TXjeepTJ

iTrader: (8)

Bought a LQ4 motor from a salvage yard, drained the oil and found little gold flakes all over. Is the motor done for?

Jontall

It looks like bearing material to me... Can you return the motor for another one?

KCS

iTrader: (20)

Well, that's not good. Try cutting open the filter to see what it caught.

The OEM main and rod bearings don't have copper in them, so they won't leave gold flakes in the oil when they get damaged. The cam bearings are the only ones that would do that, but that isn't very common.