Oil Plug & Filter Debris found

[CarlOrton]

Hi, All;

 

Car:  2001 C2, manual

 

I just did my first user oil change on my still new to me 996.  Not my first oil change, just on this car.

 

Please review the enclosed pics.  The car has a magnetic drain plug.  There were no "chunks" on the magnet, just an accumulation of powder-type sludge.

 

Additionally, the oil filter had green/turquoise bits in about 1/3 of the folds.

 

Background:  When purchased, the indie shop replaced the timing chain tensioner solenoid.  As part of this, they changed the oil & filter and installed the magnetic drain plug.  I don't know if this debris is a result of them messing around in there or not.

 

Should I have any immediate concerns, or just monitor.  NOTHING in filter except those green bits.

[Loren]

That looks normal to me.

There is always (on any engine) a small amount of wear.

[JFP in PA]

First, take a deep breath; now exhale.  There is nothing wrong with your engine, what you are seeing is completely normal as Loren mentioned.

 

All engines produce a ferrous "grit" that is so fine, it can literally pass through the oil filter and continue to circulate.  Introduce a magnet into the loop, and you get exactly what you found.  The plastic bits can be from chain wear pads, or even small amounts of excess sealant inside the engine, which are also completely normal.

[Hilux2400]

On my 2003 996 I get sludge like this on my magnetic plug after 5K oil changes. I would say it's normal. 

 

Many years back I had a Mini with a combined sump for engine, gearbox and transmission and no syncro on first gear.  That also had a magnetic plug.  After three thousand miles the plug looked like a Christmas tree with chips from the gear teeth. 

 

H

[JFP in PA]

If you really want to scare yourself, add a spin on filter and a FilterMag unit that turns the entire filter housing into a magnet.  Magnetic drain plugs see only some of the oil, the filter sees all the oil, all the time; so the first oil change after adding the FilterMag, you see all the fine sludge the car has built up since new:

[CarlOrton]

Thanks for the replies.  Wasn't too concerned about the "sludge" on the drain plug. Like I said, no chunks, so wasn't too surprised at that.

 

Most of my concern was with lima-bean-green polymer pieces in the filter.  I'd expect to see a few, but like I noted, about 1/3 of the folds had an equal or less amount of the stuff.  Just wanted to make sure it wasn't a sign of a tensioner ramp about to blow apart.

 

Thanks again;

Carl