Metal shavings in oil

the_bulgarian · 07-20-2025, 11:42 AM

Hello everyone, I'll be really thankful for some help.

6 months ago I bought a 2019 ZL1 with around 25k miles.
Car was inspected at a reputable shop before purchase and I immediately changed the oil. For various reasons I stopped trusting the shop and went to another one 500 miles later and this time I brought my own oil - Mobil 1 0w40 ESP x3. Lo and behold the guy reported there were metal shavings in the oil.

He kept a bucket with the oil so I can take a photo.

I had just planned a 600 mile roundtrip, but now I don't want to blow up the engine. Do you think it's okay to drive it, change the oil and check for shavings again or should I immediately open the engine for inspection and repairs?

Other than that the car runs fine, no noises, it has 7 seconds in 62-124mph with Dragy.
I wish all of yours LT4s here are bulletproof and never see that dread in the oil.

Photo of the bucket oil

nighttowl · 07-20-2025, 11:52 AM

OIL PUMP MOST LIKELY
DONT DRIVE IT

RobZL1 · 07-20-2025, 12:33 PM

Yikes. What was your oil pressure at hot idle? That could certainly be the oil pump vanes coming apart and causing havoc.

ZLRob · 07-20-2025, 12:44 PM

I thought that 2019 and up oil pumps don't fail?

OP, yeah I would definitely be very suspicious of a failing oil pump. If you knew pressure before turning it off that would be very very helpful to figure out what's going on indeed. Whatever you do, be very careful. The price to replace one of these engines winds up being somewhere in the low to mid $10,000's depending where you get it from. I'm sorry this is happening to you. Many of us have been that route already. Myself included. They are solid cars, they just need to get set up properly, and they'll be long term, solid performer's for years and years.

Z OH 6 · 07-20-2025, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZLRob

I thought that 2019 and up oil pumps don't fail?

OP, yeah I would definitely be very suspicious of a failing oil pump. If you knew pressure before turning it off that would be very very helpful to figure out what's going on indeed. Whatever you do, be very careful. The price to replace one of these engines winds up being somewhere in the low to mid $10,000's depending where you get it from. I'm sorry this is happening to you. Many of us have been that route already. Myself included. They are solid cars, they just need to get set up properly, and they'll be long term, solid performer's for years and years.

They don't like 2017 and 2018 which is why I'm going to say it's NOT the oil pump.

DaveC113 · 07-20-2025, 07:39 PM

I can't make out much from the pic, but if the metal is from a bearing if you stop driving now you may be able to simply disassemble and reassemble the motor with new bearings and fix/replace the rod or crank with the bad bearing. If it's steel there's more likely to be damage.

I'd also cut open the oil filter, but might be interesting but idk if it matters if you have to disassemble the entire motor anyways. Just make sure you get the oil cooler replaced or cleaned out too.

Sorry that happened. I'd probably replace/upgrade the oil pump and lifters if I was taking the motor apart. Not sure I'd go for a $$$ Katech pump unless money isn't an issue. Seems like the newest oil pumps are a lot more reliable. Stock lifters are for the AFM system and less reliable than regular lifters. Good luck!

calypso50kid · 07-20-2025, 07:56 PM

If you think its in the oil then it will absolutely show in the filter, find a friend with a oil filter cutter and open it up, then with your fingers open each pleat and look for bearing material or metallic material as well. if its a ton in the oil then the filter should be full of it.

Xelor · 07-20-2025, 07:58 PM

I would change the oil again
They take your 600 mile trip

Gunkk · 07-20-2025, 09:02 PM

Change the oil again and send a sample to an oil analysis lab. They can tell you what they measure for wear metals, coolant, water, and fuel in the oil, among other things and compare to what is expected for similar engine/miles.

65ffr · 07-20-2025, 09:35 PM

What DaveC113 said...

Patriot Motorsports USA · 07-20-2025, 10:38 PM

The 2019 Project Shocker we built had a brand new engine installed and it came with a new supercharger from showing metal in the oil just like yours is showing!!

Turn it over to GM and hope you can find a dealer who knows what they are doing!

Megahurtz · 07-21-2025, 08:52 AM

That isn't normal for an LT4 engine with 25K miles.
Was the car bone stock or modified?
Any maintenance records?

the_bulgarian · 07-21-2025, 11:43 AM

First of all, thank you everyone for the replies.

Car was imported to Eastern Europe from an auction in the US due to theft and minor underside damage. I bought it from some enthusiast who had 3 Camaros.
I can post the auction link if anyone's interested.
No maintenance records to speak of, it was driven very little in the last 1 year before I bought it.

