Cammed and superchared. Metal on oil dipstick - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Pollock · 09-16-2017, 04:00 PM

Not sure if this is the right place to post but.... I have 4300 miles on my car. Added a cam, then supercharger. Did my first track day. Kept it in 3rd gear the whole time. Was going between 3k to 6k rpm. After the first 30 min session I checked the oil and there was metal sparkling all over the dip stick with 15w-50 mobile 1 oil. So decided to call the day. Changed oil to 5w-30 and came home . Cut old filter and full of metal.
But now Dipstick looks good after oil change. Have not changed again.
So what now. Never seen metal on a dipstick in my 39 years of life. Car runs great. Oil pressure great. Time to sell or rebuild or just wait till it blows.
Anyone had a simular situation?

SquawkVFR · 09-16-2017, 04:29 PM

Did you check with your builder?

Pollock · 09-16-2017, 04:30 PM

I did the cam at 1500 miles. He did the blower at 3600. Trying not to bother him on Saturday. Its a stock bottom end with 6 psi

SquawkVFR · 09-16-2017, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pollock

I did the cam at 1500 miles. He did the blower at 3600. Trying not to bother him on Saturday. Its a stock bottom end with 6 psi

Hopefully you have some kind of warranties when you do bother him otherwise, when I've seen metal in the oil, it could be any of 101 things.

However....
IF you're lucky, and chances are good, something obscure came loose, like a tiny flake (was it aluminum?), and you may never see metal again. If you're not having any engine trouble keep checking your oil and if you see metal again stop, if you don't, keep on keeping on.

blake-b · 09-16-2017, 04:46 PM

No strange noises? Held oil pressure?

Pollock · 09-16-2017, 05:15 PM

Runs like a top. Kinda wierd. A bad bearing usually means oil pressure lose. I still have good pressure.
And yeah could be any thing. The color was for sure aluminum color. Was going to drive a bit more then get oil analysed.

blake-b · 09-16-2017, 05:28 PM

For my peace of mind, I'd be pulling the new filter and cutting it open. If it was clear, I'd do my best to put it behind me. And start saving for a new engine. You'll need one at some point.

Jayjellyfish212 · 09-16-2017, 06:03 PM

When was the last oil change prior to this? Was oil changed for the cam break in? If everything seems to run properly and nothing seems odd or strange noise I would change oil again and new filter. Pour a quart or 2 of oil in the motor with the drain plug out so you filush any crap out too. Cap drain plug and fill up oil. Drive it conservative then check oil. Drive it hard then check oil. Hope it helps. Whenever I change my oil I run 2 quarts through the motor to flush it. You would be amazed how much crap will flush out doing this.

Pollock · 09-16-2017, 06:38 PM

I changed the oil this early spring. Then added charger. Changed again in mid may. Put 700 miles on it since. Changed today. I want to hope all is good but that is never my luck. I have never changed oil where you dont have some flake but this was extreme.
Never did the dump extra during a change. Last oil change was cold.

SquawkVFR · 09-16-2017, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pollock

Runs like a top. Kinda wierd. A bad bearing usually means oil pressure lose. I still have good pressure.
And yeah could be any thing. The color was for sure aluminum color. Was going to drive a bit more then get oil analysed.

If it helps, this is the lab I use.

https://m.blackstone-labs.com

Pollock · 09-16-2017, 06:59 PM

Come to think of it. The last 2 oil changes were done cold. Dont like burning my hand. So I half assed it. So maybe the junk sat on the bottom and built up. Sounds to hopefull with 4300 miles.
Thanks for the website.

Olddudesrule · 09-16-2017, 07:43 PM

If you happened to have saved the oil, at least a small sample, send it to Blackstone for analysis. They will tell you exactly what it is based on what type of metal is in the oil. If you didn't, I guess you could run the oil for a bit, take a sample and send it in for analysis. That much visible metal, I would guess bearings.

Slickcas · 09-16-2017, 08:34 PM

Bet it's a bad camshaft. Seen a few of them from compcams go bad. The lobs just are not hard enough. There heat treatment is not that good sometimes. Cam Motion has much better cams.

I have a Comp cam in one of my LS3 it is doing ok but I keep a eye on the oil.

Pollock · 09-17-2017, 03:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slickcas

Bet it's a bad camshaft. Seen a few of them from compcams go bad. The lobs just are not hard enough. There heat treatment is not that good sometimes. Cam Motion has much better cams.

I have a Comp cam in one of my LS3 it is doing ok but I keep a eye on the oil.

I was wondering that because the oil looks identical to oil I have seen when a solid lifter flat tappet cam would go. But beeing a roller cam how would it wear out.
And mine is a comp cam.

