A buddy of mine had a cam put in and the pistons flycut, a couple months after he changed the oil and found some metal shavings but he says the engine still feels good, what could be going on?

 

What kind of shavings and where were they found?

 

... more info needed...

 

he said he didn't see it when he changed the oil but later on the dipstick very small shavings

 

bad news when you can see it on the dipstick.

 

probably not a good sign.

 

It is semi normal on the drain plug. dipstick...no way.

 

what does this mean, something major?

 

Well, that is metal shavings coming off of somewhere internal...possibly your bottom end. It can be major. You have any pictures of your findings? We might be able to help you figure out more with some photos.

 

How is it semi normal on the drain plug, is because it is a magnet? The shavings are smaller than a pencil tip, maybe needle point thickness(.4mm), 1mm long. Not sure if I can get a picture but will try. Oil filter and drain plug will not catch these shavings?

 

on the drain plug if its a noticablt piece of metal its bad. But whats usually on the drain plug is normal wear that is more of a REALLY fine metal shaving, you eally can't measure it. Its more like liquid metal.
If you can see it on the dipstick and can actually measure it hen thats bad. Its not that the shavings will hurt the motor its that the motor is probably already hurt and that caused the shavings.

 

Are you guys missing the part where he said he had the pistons FLYCUT? The shavings from flycutting could have fairly easily found their way down the lifter galley and into the oil, especially if it wasnt well taped off. Id change oil a couple times with cheap oil over the course of 100 miles then switch back to the good stuff. Ill bet that flushes all the particles away.

Also, the aluminum piston dust would not be magnetic and thus not stick to the drainplug.

 

How do you know if the motor is hurt?, I drove my bud's car and it feels and sounds good. Maybe try changing the oil again and see what happens?
I guess if something really went, only time will tell.

 

Yeah i saw shaving on my dipstick in one opf my motors. then the next week the oil pressure would fluctuate at idle a little. Then the next week it started knocking after coming back from the track.
Guitsboy is right though it could be shavings from the flycuting. But i figure who ever flycut was smart enuff to tape everything off and not get ANYTHING in the motor. If it is fly cut shaving they can majorly **** up your bearings. Like the guy said i would try to flush oit out with cheap oil every few days till you got it cleaned out. and NO high rpm driving while your doing this.

 

Could it be a bearing in the engine which is starting to go? I hear they start to flake like this.

 

thats what mine was.

 

thats why its important to get the color and size of the shavings, gives you an idea where they come from

hopefully its just from the flycutting, but shavings on the dipstick? thats sounds real bad.

 

My cammed 98 z28 hestitates for a couples seconds off idle to about 1200rpm and once it goes past 1200 it runs fine.This has been happening now and then after a 30sec redlight as I start to go, it starts to roll and I let the clutch out and it hesitates(will not rev for 2-3seconds) For some reason I am hoping that it might be tuning issues, but lately I have found metal flakes which stick to a magnet(Not aluminum), from the dipstick. I think that one of the bearings is going in the engine, but wouldn't I experience this throughout the entire rev band not just idle to about 1200rpm? Any ideas? Thanks.

 

Yep, sounds like a bearing is getting ready to go bye-bye.

I spun #7 rod bearing. There were shavings in my oil pan and oil pick-up tube.

 

My oil pressure is 10-15psi lower than normal but it is not dangerously low(30-35psi warm) does not fluctuate. Engine runs perfect except for the occational hesitation off idle. So I guess a bearing it is starting to go?