I check the oil pressure pretty often and it's almost always at 30psi, occasionally climbing close to 40. I'm pretty sure it's not the oil pump, I am going to risk it and drive it tomorrow to confirm.

After that I'm going to take it to another shop that specializes in performance vehicles here, change the oil again and check it. There's no GM dealers.

Megahurtz · 07-21-2025, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the_bulgarian

First of all, thank you everyone for the replies.

Car was imported to Eastern Europe from an auction in the US due to theft and minor underside damage. I bought it from some enthusiast who had 3 Camaros.
I can post the auction link if anyone's interested.
No maintenance records to speak of, it was driven very little in the last 1 year before I bought it.

I check the oil pressure pretty often and it's almost always at 30psi, occasionally climbing close to 40. I'm pretty sure it's not the oil pump, I am going to risk it and drive it tomorrow to confirm.

After that I'm going to take it to another shop that specializes in performance vehicles here, change the oil again and check it. There's no GM dealers.

You can send a sample of the oil to be analyzed and see what type of metal is in the oil. This may help shed some light on what is wearing abnormally.

It won't hurt to change the oil and drive it for 500-1000 miles and then check the oil again and cut open the filter. If there is still metal then you're likely going to need to crack open the engine and start looking for the issue.

The oil analysis could help you determine what is wearing. The cylinder walls, the piston rings, the bearings or the valvetrain etc.

07-20-2025, 11:42 AM	#1
the_bulgarian Drives: Camaro ZL1 gen 6, W211 E55 Join Date: Jul 2025 Location: Bulgaria Posts: 4	Metal shavings in oil Hello everyone, I'll be really thankful for some help. 6 months ago I bought a 2019 ZL1 with around 25k miles. Car was inspected at a reputable shop before purchase and I immediately changed the oil. For various reasons I stopped trusting the shop and went to another one 500 miles later and this time I brought my own oil - Mobil 1 0w40 ESP x3. Lo and behold the guy reported there were metal shavings in the oil. He kept a bucket with the oil so I can take a photo. I had just planned a 600 mile roundtrip, but now I don't want to blow up the engine. Do you think it's okay to drive it, change the oil and check for shavings again or should I immediately open the engine for inspection and repairs? Other than that the car runs fine, no noises, it has 7 seconds in 62-124mph with Dragy. I wish all of yours LT4s here are bulletproof and never see that dread in the oil. Photo of the bucket oil

07-20-2025, 11:52 AM	#2
nighttowl Sarcasm loading -------- Drives: 2018 ZL1 1LE Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: TX Posts: 1,907 View My Garage	OIL PUMP MOST LIKELY DONT DRIVE IT __________________ "The salesman actually told me to stop getting it sideways during the test drive" 2018 MBM ZL1 1LE - 652 rwhp, 588 rwtq SAE 2014 CRT ZL1 574 rwhp, 537 rwtq - SOLD 2010 IBM SS Camaro VVT L99 w/ TR6060 swap, 489 rwhp, 444 rwtq - SOLD

07-20-2025, 12:33 PM	#3
RobZL1 fo'shizZL1 Drives: 2017 ZL1 Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: ATL Posts: 1,803	Yikes. What was your oil pressure at hot idle? That could certainly be the oil pump vanes coming apart and causing havoc. __________________ 2017 ZL1 M6 Black \| Maggie 2650 // 103TB // Big Gulp // CSP LT's & Ultra Cats // BMR MM // BC Forged KL13 Mods being installed- oil pump, cam, ported heads, dual in-tank, Goliath and XDI, corn, etc., etc.

07-20-2025, 12:44 PM	#4
ZLRob Super Stock Drives: Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Join Date: May 2022 Location: Concordia Posts: 782	I thought that 2019 and up oil pumps don't fail? OP, yeah I would definitely be very suspicious of a failing oil pump. If you knew pressure before turning it off that would be very very helpful to figure out what's going on indeed. Whatever you do, be very careful. The price to replace one of these engines winds up being somewhere in the low to mid $10,000's depending where you get it from. I'm sorry this is happening to you. Many of us have been that route already. Myself included. They are solid cars, they just need to get set up properly, and they'll be long term, solid performer's for years and years. __________________ 2017 Red Hot ZL1 A10 - Apex ARC-8's, 305/ 325 PS4's, DSX 9.06 12% lower, Griptec 2.5 upper, NGK HR7 Ruthenium plugs, Nostrum 22+ injectors, XDI Goliath HPFP, Katech dual in tank low side pump, Katech oil pump, LME tensioner, DOD delete, LT1 big fuel cam, Jokerz ported blower, MPI lid, GMS hood extractor bracket, Soler ported 87mm (91mm eff) TB, Granatelli SS plug wires, Cordes LTR reservoir, DMS T-stat housing, 186* LS3 T-stat, Black Widow Angry Housewife/ Corsa NPP mufflers, Borla X pipe, BMR engine mounts, Banks iDash, Lithium Battery, AEM X- Series, HP Tuners, E85, 16.5 psi 834 HP/ 840 TQ