09-16-2017, 04:00 PM	#1
Pollock LT4 M6 Drives: 2018 ZL1 1LE Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Bloomington, IN Posts: 1,249	Cammed and superchared. Metal on oil dipstick Not sure if this is the right place to post but.... I have 4300 miles on my car. Added a cam, then supercharger. Did my first track day. Kept it in 3rd gear the whole time. Was going between 3k to 6k rpm. After the first 30 min session I checked the oil and there was metal sparkling all over the dip stick with 15w-50 mobile 1 oil. So decided to call the day. Changed oil to 5w-30 and came home . Cut old filter and full of metal. But now Dipstick looks good after oil change. Have not changed again. So what now. Never seen metal on a dipstick in my 39 years of life. Car runs great. Oil pressure great. Time to sell or rebuild or just wait till it blows. Anyone had a simular situation?

09-16-2017, 06:03 PM	#8
Jayjellyfish212 Drives: 2014 1LE Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 2,050 View My Garage	When was the last oil change prior to this? Was oil changed for the cam break in? If everything seems to run properly and nothing seems odd or strange noise I would change oil again and new filter. Pour a quart or 2 of oil in the motor with the drain plug out so you filush any crap out too. Cap drain plug and fill up oil. Drive it conservative then check oil. Drive it hard then check oil. Hope it helps. Whenever I change my oil I run 2 quarts through the motor to flush it. You would be amazed how much crap will flush out doing this. __________________ Car mods: never enough!

09-16-2017, 07:43 PM	#12
Olddudesrule Resident nomad Drives: 2014 Summit White 1SS/1LE Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 1,765	If you happened to have saved the oil, at least a small sample, send it to Blackstone for analysis. They will tell you exactly what it is based on what type of metal is in the oil. If you didn't, I guess you could run the oil for a bit, take a sample and send it in for analysis. That much visible metal, I would guess bearings. __________________ Sold: 2007 Z06 2002 Viper GTS/ACR 2003 Z06 1965 FFR Cobra 2012 Nissan 370Z ADM LSA Stage II, Roto-Fab CAI, Kooks LTH/HFC's, Phastek CC, ported TB, Mishimoto radiator and oil cooler, BC Racing ER Series CO's, JPSS 32mm Black Magic rear bar, JPSS front inserts, R1 Concepts Premier slotted rotors/Goodrich SS lines, Schroth ASM harness, MGW flatstick, Brey-Krause HB, Tuned by NicD, at Cordes Performance Racing.

09-16-2017, 04:29 PM	#2
SquawkVFR Account Suspended Drives: 2010 Camaro Join Date: May 2014 Location: Alabama Posts: 1,971	Did you check with your builder?

09-16-2017, 04:30 PM	#3
Pollock LT4 M6 Drives: 2018 ZL1 1LE Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Bloomington, IN Posts: 1,249	I did the cam at 1500 miles. He did the blower at 3600. Trying not to bother him on Saturday. Its a stock bottom end with 6 psi

09-16-2017, 04:46 PM	#5
blake-b Drives: 2009 ZR1 Join Date: May 2010 Location: KCMO Posts: 3,205	No strange noises? Held oil pressure?

09-16-2017, 05:15 PM	#6
Pollock LT4 M6 Drives: 2018 ZL1 1LE Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Bloomington, IN Posts: 1,249	Runs like a top. Kinda wierd. A bad bearing usually means oil pressure lose. I still have good pressure. And yeah could be any thing. The color was for sure aluminum color. Was going to drive a bit more then get oil analysed.

09-16-2017, 05:28 PM	#7
blake-b Drives: 2009 ZR1 Join Date: May 2010 Location: KCMO Posts: 3,205	For my peace of mind, I'd be pulling the new filter and cutting it open. If it was clear, I'd do my best to put it behind me. And start saving for a new engine. You'll need one at some point.

09-16-2017, 06:38 PM	#9
Pollock LT4 M6 Drives: 2018 ZL1 1LE Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Bloomington, IN Posts: 1,249	I changed the oil this early spring. Then added charger. Changed again in mid may. Put 700 miles on it since. Changed today. I want to hope all is good but that is never my luck. I have never changed oil where you dont have some flake but this was extreme. Never did the dump extra during a change. Last oil change was cold.

09-16-2017, 06:59 PM	#11
Pollock LT4 M6 Drives: 2018 ZL1 1LE Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Bloomington, IN Posts: 1,249	Come to think of it. The last 2 oil changes were done cold. Dont like burning my hand. So I half assed it. So maybe the junk sat on the bottom and built up. Sounds to hopefull with 4300 miles. Thanks for the website.

09-16-2017, 08:34 PM	#13
Slickcas Drives: 12' 2SS/RS LS3 IBM Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Odin. ILL Posts: 487 View My Garage	Bet it's a bad camshaft. Seen a few of them from compcams go bad. The lobs just are not hard enough. There heat treatment is not that good sometimes. Cam Motion has much better cams. I have a Comp cam in one of my LS3 it is doing ok but I keep a eye on the oil.