? Am I in real trouble? Is there any point in spending 6500USD (70 000 NOK) on new IMS/clutch/variocam pads in may, or is this engine dying?

I so f*cking sad right now.


Oil:


Metal: