I recently had an new motor built for my firebird w/ a solid flat tappet camshaft in it. After I broke in the cam, I changed the oil. So I changed the oil in my fresh motor after driving in about 150 miles and when I drained it i noticed some metal shavings / dust in the drain pan. I changed the oil right after the cam break in procedure and now. I'm pretty sure this is normal and all the new parts are just saying "hello" to each other. Let me know what you think. There wasn't to much metal shavings just enough to make me raise a brow. Keep in mind that this is my first engine and I didn't really know what to expect.

Thanks.

 

There's gonna be a little. It's probably normal. Just keep an eye on the oil pressure.

 

I've never seen metal dust after a fresh flat tappet cammed engine breakin. Did you use an additive like GMs EOS for the break in? Newer spec oils have had a lot of their zinc content reduced to protect emissions equipment, so an additive is more important than ever. I use CD-2 Street Legal Oil Boost, loaded with ZDDP, helps keep lobes alive in my flat tappet 71's engine.

 

I run Rotella T oil in it. I noticed the dust/shavings (keep in mind there wasn't much) after the second time I changed my oil after about 200 miles +/-

 

"Moon dust" is pretty much normal, but shavings are not, if your worried send an oil sample into Amalie Oil or one of the other companies that analyse oil. They can tell you the health of your engine and wether or not its eating itself.

 

you need to start running an additive then. from what I heard from my manager (at O'Reilly's) they have also reduced the additive packages in the rotella.

Kendall Gt is still a good oil to use and contains all the additives you need to keep your flat tappets alive.