Metal Debris in Oil... Now What?

[Jake Raby]

Originally Posted by JFP in PA

If you have that much debris already circulating in your engine, you should not even be thinking about retrofitting the IMS. The engine should come apart to be completely cleaned out and rebuilt first.

Any engine with debris in the oil will not be qualified for an IMS Retrofit. Applying IMS intervention to an engine with other mechanical issues, and debris suspended in the oil will lead to certain death for the retrofitted bearing.

In that instance, please use technology other than LN :-)

There's a big difference between a Preferred installer and a Certified installer; neither should even consider retrofitting an engine with ANY debris in the oil.

Once debris is suspended in the oil, a preventive retrofit is not possible and a reactive retrofit requires special attention that few understand.

[Ian c]

So what is the protocol jake ?
Drop the oil and do a visual , then send a sample to the lab before ordering and installing ?

Originally Posted by Jake Raby

Any engine with debris in the oil will not be qualified for an IMS Retrofit. Applying IMS intervention to an engine with other mechanical issues, and debris suspended in the oil will lead to certain death for the retrofitted bearing.

In that instance, please use technology other than LN :-)

There's a big difference between a Preferred installer and a Certified installer; neither should even consider retrofitting an engine with ANY debris in the oil.

Once debris is suspended in the oil, a preventive retrofit is not possible and a reactive retrofit requires special attention that few understand.

[BFeller]

The non magnetic stuff your seeing is likely to be from the rod/crank/valve bearing surfaces.

[Jake Raby]

Originally Posted by Ian c

So what is the protocol jake ?
Drop the oil and do a visual , then send a sample to the lab before ordering and installing ?

No, find the source of the debris generation, and resolve that issue. Then you must carry out an extensive process to flush any remaining material from the engine, in its entirety.

Note- Used Oil Analysis will not detect debris greater than 30 micron, so if you can see the debris, it will not show in a UOA.

Any engine with any debris is not a candidate for an IMSR until all material is removed and the source of the debris is addressed.

Non ferrous material can also be cylinder material, after the winter we had this year, cylinders are failing like mad, 4 calls in two days so far this week

[Ian c]

10-4
So rather than having a 2-step process before installation , a simple visual will suffice .
I'll get the second step done anyway in the lab at work ...