Regular maintenance checks are critical for your vehicle.
They can prevent your vehicle from having problems or can help you detect them as soon as they happen.
One of these problems? Metal shavings in oil. These contaminants can pollute your oil and damage the engine, causing a ton of issues that cost lots of money and time.
So, what causes metal shavings to get into oil, and what can you do about it? Keep reading to get the answer!
Why are there metal shavings in My Oil?
Metal shavings in engine oil can be a sign of wear and tear on engine parts, like the bearings, camshaft, pistons and rods. These parts have a lot of friction and when they do not get enough lubrication, they can fail and produce metal shavings.
Some oil drain plugs are magnetic, and you may see the magnet pick up steel or iron shavings off of the drain plug, but aluminum and brass are not ferrous metals and will not stick to the magnet.
Pro tip: It is not really unheard of to see very tiny pieces in engine oil. Some will be to small for you to see, but will be seen with an oil analysis (you can send the oil off somewhere and have some take a look).
The color and size of the shavings can also be revealed. Shiny aluminum may indicate wear on a running surface. Copper or bronze colors can indicate worn bearing or bushing surfaces. Iron shavings could indicate a problem with a camshaft or crankshaft.
What Causes Metal Shavings in Oil?
Mechanical Wear and Tear
Even though it is normal for your engine to wear down as it gets older, metal shavings in your oil are often a sign that this wear has sped up at an abnormal rate.
Most of the time, these bits come from parts of the engine that need to endure a lot of friction, like bearings, camshafts, pistons, and rods. These parts take on most of the mechanical forces when the engine is running.
So, if you find metal shavings in your oil, one of the first things you should do to figure out what is wrong is to consider how old and how ‘healthy’ these engine parts are. Unfortunately, to find out where the shavings are coming from, it is often necessary to have diagnostic tests done by experts.
Inadequate Oil Filtering
When it comes to keeping your engine oil clean, the oil filter acts as a guardian. Its job is to catch contaminants and small pieces of debris that could otherwise get into the engine and make it dirty.
A good oil filter will keep metal bits and other small particles from getting into your engine oil. This keeps the oil at its best quality for lubrication. But problems happen when the oil filter has reached the end of its useful life or is of poor quality to begin with.
If a filter is old or not up to par, it can lose its effectiveness and let metal debris and other contaminants through its filtering media. This causes debris to move around freely in the engine oil, which speeds up wear and tear and puts your engine’s parts at risk. So, it is important to always buy high-quality oil filters and follow the manufacturer’s instructions about when to change them.
Contaminants and Foreign Materials
Metal shavings do not always come from inside the engine. Sometimes, these troublesome bits get into the engine oil system from the outside. For example, when parts of an engine are machined during a rebuild or repair, metal shavings can be produced.
Even though skilled technicians do their best to get rid of all the shavings, some could get left behind and later contaminate the oil. In the same way, putting in new motor oil or making repairs to the engine could bring in foreign materials.
Metal bits can get into the engine oil if you use a dirty funnel, dirty tools, or do not clean the oil container well enough. Even though this does not mean that your engine is broken, it is still a big problem.
These shavings on the outside can do the same damage as shavings on the inside, so if you do not get rid of them right away, they can speed up the deterioration of your engine.
Subpar Engine Lubrication
The engine and engine lubrication can showcase subpar functioning if there is not enough oil in the engine or if you use the wrong type of engine oil. Over time, extra friction causes more wear and tear, which makes it more likely that metal shavings will end up in your oil.
Also, bad lubrication can lead to a number of other problems. As friction gets worse, heat builds up inside the engine. This makes the oil even thinner and less effective as a lubricant. What follows is even more wear and heat, which makes it more likely that metal shavings will be created.
To stop this cycle, you must regularly check your engine oil level and make sure you are using the grade of engine oil that the manufacturer recommends.
Different Metal Shavings Types
#1. Iron Shavings.
