I have approximately 300 miles on a new shortblock. My second change of break in oil revealed some small metal flakes in the filter and a super thin steel sliver stuck to the drain plug magnet. I'd like to imagine a healthy engine has zero metal in the filter, but I suppose I could make an argument for this much.

Let me know what you guys think. Thanks.

 

did you fully clean the engine block before you assembled it? if you bought it assembled id talk to who ever you got it from

it might be from block being dirty when it was put together? the metal on the magnet looks like it from someplace the block was machined maybe?

 

I got the assembled shortblock from a reputable shop and had them install the heads, timing set, covers etc. They said they didn't know where the bits came from, but to run another batch of oil through it and see how it looks after that. Hopefully the next filter looks better. Thanks for the reply.

 

Np!

that part on the magnet really gets me, I been in a few engines and can’t think of what part it could of came from? Hopefully maybe it was just the block was dirt and the oil helped clean it up and the next one will be all good

keep this updated I’m curious

 

I've spent a long time staring at that piece wondering what the hell it could possibly be. Perhaps a chip from the front/back of the cam gear? I have pretty decent oil pressure and that was the only ferrous piece. I drained the oil past a strong magnet and nothing else was in there. I'll give it another oil change and see if it gets worse. I'll be sure to post an update in a couple hundred miles.