Aluminum bits in the oil.

[Stan]

A question for the hive mind.
What part(s) of the engine are made from aluminum?
What could possibly have cause bits to appear in the oil and pleats of the filter?

 

[CSL177]

Head and pistons are both potential donors from wear... what's your mileage and service schedule like?

Tiny bits or ?

 

[stphers]

Bearing material looks like aluminum in oil

 

[sfdon]

The head. Crush washers. Looked in your valve train lately?

 

[sfdon]

You say it looks like aluminum or it tested as aluminum?

big difference

 

[CSL177]

Bearing material looks like aluminum in oil.

Absolutely... put a magnet to the stuff and if it sticks there's your likely suspect.

 

[HB Chris]

Send sample to Blackstone Laboritories, pretty quick turn-around.

 

[Markos]

Heard that sharks have a lot of mercury in their system. Just sayin…

 

[sfdon]

Very fishy response. I think you are floundering for clever responses.

 

[Arde]

Very fishy response. I think you are floundering for clever responses.

Well, the famous alluminati dwell in this board. Bavarian Alluminati actually.

 

[Stan]

the new engine was installed in 2015 and I have driven about 10,000 miles.
Competent mechanics are working on it now. I am sure they used a magnet to be sure it was non magnetic
Just curious.

 

[Honolulu]

Back in the day, aircooled VWs used to shed a lot of alu powder with every 3,000-mile oil change, yet they ran and ran and ran. Hope yours does (the latter parts) the same!

 

[Sven]

Stan - maybe aluminum bits from the head work when the engine was rebuilt (if the head was not well cleaned after milling). First oil change since new engine?

 

[sfdon]

10,000 miles and seven years?

 

[autokunst]

Change that oil every 7 years whether it needs it or not.
Sorry, couldn't resist.

 

[sfdon]

But he bought the lifetime fill oil!

 

[autokunst]

But he bought the lifetime fill oil!

Ah, yes. My brother in law uses that oil. Never changes it - ever.

 

[Stan]

10,000 miles and seven years?

closer to 15,000 as I reconsider.

 

[Stan]

Stan - maybe aluminum bits from the head work when the engine was rebuilt (if the head was not well cleaned after milling). First oil change since new engine?

No, I have had several oil changes since the new build. Two shortly after then annually
My son did "oil change at the pump" with my old 318i. "stupid car took 4 quarts of oil!!" He is much older now and understands to change oil routinely and to check level frequently. Now that he must pay for the repairs.

 

[autokunst]

Stan,
All joking aside, I am keenly interested in learning what the mechanics find out. Hoping for the best scenario.