Date:         Thu, 5 Oct 2000 17:26:33 -0700
Reply-To:     David Marshall <vanagon@VOLKSWAGEN.ORG>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         David Marshall <vanagon@VOLKSWAGEN.ORG>
Subject:      Re: Metal flecks in oil
Comments: To: ThreeHartz@AOL.COM
In-Reply-To:  <9e.a7d5d60.270dfeb1@aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Flecks of visable metal - you have a problem my friend!

I have heard that Fram filters are about the worse thing you can install -
no real experience here with them though.  I use Bosch or Purolator filters
on my engines with 15w40 oil in the summer and 10w40 oil in the winter with
chages occuring at each turn of the season.  Castrol is usually what I put
in there.  I have never seen flakes of metal in the bottom of my oil bucket
when changing the oil in an engine.  Flakes of metal when changing a
transmission yes...

Get a magnetic oil plug - use a speaker magnet to give it a small charge if
you want to save a few $$$.

Did you cut open the oil filter - if there are any flakes going around they
should be in there.

I don't think the synthetic did anything to "free" up the flakes.

Hopefully this is an isolated case and not time for a new engine!

At 11:56 AM 05/10/2000 EDT, Ken Hartz wrote:
>Hello, and help.  I just did a oil change on my 89GL.  After draining the oil
>from the catch basin to milk jugs (recycling is good), I noticed some larger
>than normal metal flecks some almost bordering on "flakes!" in the residue.
>The van has 128K miles and appears to be running fine but am I about to have
>a disaster?  I change oil every 2500 miles, had been using FRAM filters but
>thanks to the list recently switched to the VW black filter sold at a premium
>through the local dealer.  I also just recently switched to synthetic 15W50.
>Is this stuff just cleaning out what had been there all along in the oil pan
>or is my engine about to self-destruct?  Does anyone know where I might sent
>the metal flakes for analysis or would this information be irrelevant?  No
>wonder I'm getting better economy ... the darn thing is getting lighter!
>Thanks in advance for any responses.
>Ken Hartz
>
>

-- David Marshall - Volkswagen Enthusiast - Quesnel, BC, Canada   --
-- 78 VW Rabbit, 79 VW Iltis, 80 VW Caddy, 84 VW Westfalia        --
-- 85 VW Cabriolet, 87 Audi 5000 Quattro, 88 VW Syncro Double Cab --
-- David's Volkswagen Home Page        http://www.volkswagen.org  --
-- Fast Forward Autobahn Sport Tuning  http://www.fastforward.ca  --
-- david@volkswagen.org (pmail) or vanagon@volkswagen.org (list)  --