How much debris is too much?

[BoxsterSteve]

I did a rather long roadtrip this summer, so I wonder if I just really coaxed this goo out of the motor by running it on a 9 hour drive one way. Car has 83,000 km; a little over 50,000 miles.
Udo had the IMSB changed last May, and this is the 2nd oil change since then. Indie dropped sump plate and cleaned it out at the time, so what you see is post-IMS swap material.
The LN magnetic drain plug had the slightest black film on it each time. Can't say if the previous filter had metallic debris at all.
What you see is fairly representative of what I found in my oil filter while doing the pre-hibernation oil change today, roughly 30 flakes this size.



Nearly all ferrous, no big chunks, just minute flakes.
Should I be concerned with engine health here, or just monitor?

[milliemax]

if all of those flakes came from the same ball in a bearing,,,, I would be changing filters every 1K and inspecting. What did you find after the first oil change ?? Post IMS I hope the flakes stop.

[san rensho]

Nothing to worry about. A few flakes of ferrous metal is completely normal. And so is a film of "sludge" on the magnetic drain plug. Just pull the filter halfway tjrough your oil change interval to check for metal.

[Kenny Boxster]

Nothing to be concerned about, rest assured. Metal bits here and there are normal. This, however isn't:

[milliemax]

Originally Posted by Kenny Boxster

Nothing to be concerned about, rest assured. Metal bits here and there are normal. This, however isn't:

Was that "Steve's" first oil filter after the IMS change out ???

[BoxsterSteve]

Originally Posted by milliemax

Was that "Steve's" first oil filter after the IMS change out ???

Actually never got to check the first filter... it sat on the workbench in my garage for a week or so, then Mama threw it out 'cause she was sick if looking at it.

Kenny,
I've seen that pic before, I think it's in the 101 projects book, right?

[Kenny Boxster]

Yes indeed if I recall correctly. Steve, I just changed my oil for winter, and I had just about the same amount of debris on my filter (5k miles). I also run a magnetic drain plug, and it barely picked up anything. My box has 82k miles on her.

[milliemax]

Originally Posted by BoxsterSteve

Actually never got to check the first filter... it sat on the workbench in my garage for a week or so, then Mama threw it out 'cause she was sick if looking at it.

Kenny,
I've seen that pic before, I think it's in the 101 projects book, right?

I know the feeling as my wife throws everything out also.