Just did the 500 mile oil chane after my rebuild. The oil still looks metallic when I drained it. No big pieces, but a fine dust in the oil.
Initial change after 30 min warm up- Metallic looking oil, filter had little bits of debris, some shavings, and a few very thin hair looking strips.

change at 50 miles- Metallic oil, filter cleaner than before

change at 200 miles- Metallic oil, filter looks like it did @ 50 miles

Change at 250 miles (had to change due to removing and re-installing new timing chain)- looked fine
Change at 300 miles - looked fine, but was a short interval


Now the recent 500 mile change, still lots of metallic dust in the oil, and the filter looks like it did @ 50 and 200 miles( a little bit of dirt/powder, very few larger anything that i could see.)

This has been with Chevron 10W30, and a Napa Gold filter




My question would be, how long should I be seeing this? The engine runs great, has fantastic oil pressure, but still a leak from the oil pan that needs fixed?

IMO I think a bearing(s) is/are being eaten.

What color is the metal?

Silverish in color....

Appreciate the fast responses

I hope for your sake that it is just shavings left from the machine work and wasn't cleaned too well. I would expect for most of it to be gone after 500 miles.

What kind of timing chain did you just install. If it is a double roller it could be shaving the inside of the timing cover. Since you noticed it after the timing chain change, I would investigate that area first.

I thouroughly cleaned everything with hot soapy water and brushes before it went together.

It is a cloyes double roller, and I did clearance the cover. I had a hex-a-just to begin with, and did not realise that it was eating up the bearing on the opti. When the opti gave up I realised why and changed to the regular cloyes double roller.

I would suspect the timing chain as the culprit. See if the particles will attract to a magnet. If not, I would bet it is from your timing cover. I have expericnced the same thing.

Going to check with a magnet as we speak.....brb

A few of the little specks were attracted to the magnet, maybe 1/8th of them..the others stayed put.


Did you pull your cover off an grind away some more?
I put grease on the chain, installed the cover then pulled the cover and clearanced where the grease was. I did that a few times, till it did not show anymore?

It def sounds like alum then. I did the same, but didn't count on things tightening up a little when the chain is spinning wide open. I removed the cover and clearenced some more. I havn't had any problems since. Good Luck!

Sounds like I may be pulling the front of the motor apart tomorrow. Thanks for the input!