Did an oil change yesterday at about 23,000 miles. Engine is tight, no oil loss between changes, no smoking. Runs as good as it ever has. Stage one only, never opened the engine for mods.
When I dumped my used oil into the cans to recycle I noticed a very small amount of metalic flakes at the bottom of the pan. No flake bigger than about 1/32nd or so. Also, the magnet on the drain plug was clean meaning that the flakes were non-ferrous, I guess.
Only thing I could think of was piston skirt material. Doesn't seem significant but I was wondering if anyone out there had an opinion.

 

Anyone?

 

The stock magnet isn't very powerful and breaks down with heat. The flakes could be a number of things.....if magnetic...bearings or bearing races or oil pump pinion gear....if non magnetic...the walls to your oil pump (crank run out should be checked). If it's only a small quanity...might be just threads that stripped from reinstalling the drain plug.

 

Make sure your oil container is completely clean before draining the oil into it. With used oil containers most people don't think about scouring it out, but if you are looking for oil contaminants it must be completely clean to begin with or you may think you have something wrong, when you don't.

 

+1 my thoughts exactly.