If you discern iron shavings in the oil, this indicates a potential issue with one of the rotating components inside your engine.
For instance, both the camshaft and crankshaft are made of iron; thus, even under normal circumstances, it is never out of the question to be contacting iron shavings in oil.
The valve train can also be comprised of a variety of parts made of iron. Either way, you’re looking at a significant repair that should not be left to get worse.
#2. Brass, Bronze, or Copper Shavings.
Brass, bronze, and copper are distinctively colored and will appear different than the other materials. If you find shavings of this color, you’re likely facing an issue with a bushing that has worn out.
You could also have an issue with an internal bearing that has failed. While these components are relatively small, both create serious challenges for your engine when they are no longer functioning.
#3. Chromium or Molybdenum Shavings.
This color will appear silvery gray and could even appear similar to aluminum. This is ultimately indicative, however, of what the pistons are made from, chromium and molybdenum.
If you are seeing these shavings in the oil, you can likely guess that the pistons wore out; you could also be dealing with a broken piston ring.
#4. Aluminum Shavings.
Aluminum shavings usually occur due to wear on the surface of the engine. There are also a number of other worn components that could produce aluminum shavings.
Either way, you might be working with the overhead camshaft bearings, or possibly the aluminum caps.
Signs Your Oil Has Metal Shavings
Familiarizing yourself with how your car handles and starts every time you get behind the wheel can help you notice when something is off. Some signs of metal shavings in oil include:
Decreased Power
A decrease in power could mean metal shavings have clogged the oil filter. Oil greases the moving parts of your engine, and a clogged filter can keep the lubricant from going where it needs to.
The oil that gets through the faulty filter is usually contaminated with grime and dirt, which means it’s not that effective in reducing the friction between moving parts. Neglecting the issue could severely damage the engine.
Rough Idling
Rough idling is the excessive shaking and vibrations you feel when the engine is running but not moving. Some of its symptoms include bouncing, shaking, stalling, and backfiring.
There are a handful of probable causes, and the lack of proper lubrication in components is one of them. As mentioned, a clogged oil filter caused by excessive metal shavings means there’s not enough oil to lubricate different parts.
Ticking Noise
Moving engine parts can produce ticking noises when they rub against each other without adequate lubrication.
Engine Knocks
Built-up metal shavings could also result in engine knocks, which are the clunking sounds you hear when accelerating. They occur when the fuel is burning unevenly, likely due to an incorrect balance of air and fuel.
Fuel usually burns in small and regulated pockets before creating a small shock and igniting the next pocket. Knocks happen when the uneven burning makes the shocks go off at the wrong time.
Illuminated Check Engine Light
An illuminated check engine light could mean a handful of things, from something minor like a loose gas cap to severe issues like a damaged engine component.
While it won’t light up to indicate the built-up shavings, it could activate when a lack of lubrication is affecting auto parts.
There are also late-model vehicles with oil pressure or oil pressure change indicators that light up when there are issues with the oil.
How to Prevent Metal Shavings in the Oil
You can prevent metal shavings from getting into the oil by changing the fluid regularly, replacing the oil filter, and repairing damaged parts right away.
Change the Oil Regularly
In addition to removing the built-up metal shavings, regular oil changes improve engine performance and prolong its lifespan. It also helps your car achieve peak gas mileage.
It’s recommended to change the oil every 3,000 miles. There are some cases when you can leave it up to 7,500 miles, but following the 3,000-mile rule is best for keeping your vehicle healthy.
It’s also ideal to change the oil every 12 months if you’re not using your vehicle frequently.
Replace the Filter
It’s recommended to change the oil filter every three to six months or every other oil change. New oil filters do a better job of collecting metal shavings and other contaminants.
Repair Damaged Parts
Besides the oil filter, it’s also worth checking if engine components, such as the bearings, camshaft, pistons, and rods, are worn out because of the lack of lubrication. Replacing these parts should help stave off metal shavings and improve vehicle performance.
