Cal Club Autocross Forums

on the S2K. It's the first oil change since the new motor was installed. The oil in the filter inspecting the oil in the filter I found a considerable amount of bearing material. It looked like gold glitter in the oil. Normal?

I'm not sure what would be expected in modern engines. Does the S2000 have an oil cooler? If so, and if it wasn't flushed after the old motor went kaput, it could be remnants of the previous motor.

when I rebuilt the motor for the Spitfire, I used a special lubricant on all the bearings to aid the break in -- essentially providing some extra lubrication until everything got well oiled. My 1st few oil changes were a bit different looking -- don't remember gold glitter but there was a different color/texture to the oil.

If you don't see metal shavings, hear anything strange, and have good oil pressure, I wouldn't worry.

Steve G #424

Steve Glusman wrote:when I rebuilt the motor for the Spitfire, I used a special lubricant on all the bearings to aid the break in -- essentially providing some extra lubrication until everything got well oiled. My 1st few oil changes were a bit different looking -- don't remember gold glitter but there was a different color/texture to the oil.

If you don't see metal shavings, hear anything strange, and have good oil pressure, I wouldn't worry.

Steve G #424

Assembly lube, which usually has molybendum in it. Can't imagine anyone rebuilding an engine without it unless the manufacturer specifies not to.

I don't know whether it has an oil cooler or not. I didn't see one.

Everything I saw was trapped in the filter, but I'm still wondering if this is normal. The paricles glistened in the dark oil and were visible in the oil. Size of very fine sand.

You should market that. I'd buy glitter oil for my car.

George,

Take a sample of the oil to the local Detroit Diesel or Cummins dealer in your area and have them send it out for analysis, the cost isn't unreasonable and you will know exactly what's going on. I typically Simtest engines before they go into the car to check for leaks, compression, and as a means to flush out any contaminants that might be left over from the assembly process. We did Steve's Spitfire engine before he installed it. As already proposed, the coloration may be due to moly assembly lube, but the gold color is a mystery. Copper colored flakes could indicate bearing material, but you wouold probably hear noises that you would not want to hear if you see this.

John Edwards, #903

George Schilling wrote:I don't know whether it has an oil cooler or not. I didn't see one.

Everything I saw was trapped in the filter, but I'm still wondering if this is normal. The paricles glistened in the dark oil and were visible in the oil. Size of very fine sand.

I saw some mention of one on an SK2 forum using a quick google search. Probably has one. If so, I would guess that the flakes are from your previous bearing failure - just seems more likely. Of course, if the cooler is after the filter, those filings went back through the engine before being trapped in the filter. An oil analysis would tell you what they are. Unfortunately, it won't tell you which motor it came from.

BTW, check your PMs. I sent you one about the divisionals.

When I rebuilt my engine, I found what I thought was an alarming amount of metal in my Oberg filter, the first time I ran the car. I cleaned the filter, changed the oil, and ran the car again. Minimal shavings the second time. Cleaned the filter and ran the car again. Almost no material (Obergs are a great if you have a high strung engine and like to look at what passed through your engine each time you run). Decreasing shaving should give you a good idea if it is just assembly leftovers. By the third event, almost no material in the filter. My 2 cents.

I wouldn't worry about it very common in rebuilding. Different brands of assembly lube will have varying amounts of flakyness. You can also use http://www.Blackstone-Labs.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; for oil analysis, $23 to set your mind at ease. If in doubt (and after you have run the break-in period) go ahead and change the oil again to "rinse" out any of that stuff, the filter will only go so fine.

What kind of oil are you planning on using in the future?

A bunch of the new '08 STI's were recalled for new engines because of brass (copper?) shavings left in the engine during manufacturing.

Go to get a case or two of cheap dino juice. Some oil filters and start changing.

I'd give it 90% chance you had debris caught in the oil cooler. Now you're stuck unless you want to pull the motor and disassembly to clean.

So change the oil and filter... Drive 10 miles.... Change the oil and filter.... Drive 10 miles.... Change the oil and filter.... Repeat as needed.

You don't want that stuff in there.

Make sure the engine is warm when you drain the oil and try to drain fully. Jack the car as needed to try and fully empty the pan. EACH time.

Could also be cleaning media from some parts that were blasted or casting sand from some isolated nooks and crannies that were disturbed.

George
The oil cooler is mounted under the oil filter and very easy to remove.
I highly recommend getting the engine flushed.
At a bare minimum, remove and clean the filter.
Then follow Steve's advice (can't believe I said that).
I wouldn't even drive it till you cycle at least 2 oil and filter changes or a flush.
Good luck
JP

George
Sorry I meant to say remove and clean the oil cooler not the filter.
JP

Thanks everyone for the input especially to you John for identifying the oil cooler location. I really appreciate all of the comments.

I just pulled the filter after 150 miles or so since the oil change. Nothing in the filter this time. See you SD.

Send your oil for analysis , blackstone laboratories

Mihai Surubariu wrote:Send your oil for analysis , blackstone laboratories

You should send Joey somewhere for testing----must be on some go fast "roids"....
Fantastic job by both of you guys..

Don

Ya know, with all the things that have gone wrong with my "dependable Honda" lately, I could have owned a Corvette.

Thanks Don for the compliment. We are very pleased at how the car is coming together. Now, we just need to work on the drivers.

Article on analyzing your oil:

http://autospeed.com/cms/A_110658/article.html