citationtech

I was changing the oil in my '05 CTS-V this evening and noticed a copper colored streak as the oil was draining. It was draining into a closed style drain pan, so I couldn't get a good look at the old oil. There wasn't anything on the magnetic plug. The filter had a small amount of copper dust in the oil, but I haven't cut it open yet.

I refilled the oil, started the car and listened to the top end with a stethoscope. It develops a slight tick from the valve train once it's warmed. I had the rocker covers and valley covers off about 2,000 miles ago and didn't see any discrepancies. The car has 103,000 miles. I've had it since 50,000 and have been pretty gentle with it.

So I've got a bearing going out somewhere. So my question is, other than the mains that "make" copper when going bad, what other bearings should I check?

KCS

iTrader: (20)

I'm pretty sure the stock bearings don't use copper in them. I would cut open the oil filter and take a look at the filter element itself before doing anything drastic.

Burken01

iTrader: (88)

What's the best technique to open a filter, tin snips?

My first thought was a dremel but that would actually push metal dust in the filter lol

JC316

iTrader: (1)

Tin snips are best.

citationtech

I thought the LS6 plain bearings (main and cam) had a copper core under the bearing surface. I'll have the element pulled apart tomorrow and see what lurks.

Oil filter cutters are glorified pipe cutters. They open the filter without introducing metal shavings from the filter case via sawing or grinding. In aviation, every time you change the oil on a recip. the filter is opened and inspected.

soundengineer

iTrader: (16)

copper flakes in the oil is usually a sign of bearing failure

but...if you have had heads off and somebody used copper on the gaskets...it might just be the gasket stuff in the oil...in which case you may have a blown head gasket or just a blob that finally fell off..