This is from a friends engine, first oil change after longblock assembly. Was not a full rebuild, shortblock was taken from another car (running/driving before pulled). He put about 50 miles or so on it before the change, basically a stock engine with bs delete (OEM stub shaft) and kelford 272’s. No oil cooler, oil pan was new when installed, pump was good and clean, oil pressure is within spec. All gaskets etc replaced with OEM.

I don’t want to give him a wrong answer, but is this bearing material? If so what can/should be done to prevent further damage if not too late. Or would a few cycles with fresh oil and filter help.

TIA (fwiw engine idles smooth and quiet, nothing abnormal going on and hasn’t hit boost yet or high RPM)

 

i tried to upload a video, didn’t work so here’s a screenshot. No large chunks, lots of tiny specs.

 

Cut the filter open with tin snips, none of it seems to be magnetic. Almost looks like dirt?

 

the oil looks gold flake in the picture.
or is that just the camera making it look that way.

 

I would ask what oil was run was break in oil used? And yes that is bearing material. If it has that little mileage on it I wouldn't worry to much I would worry about the next few oil changes. If there is that much in the second and third change I'd be worried. I don't know how your planning on doing your oil changes, but I normally do like 500 miles then 1000 miles, then 2000 miles and by then it should be clean. Different people do it different ways but I have success doing it that way. Hopefully it cleans up

 

Did your friend happen to copper spray the head gasket?

 

Good question, I do believe he did. Would this have caused the flakes?

 

no break in used, iirc we put Motul in it.

 

Fresh oil/filter. About 45 minutes idling, RPM’s held around 5k for some of that, cut the new filter open and there’s tiny black specs but no silver and very small amounts of gold specs. Swapped the filter out for another and going to put some miles on it at some point today.

Pressure still the same, around 15psi idle and engine still very quiet. Will update again after driving.

 

Ok I freaked out when my motor was done and I had some miles on it too and noticed gold. Its just the bearings breaking themselves in. I would go 500 or so miles and do the same thing. You should have less and less till its not doing it anymore.

 

This happened to me. It was the first time I ever used copper spray on the headgasket, and the first oil change after a 20 minute idle was FULL of gold specs. The oil draining out looked exactly like the first picture you posted. I panicked at first, but the amount of material I was seeing in the oil drain pan didn't make sense. There wouldn't have been any bearings left if what I was seeing was indeed bearing material, but the engine didn't make any abnormal noises. I just kept changing the oil and filter based on the builder's recommended intervals. I think by the third oil change everything was clean and clear.

 

If I understand correctly, he got the shortblock secondhand? Not sure why break in would be a relevant discussion if this thing already has a bunch of miles on it. Did he just re-bearing it or something?

 

Bearings go through a break-in period?

 

That's not what I meant. Break in would just be to seat the rings. If you have to break in your bearings that's a problem.

I'm wondering why some people thought this engine would be using break in oil, and maybe find an explanation if it's making metal. It's a used shortblock with original pistons, rings and the bores haven't been touched?

The other thing I was wondering...did the engine lose it's prime, or was it re primed? Oil pressure seen within 20 or so seconds of first startup?