[k20attack]

Just checked my oil after the car was sitting for a few days and noticed what appeared to be metallic flakes after wiping off the dip stick.

Car is an early 2018 and I filled it with Mobile 1 0W40 ESP dexos 2 last July, but it was garaged from last DEC to basically last weekend so the oil only has probably 2000 miles on it.

Anyone else see this? Is this indicative of the oil pump failing? Had a couple more particles in the second wipe from the left that were smaller so you can't see them in the picture. After the second check I wasn't getting any particles.

[Stephen12ZL1]

Are you sure you started with a clean towel/rag?

[k20attack]

Originally Posted by Stephen12ZL1

Are you sure you started with a clean towel/rag?

Good point. It may just be the paper towel I used, but it's still oddly coincidental the particles are only where I wiped. I just checked and the paper towel I used was bunched up with another paper towel that I used for god knows what and it also appears to have some smaller metallic particles on it.

Hopefully just a false alarm.

Either way I have a magnetic drain plug and I'm getting the oil changed in a couple of weeks so I'll have them check it out.

Thanks for stating the obvious.

[mblum]

I know you well past the break in period but aluminum colored flakes are common during that period. I checked the filter at roughly 500 miles on my ZL1, 2018 Silverado, and 2018 Acadia, all 3 had a large amount of aluminum colored metal flakes in the filter when it was cut apart and were roughly about the size of the one in your picture. In all 3 vehicles these flakes were pretty much gone after the 3rd oil change at 1000 miles and my filter was very clean when cut apart. My point is we have a cast aluminum block and cast aluminum headed engine. Tiny pieces may come loose over the life of an engine, less likely as time goes on, like I mentioned I saw alot of this during the first 1000 miles.

If you indeed have an engine issue that is causing metal flakes to appear you need to cut apart your filter and inspect the filter pleats, its very easy to do and give you a really good idea of whats going on inside your engine. Any engine condition that is causing metal flakes will typically produce a lot of them and they tend to stay in the filter. Check your filter, if it's clean change oil and filter and check the filter again at the next oil change.

Here is the tool I use, it works really good. You can also use a tin snips but they are a pain in the butt IMO. Do not use a hack saw to cut open your filter (you will freak out when you see it full of metal shavings from the hack saw)

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-900511

[mblum]

Originally Posted by k20attack

Either way I have a magnetic drain plug and I'm getting the oil changed in a couple of weeks so I'll have them check it out.

Also, just an FYI if the particulates are aluminum they will not stick to the magnetic drain plug.

[laynlo15]

I always cut mine open after every oil change. I've seen those flakes before, sometimes not a good sign. I've broken a couple Lt1s over the last few years and its a gut wrenching feeling when you cut one open and see the shit I've seen.

[k20attack]

Originally Posted by mblum

Also, just an FYI if the particulates are aluminum they will not stick to the magnetic drain plug.

haha, I know. I was just mentioning the drain plug in case I contaminated the oil with something.

Either way, thanks for the info, I did just run a magnet over it and it's not picking it up so it's most likely aluminum from the engine like you mentioned.

I'll keep an eye on it.

[Snowwolfe]

Send a oil sample off for analysis. At least you will either sleep better or start saving money for a build.

[Fstlane]

Agreed.....only about 20 bucks....and you will know.

[LT4Greg]

I don’t think you should worry at this point, just send your oil sample and get an oil analysis done.��

[SJFGTO]

Originally Posted by Snowwolfe

Send a oil sample off for analysis. At least you will either sleep better or start saving money for a build.

^^^This^^^

[k20attack]

Where's a good place to send it for analysis? How much do they need?

[puppykat33]

blackstone labs
https://www.blackstone-labs.com/tests/?session-id=qcspdp55zxxeyiqb3lu2woub&timeout=20&bslauth=&ur lbase=https%3a%2f%2fwww.blackstone-labs.net%2fBstone%2f(S(qcspdp55zxxeyiqb3lu2woub))% 2f

[k20attack]

Status Update:

I had the oil analyzed by Blackstone labs and everything came back fine.

I've continued to periodically check the oil and I still find these microscopic, possibly aluminum particles but I guess that's just normal.

I tracked the car last Tuesday so if my oil pump was failing I'd suspect I would have had an issue back then.