3,000 Miles - No "Metal Shavings" - Anyone Else?

[superstockcam]

Originally Posted by rodimus prime

No shavings means you didnt beat on your car properly during break in. Loosen them motors up.

I beat mine like it owes me money! I have 22 small block and 6 big block builds under my belt, I think if I found "shavings" in one of mine...
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[rodimus prime]

It was sarcasam. Sorry...it doesnt come through quite well over the interwebz.

[buhbye]

V8 manual here, I would love to post my pictures but they won't post. I have tried everything I know to do. Any suggestion

[lemurgirl454]

Originally Posted by Stang_Killer

I couldn't tell you about 3,000 because I had mine changed at 1,500 and they said everything looked A O K

When should we get the first oil change? I hear so many different answers.
Some say 1,500, some say 3,000, and 5,000.

[FNKNSTN]

Originally Posted by OUR72GTO

Did the oil at 3000 miles and checked the filter. Not a thing! Sent the oil in for an analysis, results next week.

Gettin' all high-tech on us!

Originally Posted by SScattergunSS

My SS got done at 1260 miles. The oil was a little dirty, but there were no shavings that I could see. I'm still glad I changed it, and will probably do it again around 3000 - 3500 miles.

I hear that more frequent oil changes do no harm, but really aren't necessary.

Originally Posted by Doc

Well I sure hope you don't see shavings in the oil! That would mean your filter isn't doing it's job.

You know?? haha

Originally Posted by buhbye

I have 4,333 miles on my original oil, my technician says it no longer has to be changed right away. He is telling me to let my car tell me when, asked him to check it the other day, said the dip stick looked great. We did this with my last car so I trust him.

Originally Posted by TooCool5

Still have original break in oil, looks honey clear on the stick.
Plan on bringing her in @ 2,500 for the first free dealer change, then the one after that will be Mobil1 I already have in jugs downstairs.
Glad to hear you guys aren't finding shavings, gives me more confidence on what I'm doing.
It would help if you guys put your trim level in your sig pic so we know if you are talking about the V6 or 8.

It's my understanding that there is no "break in oil"... that you get Mobil 1 Synthetic from the start. And there is no specified method for breaking the car in, other than keeping it under 4,000 rpms and under 100mph for whatever amount of time it says in the owner's manual (1,000 miles?). This Camaro doesn't have an old 350 with a 4-barrel carburetor on top.

Originally Posted by rodimus prime

No shavings means you didnt beat on your car properly during break in. Loosen them motors up.

Treat it like your gray complexioned, freckle faced, red headed step-child!!

And uhhhh... 'cause the rings on the piston wont be properly seated unless you beat the hell out of it within the first 500 miles. Meaning that you'll be blowing air and gasoline past the pistons, and everytime you change the oil - it will be all frothy and smell like gasoline... just like that 35 year old pickup truck you have with 300,000 miles on that engine.

Oh and uhhh... the "COMPUTER" will learn your driving habits, causing your Camaro to react differently when you step on the accelerator. So if you drive it slow like my oriental grandmother for the first 1,000 miles, you're going to be cursed with a slow 400hp+ Camaro SS that goes 0-60 in 4.5 minutes.

Originally Posted by lemurgirl454

When should we get the first oil change? I hear so many different answers.
Some say 1,500, some say 3,000, and 5,000.

Changing your oil every 500 miles should do no harm, but it's unnecessary. The WORD is that it isn't necessary until your car's Oil Life % monitor tells you it's time to change the oil. Just pull the dipstick every now and then. Get to know what your oil should look like, and make sure that you have the proper amount of oil.

Some of the younger guys on here are hypochondriacs - in reference to their cars.

Some of the older guys are stuck in their old ways, doing what they did when their old cars were brand new.

Don't believe everything you read on here, and don't just copy what you hear someone else is doing. There are people on here who are worried about their engine oil, but don't think about the damage that can be done by washing their Camaro 7 times a week.

[CV3435]

I think all of you should take a look at this link
http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm

The fact that you have that many miles on you're cars and you don't see any oil shavings may not be such a good thing. Head down to nearly the bottom of this link and you'll see...

"The best thing you can do for your engine is to change your oil and filter after the first 20 miles. Most of the wearing in process happens immediately, creating a lot of metal in the oil. Plus, the amount of leftover machining chips and other crud left behind in the manufacturing process is simply amazing !! You want to flush that stuff out before it gets recycled and embedded in the transmission gears, and oil pump etc..."

right after this section it even says that breaking in using synthetic oils is not a good idea, way too slippery for the rings to seal..... and later saying he has seen rings not sealing no matter how hard they are ran due to synthetic oils.

any thoughts? any professionals? It makes perfect sense to me.

[tradosaurus]

Originally Posted by FNKNSTN

Am I The Only One??

I'm 4 miles shy of the 3,000 mile mark and there is not a glimmer... sparkle... glitter... shimmer of metal in my honey-like oil when I pull the dipstick.

My Mobil 1 looks like liquid gold.

Would you see shavings on your dipstick if there was a problem? I would think the shavings would be in the oil pan or oil filter.

Change your oil and check the old oil and filter.

[FNKNSTN]

Originally Posted by CV3435

I think all of you should take a look at this link
http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm

The fact that you have that many miles on you're cars and you don't see any oil shavings may not be such a good thing. Head down to nearly the bottom of this link and you'll see...

