I think I found some metal shavings in my used motor oil today. I'm assuming this is a bad thing, but to what degree? Oil is changed regularly, every month and half to two months. This is about the time it took me to get to 3,000 miles. My speedo isn't working consistently anymore so my odometer is off.

I couldn't get them to stick to a magnet. A couple little pieces almost looked clear like glass, some metallic and some white (plastic shavings from my oil filter being scraped by my wrench possibly?)

What year, model, engine, and mileage subaru?

 

Have you experienced or noticed any noises or other problems?

 

Any recent work done (such as head gasket, etc...)?

The second pic is of a bigger piece that I squeezed.

I've never noticed these things in my oil before. Thanks for looking

Sorry, forgot the vitals. 1995 Subaru Legacy, ej22. About 190,000. I have a slow oil leak, add half a quart to a quart between changes. I check the levels regularly. There was some lifter noise when the oil got a little on the low side of the dip stick.

No head gaskets or major work done recently.

Time to run the oil for a thousand miles or so and then get a oil analysis done and see what is in it. 

 

I use Blackstone Labs.  If you go to their web site they will send you a free sample kit.

Some small flakes can be normal. The engine sheds metal the whole time its in use. Any mechanical thing does. 

If you start seeing bigger flakes or lots of silver swirl in the oil, that can be a sign of a major problem. 

 

Ill second getting an oil analysis done if its something that bothers you. Usually about $25. Ive used Oil Anayzers Inc several times in the past and they are pretty quick. 

You didn't have a brief loss of oil pressure, did you?

 

Maybe a prolonged period of running before it built pressure after the last oil change?

Fine gold flakes in the oil usually indicates a rod bearing failing.

I will keep an eye on thing in my next oil change and get an analysis done as well just to make me feel better about the whole thing.

No loss of oil pressure that I know of

No gold flakes either, the really metallic ones were grey or silver in color

Does engine make any clicking or knocking noise, which could be a sign of metal on metal contact leading to metal in the oil??

It has a few times had a clicking. A couple times on early morning old starts, and once when the oil level got to the low level on the dip stick

Low on the dipstick won't cause any problem on a cold start.

 

Cold start noise is usually a faulty drain back valve in the oil filter.

ok. Since I just changed my filter hopefully I won't run into that noise anymore

Do you use any additives in your oil?  The stuff on your finger resembles molyB which is used in a lot of additives and in oil made for diesel engines.

 

It is also possible that it came from your oil filter.  If any maintenance was done to the manufacturing equipment, such as greasing it, some of the grease, which is usually a MolyB grease, could have gotten into your filter when it was made.  If your next oil change comes out clean, I wouldn't worry about it.

Edited December 20, 201510 yr by keith3267

Doesn't look so good to me.  Looks like Aluminum, maybe something rubbing on a casing? 

 

Mine has 210,000 miles and after 10,000 mi the oil shows no wear contamination at all.  My magnetic drain plug has a bare film of super fine black magnetic mush on it.  Much less than I've seen on many other drain magnets.  It's even been run with way too low oil when the cam seals fell out.  I got lucky on that one.

 

I've always used synthetic oil and high grade filters with about 12kmi between oil changes.

 

Ditto on the oil test advise, since it doesn't look like enough to cause a noticeable engine problem (yet).  You do need some miles on the oil for a good test result though, don't try to test new oil.