Bits of o-ring when changing oil. - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Camaro80 · 02-19-2019, 12:10 PM

I have a 2012 lfx v6. Bought used with 60500 mile on it.
Now have little over 70000 mile all highway, 115 round trip to work. I've done 3 oil changes ( mobil1 10w40 and 1 quart of Lucas oil stabilizer)and each time i find small bits of what appears to be of an o-ring in the oil filter holder ( not sure what you call the place the oil filter goes in to but thats where the bits are being found) It's not part of the oil filter, I've rulled that out. The car runs great, but just wondering if something is about to go out on the engine. Also the out side of the o-ring has a groove. The last pic i have a zip tie in the groove. If you zoom in you can see the groove. I would have to say the whole o-ring would be about 3/8 to 1/2" in diameter.

sixty9fordkiller · 02-19-2019, 01:07 PM

im not sure if the V6 motors are the same, but on a V8, thats from the oil pickup tube and I would stop the engine altogether and not turn it on any longer until i took the oil pan off

Camaro80 · 02-19-2019, 01:12 PM

Thanks for the info. I hope thats not it but i sure no one would like to that. I'm gonna look for the o-ring for the oil pump and compare the v6 and v8

sixty9fordkiller · 02-19-2019, 01:25 PM

what was your oil pressure like when you bought it? What its like now?

Camaro80 · 02-19-2019, 01:32 PM

I dont have the gauge cluster in front of the shifter and to be honest i haven't checked the digital gauge read out on the dash. The only pictures of o-rings i can find for the pick up tube don't look like what I'm finding when i change my oil and i haven't been able to pull up a oil pickup tube for the v6 only the v8 when i do a internet search, not say there isn't one just haven't found it.

Camaro80 · 02-19-2019, 01:58 PM

Found the oil pickup seal for the v6 and it dont look like what im finding but im only getting pieces of it

Russell James · 02-19-2019, 02:12 PM

You could have a dealer check the VIN and see if any work done recently. There are several parts that use RTV sealer, such as the front cover. My WAG guess is maybe a little excess from a sealed area like that front cover has broken off. If not leaking, good oil pressure... I wouldn't sweat it.

One thing I would change is your oil choice. 10w40 plus lucas stuff is way too thick. I'd use a high quality 5w30 synthetic with nothing added.

Thick oil contributes to more oil filter bypass time. With seal/RTV debris in there, the last thing you want is filter bypass time. With thinner oil, I'd also be popping the filter off once in a while to see if more is getting caught.

Camaro80 · 02-19-2019, 02:34 PM

Thanks for the info, how would you go about checking with the deal on previous work done. I started using the 10w40 after reading other threads on here and the lucas is something i been doing for 10 plus years in all my cars but you do make sense about it clogging up ports.

shibbs · 02-19-2019, 04:22 PM

Just call your local dealership and ask to talk to an advisor. See if they can get you the service history on the car. You should only need the VIN.

Camaro80 · 02-19-2019, 06:30 PM

Thank you for the info.

km9v · 02-19-2019, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Camaro80

Thanks for the info, how would you go about checking with the deal on previous work done. I started using the 10w40 after reading other threads on here and the lucas is something i been doing for 10 plus years in all my cars but you do make sense about it clogging up ports.

Um, shouldn't you be using 5W30 in that engine? 10W40 is way too thick for the the 3.6L. You shouldn't change the oil type for any engine, but if you think you must, you usually go lighter like to 0W30 or 0W20.

Camaro80 · 02-19-2019, 07:16 PM

Ok the 1st oil change was 5w30 and lucas. I joined this site and read a lot of stuff about premature timing chain failures on the 3.6, mainly on the llt and a few of the lfx. A lot of the suggestions were to run 10w30 so thats what i did on the 2nd oil change. 3rd oil change I had a brain fart and got the 10w40 so next oil change will be back to the 10w30. Now the 1st time i changed the oil i found 3 or 4 of the broken o-ring pieces. I have no idea what oil was in it at that time as i bought the car used from carmax. The 2nd oil change there were 2 bits of o-ring and only one piece on the last oil change. So yes the 10w40 was my mistake but theres no way I'm going to a lighter oil. Just my thing. Hell 20 years ago all I ran was straight 30 weight. To each his own.

km9v · 02-19-2019, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Camaro80

Ok the 1st oil change was 5w30 and lucas. I joined this site and read a lot of stuff about premature timing chain failures on the 3.6, mainly on the llt and a few of the lfx. A lot of the suggestions were to run 10w30 so thats what i did on the 2nd oil change. 3rd oil change I had a brain fart and got the 10w40 so next oil change will be back to the 10w30. Now the 1st time i changed the oil i found 3 or 4 of the broken o-ring pieces. I have no idea what oil was in it at that time as i bought the car used from carmax. The 2nd oil change there were 2 bits of o-ring and only one piece on the last oil change. So yes the 10w40 was my mistake but theres no way I'm going to a lighter oil. Just my thing. Hell 20 years ago all I ran was straight 30 weight. To each his own.

20 years ago I wouldn't have disagreed with you. Today, however, everything from top to bottom on those engines are designed to run with thinner oil. I understand your concerns with the premature timing chain failures, but you maybe causing other larger issues using the heavier weight oil.