"The best thing you can do for your engine is to change your oil and filter after the first 20 miles. Most of the wearing in process happens immediately, creating a lot of metal in the oil. Plus, the amount of leftover machining chips and other crud left behind in the manufacturing process is simply amazing !! You want to flush that stuff out before it gets recycled and embedded in the transmission gears, and oil pump etc..."

right after this section it even says that breaking in using synthetic oils is not a good idea, way too slippery for the rings to seal..... and later saying he has seen rings not sealing no matter how hard they are ran due to synthetic oils.

any thoughts? any professionals? It makes perfect sense to me.

When was this written? Back in 2002? Sometime before this engine/technology existed?

I read that page a while back when people started receiving their Camaros and were curious about a "break-in period".

If it's soooooooo the right thing to do, then why is it a "secret"?

Like I said before, you can change your oil as often as you'd like, but is it necessary?

Does it recommend that you flush the transmission?

Does it recommend that you drain the rear-end and replace the fluids? - - - - I know the owner's manual says to do so if you're going to be doing some heavy duty competative driving.

Originally Posted by tradosaurus

Would you see shavings on your dipstick if there was a problem? I would think the shavings would be in the oil pan or oil filter.

Change your oil and check the old oil and filter.

Is there a problem?

If my oil temp sky rockets or pressure stays high from a blocked filter... then there is a problem.

But here's another question:

What Is The Specific Harm Done To The Engine By Not Changing The Oil Immediately?... Or After 500/1000/1500/2000/3000 Miles?

If all that bad junk is caught in the filter - then the filter is doing its job.

If you believe that the bottom of your oil pan is littered with metal shavings... are you removing your oil pan and wiping it down for your first oil change? Or are your flushing your system by draining the oil, replacing the filter, adding fresh oil, and driving 20 miles - then draining the oil again, replacing the filter, and adding fresh oil again?

There's a lot of good info being shared here. A lot of people are just receiving their cars and have lots of questions. And we can't expect new people to use the "search" feature to find the thread they need.

[Number_9]

You really shouldn't see shavings on the stick, even if they are there. I am told by one of the main Vette/Camaro mechanics at Classic Chevy that there is is a high-intensity magnet in the pan (the plug I believe) that will collect any shavings and prevent them from circulating. You'd only know upon an oil change if there are shavings or not.... and, with the tolerances and technologies in place today, you should never see any unless there is something more serious going on inside your engine.

Last note, the guy cursed me out for changing my oil at 500 miles, told me not to come back again until 5K... at 5K I was clean as a whistle. About to go in for my 10K (literally within the next week or so) and I expect the same result.

[Michael_Js]

I changed my oil around 1200 miles and saw LOTS of metal shaving! I'll be doing it again around 5K, then let the DIC indicate when to change it.

[Banshee]

You are NOT driving your Camaro hard enough!

[Banshee]

Originally Posted by Doc

Well I sure hope you don't see shavings in the oil! That would mean your filter isn't doing it's job.

Uh...

I changed my oil at 890 miles from the FACTORY with a what? Mobil1 filter installed.

There were metal shavings in the filter (I cut it open) and there was aluminum sheen on the top layer of the oil drained in the pan. You could actually see the metal sheen. It looked like the froth on the surface of a frappuchino.

I have been building engines for 25 years. I hate to break the news to you, but no matter what engine you build you will ALWAYS get residual metal on the bottom of the pan and suspended in the oil. Iron will typically settle in the pan and aluminum will suspend and is literally harmless for the most part as a particulate in oil.

You can't tell anyone ANY oil filter will remove 100% of any metal particulate in a brand new engine. With the 8.6 qt capacity of the LS3, you have a greater volume of oil and a much less chance of picking up heavier particles on the bottom of the pan.

Sorry, impossible.

Oil filters are effectually 99.4% efficient removing all particles of a certain micron size. This is true...AFTER engine break in.

After the first oil change I used Pennzoil Platinum and a K&N filter. There was still some metal left. I believe I still have the filter element if anyone wants pictures.

It stands to reason that people (as myself) that understand break in procedures (ring seating) will drive a new car hard. I did from day of delivery...and the reason those of us have increased metal in our filters/oil. As a side note, I had 168k on an LS1 engine that was purchased new with 5 miles. I drove it hard from the gate. Right before I sold her, and as a selling point, the oil analysis from Blackstone was excellent for the mileage on that engine.

And it passed emissions...and it burned no oil.

[thebighar]

Sorry, i love my car and want to do all the scheduled maintenance but i do not believe you need to change the oil before 3000 miles. There is nothing wrong with being cautious with this great car but i really don't think this is a serious issue, seems like a little overkill. If it needed to be done they would certainly tell you to do it to prevent warranty issues and the like, not to mention they could make more money on more oil changes. The filter is there for anything like this if it does happen i would think. As far as long term problems from metal shavings if any, who knows but i bet down the road with the car if there are issues it will be something other than oil problems.

[DarricSS]

At this thread and FNKNSTN's attempt at sturring the pot with the proper break-in procedure.

He at me for changing mine at 250miles for the above reasons Doc spoke about above.



And the posts from back in July:

Originally Posted by FNKNSTN

I have never heard of a 250 mile oil change.

Originally Posted by DarricSS

Been running the car hard, want to get the metal pieces out...

Originally Posted by DarricSS

That's what my dealer told me to do as well, but i have been driving the car like i stole it (doing the hard break-in) going to take it easy on it now though...drive train needs some time to settle in as well as the breaks...

Originally Posted by FNKNSTN

hahahahahhahaha ok? Have you ever thought about picking up your owner's manual? I'm sure you had lots of metal pieces drain out with your 250 mile oil.

Tell me... when has it EVER been good to put so much strain on a brand new engine?