metal shavings in oil..... need help!

Ok, I have a 1998 4runner limited, It has 104k miles and in excellent condition and has been meticulously maintained. I recently had it in the shop to replace valve cover gaskets, cam seals, plugs and wires, plug tubes and both the upper and lowers intake gaskets. I check the oil all the time, before it went to the shop the oil was always nice and free of debris. I checked the oil about 100 miles after said work was done and the oil looks like someone poured very fine silver glitter in it.... along with a few metal shavings. My question is..... with the work that was done, could they have done and or installed something incorrectly to result in this disgusting oil? Also, it sounds like it has quite a bit more top end ''rattle''. Any help would be greatly appreciated, I am contacting the shop tomorrow morning.

 

First off I would be all over the shop. Next, it's going to be hard to say for sure who or what happened. Go buy two cases of cheap oil to flush the system. Change the filter out after you get it flushed out. Drive it 50 miles or so and drain again and see what comes out. If it still has metal shavings your lower end is likely toasted and the bearing are done or even more damage is likley.

Sorry man.

Blue

 

That is what I am afraid of. I feel as though it would be very rare for this 4runner with the miles it has to have a blown motor. With the repairs they did..... could it have been something they did?

 

It's possible! Think about this. The top of the engine is wide open. If something falls in and no one knew hit the key and now you have something in the lower end your screwed. This is why we ALWAYS do an oil change with every intake job we do in our shop. One of my techs had this happen to him. We got very lucky and no damage was done when the distributor screw fell to the top of the piston.

Blue

 

Like I said flush the fuck out of the engine. Two or three cases of oil are cheap compared to an engine.

We have done this process several times with customers car with blown head gaskets when the block is full of antifreeze to clean it all out so they will not have coolant in the oil when they leave that and a power flush with high power air and hot water. Not a purge!

Blue

 

Ok, I definitely appreciate the feedback. I just hope they stand up to this shit. I'm just not sure how to go about it if they say ''sorry, we didn't do anything to cause this''. I might lose my shit. They are a very reputable and highly thought of shop... so hoping they do the right thing.

 

I had forgotten to add the fact that they also installed brand new valve covers, could this ''metal dust'' be from these new covers? I know they should have cleaned them first, but it is possible they did not. I pulled the oil cap and wiped the threads in the valve cover with a tissue and noticed an abundance of little metallic shavings and dust.

 

It's possible I would just have to see it. I would think you would put them through a parts cleaner bit you never know....It's not always something you do.

 

Ok, I'm hoping that is all it is. Seeing to the maintenance schedule that has been followed and the low miles I would assume that everything is fine. Again, I appreciate all the advice and input.

 

If the flush idea doesn't work u have to redo bottom engine. New bearings.

 

It's quite possible while they had your valve covers off, could have accidentally left something inside the cover that doesn't belong (some type of tool, scraper, socket???). So when you run your engine the cams or rocker arms are rubbing on this items...thus causing wear to the item and or your valve train. That Could be your source of metal flake and your rattle noise you hear. Who knows...it's just an idea. But something is causing the metal in your oil. Something is causing a rattle noise in your top end.

I personally would take it back to the shop and expressed my concerns and watched them pull the valve covers off. If nothing is inside either side...double check their work they did. Something isn't right...if you don't fix the problem...it's just going to continue. Changing your oil isn't going to help...because metal flake will just continue to contaminate your new oil. That said...once you find your problem and get it fixed....then I would do as Blue suggested! Flushing your system with several oil changes.

Please let us know what happens. I'm very curious to know the source!! Is this a shop you have always gone to and know well? And is it a dealership?

Thanks....and good luck!!

- Russel

 

Wow...I just noticed this happend in July...5 months ago. Sorry OP...do you mind sharing what the source was?? Thanks...