That doesn't look good-- oil filter analysis
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From: Wichita, KS
That doesn't look good-- oil filter analysis So I changed my oil last night after about 8 months and 500 miles. I noticed the top of the oil filter was dirtier than I've ever seen and looked to be a bit metallic and goldish. I cut the oil filter open and it has a metallic gold color, as well.
My Mamo top end has about 1200 miles on it, and I have changed the oil 3 times in a year. After 250mi the oil looked great. After another 450mi everything still looked good. And now after another 500mi it doesn't look so great.
Ever since I finished the top end build last January, I have been fighting low oil pressure (22psi hot @ idle, 55psi hot @ wot). I didn't have any bad side effects of this until last night.
How bad is it?
My Mamo top end has about 1200 miles on it, and I have changed the oil 3 times in a year. After 250mi the oil looked great. After another 450mi everything still looked good. And now after another 500mi it doesn't look so great.
Ever since I finished the top end build last January, I have been fighting low oil pressure (22psi hot @ idle, 55psi hot @ wot). I didn't have any bad side effects of this until last night.
How bad is it?
My god! You figured out alchemy. Your engine is making gold out of oil!
I would call Blackstone and ask them, then send an oil sample in for analysis.
Sometimes lighting can make silver metallic looks gold. What sort of lighting is the filter under when looking at it?
I would call Blackstone and ask them, then send an oil sample in for analysis.
Sometimes lighting can make silver metallic looks gold. What sort of lighting is the filter under when looking at it?
So I changed my oil last night after about 8 months and 500 miles. I noticed the top of the oil filter was dirtier than I've ever seen and looked to be a bit metallic and goldish. I cut the oil filter open and it has a metallic gold color, as well.
My Mamo top end has about 1200 miles on it, and I have changed the oil 3 times in a year. After 250mi the oil looked great. After another 450mi everything still looked good. And now after another 500mi it doesn't look so great.
Ever since I finished the top end build last January, I have been fighting low oil pressure (22psi hot @ idle, 55psi hot @ wot). I didn't have any bad side effects of this until last night.
How bad is it?
My Mamo top end has about 1200 miles on it, and I have changed the oil 3 times in a year. After 250mi the oil looked great. After another 450mi everything still looked good. And now after another 500mi it doesn't look so great.
Ever since I finished the top end build last January, I have been fighting low oil pressure (22psi hot @ idle, 55psi hot @ wot). I didn't have any bad side effects of this until last night.
How bad is it?
You want to open the pleats of the filter and have a clear look
Christian
Also, see if a magnet will pick up the particles.
Found your build thread, what pushrods did you install? I have Tony's hand worked AFR 205 heads and installed larger pushrods (I have a thread on this) and it straightened out the power curve above 6K RPM so I believe I was having some pushrod flex. Pushrod flex can cause issues. Not sure how much time the motor has spent in the upper RPM range but just some thoughts to consider.
Also, doesn't sound like a lot of mileage so it could just be washing out of hidden particulate from the build. You could try running for 500 miles with new oil and then pull the filter again, fill and swap in a new one.
Found your build thread, what pushrods did you install? I have Tony's hand worked AFR 205 heads and installed larger pushrods (I have a thread on this) and it straightened out the power curve above 6K RPM so I believe I was having some pushrod flex. Pushrod flex can cause issues. Not sure how much time the motor has spent in the upper RPM range but just some thoughts to consider.
Also, doesn't sound like a lot of mileage so it could just be washing out of hidden particulate from the build. You could try running for 500 miles with new oil and then pull the filter again, fill and swap in a new one.
Last edited by vettenuts; Apr 28, 2017 at 05:59 AM.
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Thread Starter
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From: Wichita, KS
Thanks for the advice.
I will open the pleats of the filter tomorrow and see what it looks like. I've been fighting lowish oil pressure for the past year, so I assumed the bearings received some excess wear and opened the tolerance a little.
The motor has 11/32 manton pushrods from Tony. These things are Stout. It hasn't spent a ton of time in the upper RPM range, but every time I drive it, I tend to drive it hard.
I will probably drive it for another 500 miles while keeping an eye on the oil pressure, and pull the filter again.
I will open the pleats of the filter tomorrow and see what it looks like. I've been fighting lowish oil pressure for the past year, so I assumed the bearings received some excess wear and opened the tolerance a little.
The motor has 11/32 manton pushrods from Tony. These things are Stout. It hasn't spent a ton of time in the upper RPM range, but every time I drive it, I tend to drive it hard.
I will probably drive it for another 500 miles while keeping an eye on the oil pressure, and pull the filter again.
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Verdad Gallardo Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2005
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From: Wichita, KS
My god! You figured out alchemy. Your engine is making gold out of oil!
I would call Blackstone and ask them, then send an oil sample in for analysis.
Sometimes lighting can make silver metallic looks gold. What sort of lighting is the filter under when looking at it?
I would call Blackstone and ask them, then send an oil sample in for analysis.
Sometimes lighting can make silver metallic looks gold. What sort of lighting is the filter under when looking at it?
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Joined: Mar 2013
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If I were you I wouldn't run it any more. You have low oil pressure and metal in the oil = time to tear down before big trouble happens. That metal is getting into everything, before you know it things are going to go bad.
One thing you could check is the end play on the crank, if the thrust bearing is damaged it will cause metal in the oil.
One thing you could check is the end play on the crank, if the thrust bearing is damaged it will cause metal in the oil.
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 546
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From: Wichita, KS
If I were you I wouldn't run it any more. You have low oil pressure and metal in the oil = time to tear down before big trouble happens. That metal is getting into everything, before you know it things are going to go bad.
One thing you could check is the end play on the crank, if the thrust bearing is damaged it will cause metal in the oil.
One thing you could check is the end play on the crank, if the thrust bearing is damaged it will cause metal in the oil.
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 546
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From: Wichita, KS
Also, my oil pressure isn't horrible. I get no less than 22 psi at hot idle. Cold start up is around 58psi and hot WOT is no less than 55 psi. I have checked my oil pump and the oring and pickup tube are installed correctly. I used a new cam retainer plate, as well. I run 0w40 Mobil 1 oil.