Camaro80 · 02-19-2019, 09:00 PM

Yeah I just got through reading about the difference in the different oil weights and the closer tolerances the engines have today. So I'm going to have to agree with you about 10w40 being to heavy, but I'm sure I'll use the 10w30 with the lucas. Thanks for the concern I just would like to know what the bits of o-ring is coming from. It was there on my 1st oil change so i know it wss from nothing that I've done but thats what you get with a used car, hell could be way it was traded in.

02-19-2019, 12:10 PM	#1
Camaro80 Drives: 2012 1LT Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: New Caney TX Posts: 15	Bits of o-ring when changing oil. I have a 2012 lfx v6. Bought used with 60500 mile on it. Now have little over 70000 mile all highway, 115 round trip to work. I've done 3 oil changes ( mobil1 10w40 and 1 quart of Lucas oil stabilizer)and each time i find small bits of what appears to be of an o-ring in the oil filter holder ( not sure what you call the place the oil filter goes in to but thats where the bits are being found) It's not part of the oil filter, I've rulled that out. The car runs great, but just wondering if something is about to go out on the engine. Also the out side of the o-ring has a groove. The last pic i have a zip tie in the groove. If you zoom in you can see the groove. I would have to say the whole o-ring would be about 3/8 to 1/2" in diameter. Attached Images Last edited by Camaro80; 02-19-2019 at 12:39 PM.

02-19-2019, 01:07 PM	#2
sixty9fordkiller Donkey Dick Cam Camaro Drives: 2010 2SS/RS LS3 M6 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 2,000	im not sure if the V6 motors are the same, but on a V8, thats from the oil pickup tube and I would stop the engine altogether and not turn it on any longer until i took the oil pan off __________________ Bone Stock

02-19-2019, 01:25 PM	#4
sixty9fordkiller Donkey Dick Cam Camaro Drives: 2010 2SS/RS LS3 M6 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 2,000	what was your oil pressure like when you bought it? What its like now? __________________ Bone Stock

02-19-2019, 01:58 PM	#6
Camaro80 Drives: 2012 1LT Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: New Caney TX Posts: 15	Found the oil pickup seal for the v6 and it dont look like what im finding but im only getting pieces of it Attached Images

02-19-2019, 01:12 PM	#3
Camaro80 Drives: 2012 1LT Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: New Caney TX Posts: 15	Thanks for the info. I hope thats not it but i sure no one would like to that. I'm gonna look for the o-ring for the oil pump and compare the v6 and v8

02-19-2019, 01:32 PM	#5
Camaro80 Drives: 2012 1LT Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: New Caney TX Posts: 15	I dont have the gauge cluster in front of the shifter and to be honest i haven't checked the digital gauge read out on the dash. The only pictures of o-rings i can find for the pick up tube don't look like what I'm finding when i change my oil and i haven't been able to pull up a oil pickup tube for the v6 only the v8 when i do a internet search, not say there isn't one just haven't found it.

02-19-2019, 02:12 PM	#7
Russell James Drives: '15 SS 1LE, '69 Z28 drag car Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Mich Posts: 4,483	You could have a dealer check the VIN and see if any work done recently. There are several parts that use RTV sealer, such as the front cover. My WAG guess is maybe a little excess from a sealed area like that front cover has broken off. If not leaking, good oil pressure... I wouldn't sweat it. One thing I would change is your oil choice. 10w40 plus lucas stuff is way too thick. I'd use a high quality 5w30 synthetic with nothing added. Thick oil contributes to more oil filter bypass time. With seal/RTV debris in there, the last thing you want is filter bypass time. With thinner oil, I'd also be popping the filter off once in a while to see if more is getting caught.

02-19-2019, 02:34 PM	#8
Camaro80 Drives: 2012 1LT Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: New Caney TX Posts: 15	Thanks for the info, how would you go about checking with the deal on previous work done. I started using the 10w40 after reading other threads on here and the lucas is something i been doing for 10 plus years in all my cars but you do make sense about it clogging up ports.

02-19-2019, 06:30 PM	#10
Camaro80 Drives: 2012 1LT Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: New Caney TX Posts: 15	Thank you for the info.

02-19-2019, 07:16 PM	#12
Camaro80 Drives: 2012 1LT Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: New Caney TX Posts: 15	Ok the 1st oil change was 5w30 and lucas. I joined this site and read a lot of stuff about premature timing chain failures on the 3.6, mainly on the llt and a few of the lfx. A lot of the suggestions were to run 10w30 so thats what i did on the 2nd oil change. 3rd oil change I had a brain fart and got the 10w40 so next oil change will be back to the 10w30. Now the 1st time i changed the oil i found 3 or 4 of the broken o-ring pieces. I have no idea what oil was in it at that time as i bought the car used from carmax. The 2nd oil change there were 2 bits of o-ring and only one piece on the last oil change. So yes the 10w40 was my mistake but theres no way I'm going to a lighter oil. Just my thing. Hell 20 years ago all I ran was straight 30 weight. To each his own.

02-19-2019, 09:00 PM	#14
Camaro80 Drives: 2012 1LT Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: New Caney TX Posts: 15	Yeah I just got through reading about the difference in the different oil weights and the closer tolerances the engines have today. So I'm going to have to agree with you about 10w40 being to heavy, but I'm sure I'll use the 10w30 with the lucas. Thanks for the concern I just would like to know what the bits of o-ring is coming from. It was there on my 1st oil change so i know it wss from nothing that I've done but thats what you get with a used car, hell could be way it was traded in.