07-20-2025, 07:39 PM	#6
DaveC113 Drives: 2018 Camaro 1SS 1LE Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: Front Range, CO Posts: 2,204	I can't make out much from the pic, but if the metal is from a bearing if you stop driving now you may be able to simply disassemble and reassemble the motor with new bearings and fix/replace the rod or crank with the bad bearing. If it's steel there's more likely to be damage. I'd also cut open the oil filter, but might be interesting but idk if it matters if you have to disassemble the entire motor anyways. Just make sure you get the oil cooler replaced or cleaned out too. Sorry that happened. I'd probably replace/upgrade the oil pump and lifters if I was taking the motor apart. Not sure I'd go for a $$$ Katech pump unless money isn't an issue. Seems like the newest oil pumps are a lot more reliable. Stock lifters are for the AFM system and less reliable than regular lifters. Good luck! __________________

07-20-2025, 07:56 PM	#7
calypso50kid Drives: 2018 zle, 03 cobra, 92 mustang lx Join Date: Oct 2024 Location: greenville, sc Posts: 56	If you think its in the oil then it will absolutely show in the filter, find a friend with a oil filter cutter and open it up, then with your fingers open each pleat and look for bearing material or metallic material as well. if its a ton in the oil then the filter should be full of it. __________________ Owner and driver of the worlds fastest naturally aspirated drag radial car. Hays Consulting and Performance 4.58@151 BBC powered 585 ci 9000+ rpm https://youtu.be/wSz2OedlNSI?si=SnPoqreXFQ7NLYX8 2018 ZL1 1LE 416ci LME long block, 2650, reflex port injection, full e85, tick performance tr6060, monster triple disc, DSS drive shaft, g force axles.

07-20-2025, 07:58 PM	#8
Xelor Drives: 2022 ZL1 Join Date: Dec 2021 Location: Gulf Coast Region Posts: 150	I would change the oil again They take your 600 mile trip

07-20-2025, 09:02 PM	#9
Gunkk Thank you Al Oppenheiser! Drives: Red Hot A10 ZL1 Convertible Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Sarasota, FL Posts: 5,156 View My Garage	Change the oil again and send a sample to an oil analysis lab. They can tell you what they measure for wear metals, coolant, water, and fuel in the oil, among other things and compare to what is expected for similar engine/miles.

07-20-2025, 09:35 PM	#10
65ffr Drives: '18 ram 1500 Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: austin tx Posts: 99	What DaveC113 said... __________________ 2023 ZL1 Radiant Red 6 spd, pdr, carbon fiber hood 1100 10/28/22 2000 12/6/22 3400 12/17/22 TPW 1/9/23 delivered 2/7/23

07-20-2025, 10:38 PM	#11
Patriot Motorsports USA Drives: 2021 ZLE, C5 Z06 6.0L Procharged Join Date: Mar 2023 Location: South Carolina Posts: 466	The 2019 Project Shocker we built had a brand new engine installed and it came with a new supercharger from showing metal in the oil just like yours is showing!! Turn it over to GM and hope you can find a dealer who knows what they are doing!

07-21-2025, 08:52 AM	#12
Megahurtz Snackbar Tuning Drives: 2023 SGM ZL1 Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Florida Posts: 1,513	That isn't normal for an LT4 engine with 25K miles. Was the car bone stock or modified? Any maintenance records? __________________ GM Gen V Calibrator

07-21-2025, 11:43 AM	#13
the_bulgarian Drives: Camaro ZL1 gen 6, W211 E55 Join Date: Jul 2025 Location: Bulgaria Posts: 4	First of all, thank you everyone for the replies. Car was imported to Eastern Europe from an auction in the US due to theft and minor underside damage. I bought it from some enthusiast who had 3 Camaros. I can post the auction link if anyone's interested. No maintenance records to speak of, it was driven very little in the last 1 year before I bought it. I check the oil pressure pretty often and it's almost always at 30psi, occasionally climbing close to 40. I'm pretty sure it's not the oil pump, I am going to risk it and drive it tomorrow to confirm. After that I'm going to take it to another shop that specializes in performance vehicles here, change the oil again and check it. There's no GM dealers.

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