Bits in engine oil What would you do?
- Thread starter mad-dawg
- Start date
Update
Ok I know you are all getting bored with this now.
I cut open the filter and the bowl contains no swarf,the filter is clear of bits of piston and I double checked the flow direction in the BMW service manual so I am a bit more confident that there is not loads of shrapnel in the engine.
So the plan is run it for 100-150 miles drain and replace filter and quit worrying till it starts making a knocking noise.
And the drain plug does not have a magnet, but the new one I fitted yesterday certainly does...........although if thats covered in chunks of steel when I drain the oil I will be back at square one!!!
Why cant I just leave things alone.
Ok I know you are all getting bored with this now.
I cut open the filter and the bowl contains no swarf,the filter is clear of bits of piston and I double checked the flow direction in the BMW service manual so I am a bit more confident that there is not loads of shrapnel in the engine.
So the plan is run it for 100-150 miles drain and replace filter and quit worrying till it starts making a knocking noise.
And the drain plug does not have a magnet, but the new one I fitted yesterday certainly does...........although if thats covered in chunks of steel when I drain the oil I will be back at square one!!!
Why cant I just leave things alone.
Fingers crossed for you then, M-D. Hope all is well.
Mad-dawg,
Did you ever get to the foot of this problem?
Today I found similar bits of metal when I changed the oil on my 02 1150GS. I last changed the oil 6-7 weeks ago and there were no bits that time. The bike has been running fine and it's only done 36k. It doesn't make any noises that it didn't make before either.
Was it cam chain tensioners?
Regards
Rob C
Did you ever get to the foot of this problem?
Today I found similar bits of metal when I changed the oil on my 02 1150GS. I last changed the oil 6-7 weeks ago and there were no bits that time. The bike has been running fine and it's only done 36k. It doesn't make any noises that it didn't make before either.
Was it cam chain tensioners?
Regards
Rob C
Hi RobC
I have not changed the oil again yet but will do this week as its about due.
I never investigated the tensioners cos it seemed fairly quiet and they are plastic not alloy. Been out today and on start up there is a cammy noise for a second or so a rattle noise rather than a rumble, but to be honest the whole thing makes a bloody racket and I am resigned to keeping going till I need the RAC or buying a Honda!
If you discover what these lumps are let me know.
Update: On Sunday I dropped the engine oil again (1000 miles since last time) and I found more bits of shiny metal and one bit of black metal or plastic. I can't tell by feeling it if it is plastic or metal. This black bit is perhaps 10mm long by 2mm wide.
There are still no unusual noises from the engine so maybe these bits are just casting swarf and are being flushed out now.
After another 1000 miles (this coming weekend) I'll drop the oil again to see if there are more bits.
If I'm feeling brave I'm going to see if I can remove and check the cam chain tensioners to inspect them for damage but I don't know what a damaged one would look like. I'm assuming it would be obvious. Does anyone have any pictures of the kind of damage I need to look for?
Other than cam chain tensioners is there anything to look for?
I'd rather not take the bike to BMW to be checked over if it turn out there is nothing wrong. I can imagine it costs a lot of money to check lots of stuff. Unless it starts making funny noises I'll keep checking bits myself.
Regards
Rob C
There are still no unusual noises from the engine so maybe these bits are just casting swarf and are being flushed out now.
After another 1000 miles (this coming weekend) I'll drop the oil again to see if there are more bits.
If I'm feeling brave I'm going to see if I can remove and check the cam chain tensioners to inspect them for damage but I don't know what a damaged one would look like. I'm assuming it would be obvious. Does anyone have any pictures of the kind of damage I need to look for?
Other than cam chain tensioners is there anything to look for?
I'd rather not take the bike to BMW to be checked over if it turn out there is nothing wrong. I can imagine it costs a lot of money to check lots of stuff. Unless it starts making funny noises I'll keep checking bits myself.
Regards
Rob C
OK, in my opinion - regardless of the general 'they're tractors and run forever' consensus you shouldn't really have any noticeable shiny bits in your drained oil. Investigate the black bit (try to cut it with a knife - you'll soon tell if it's plastic) - my suspicion would be that it's a chunk of black plastic camchain tensioner blade (items 2, 3 and 4 on the pic below. The metal / plastic bits aren't casting swarf - if it were a new Chinese scooter then possibly, but not an '02 GS
The trouble is, you can't really check these tensioner blades without removing the cylinder heads and peering down the camchain tunnels with a torch - easy enough if you're confident with spanners, a bit scary if you're not. You can remove the tensioner pistons easily but these are just plunger / spring affairs and usually either work or don't (noisy if they don't) - items 10 and 11 on the pic.
If it were my bike I'd take it to someone like Steptoe to get it checked, but your choice of course.
Attachments
Afternoon Peolpe.
Just changed oil and filter on my 96 1100GS, and the pictured chunks of alloy were in the oil.
The 5p is for scale and was not in the engine.
My question is;
Do I forget about it and just ride the dammed thing till it either lunches itself or does another 50K with no problems, or run it for 100 miles change the oil and filter and repeat reguarly to ascertain whether there is ongoing damage. OR strip the engine and investigate (bearing in ming its spring, I have only had the bike 3 weeks and I sold my other bike yesterday.
Did you ever find a cause for the bits in your oil?
I have done an oil change today 1150GSA and also noticed bits the same size and shape as the ones you found, I drained the filter into the same bowl? I was wondering if the bits could have been held in the filter or floating around the engine causing damage?
It’s a bit worrying!!
Uncle Crumpet
Registered user
Make sure you keep the bits, if it starts running shithouse, put them back in the sump!
richierex
Registered user
I hope you are using the magnet to check for non alloy metals, i.e. iron or steel and some grades of stainless cos you certainly wont pick up alloy from pistons or any shell bearing material with it.
