Metal shavings in the oil strainer...... Should I be really worried??

[Bad Sir Culation]

Well this morning I have taken the sump off to change the oil strainer because I didn't like the way the car sounded when started up. It sounded very much like a diesel and I remember this being a symptom of a blocked oil pickup pipe strainer.

So, having got the sump off despite the ball end on my 5mm long allen key snapping off in the head of one of the bolts, I took the strainer off to find this:





To say I am worried about this would be an understatement!

 

[superkarl]

Unless you wana tear down you engine there isn't alot you can do.

 

[Andrew@A.L.D]

Has the head been skimmed at some point in its life?

It looks like swaf left over that was stuck in the head after skimming but not fully blown out

 

[aterro]

when turning my car over, it sounds like a diesel starting. but as soon as it fires, its sounds like a petrol.

Its just similar sound to turning my TDI A3 Over and my S3.
Is this normal? Eg the starter motor sound….

 

[Bad Sir Culation]

No idea guys. It was a £1500 S3 with ****** all history, so anything is possible!

 

[Bad Sir Culation]

Found a couple of reddish ceramic or plastic bits too. There's so much metal jammed into the strainer that I'm very glad I bought a replacement.

 

[badger5]

looks fecked to me Whats the coily thing? helicoil sump plug?

looks nasty...

not normal to sound like a diesel on startup no... that would be bearings and oil pressured related morwe than likely

rebuild time to know its right

 

[Scullies]

It does look like machining swarf, and a stripped sump bolt thread. Red stuff I would guess, cam chain tensioner guide. Wild guess tho

 

[Bad Sir Culation]

Does look like machining swarf. No evidence of any metal in the oil filter etc. Fingers crossed!

Have now got the sump back on, and just hoping the sealant is correct. Will find out in the morning when I fill it and run it.....

 

[Bad Sir Culation]

looks fecked to me Whats the coily thing? helicoil sump plug?

looks nasty...

not normal to sound like a diesel on startup no... that would be bearings and oil pressured related morwe than likely

rebuild time to know its right

We'll see how it sounds when I refill it. Hopefully it's OK. There's just no way I could justify a rebuild on a £1500 car.

 

[Nick101]

Red bits could be broken bits of oil dipstick tube, common for them to break and go down the pipe.

 

[Sam_]

Doesn't look ideal but if it was a cheap buy why not just tidy it up and just run it until you hit a problem? If you were lucky, the strainer did its job and caught most of it.

 

[s3dave]

I always use a magnetic drain plug, it could save your engine being starved of oil...

Like said its done its job, and you ave cleaned it fingers crossed for you all is well..

 

[badger5]

every ecs magnetic drain plug I have seen on every 1.8t thats been thru the workshop has damaged the sump threads

hopefully there's another make which does'nt cause as much carnage

 

[vroomtshh]

every ecs magnetic drain plug I have seen on every 1.8t thats been thru the workshop has damaged the sump threads

hopefully there's another make which does'nt cause as much carnage

I use QPS mag plugs. They're peanuts to buy and I've never had any issues. I don't tend to over tighten things though and I'm generally careful. I can't really see how the plug could cause damage to threads on its own

 

[<tuffty/>]

Its the alloy ones that are the issue... kinda cold welds like stainless can

<tuffty/>

 

[Dani_B19]

If anyone knows of a decent magnetic plug let me know. The last "decent" one I bought cost me a frigging sump .

 

[Bad Sir Culation]

Well I got it all filled back up today and it's all running great. Well, I think I've managed to create an air leak somewhere as it's struggling to idle a bit (I know there's a jubilee clip I damaged and it isn't fully tight, so will swap it out), and there may be a very slight oil leak from the sump, but as far as the metal bits, rough sound on start up etc. it's all gone.

Very pleased overall.

 

[badger5]

cool & lucky too

hope it continues

 

[Sam_]

every ecs magnetic drain plug I have seen on every 1.8t thats been thru the workshop has damaged the sump threads

hopefully there's another make which does'nt cause as much carnage

Yep - mine came with an ECS sump plug (fitted by a local specialist) and after 2 oil changes, the threads came out with it.

 

[Sam_]

Well I got it all filled back up today and it's all running great. Well, I think I've managed to create an air leak somewhere as it's struggling to idle a bit (I know there's a jubilee clip I damaged and it isn't fully tight, so will swap it out), and there may be a very slight oil leak from the sump, but as far as the metal bits, rough sound on start up etc. it's all gone.

Very pleased overall.

Nice one. A bit of TLC and they seem to last fairly well. I've done nearly 40,000km and not had any major issues. Touch wood.

 

[kwistof]

Yep - mine came with an ECS sump plug (fitted by a local specialist) and after 2 oil changes, the threads came out with it.

This is worrying :-/

I've had two oil changes with my ECS sump plug so far, so hope I don't run into this issue with the next one, although my sump threads never been great so I think a Forge baffled one for the new year is due for an order - and see how the ECS plugs in that being brand new.

 

[superkarl]

looking at alternatives to the ECS one:

M14 x 1 5 Magnetic Oil Sump Drain Plug
Which is expensive but they claim its the best.

But my fav for price and looks:
Magnetic Sump Plug M14 x 1.5. Oil Drain. FORD MAZDA VOLVO VW AUDI SKODA SEAT | eBay

Just thinking that a magnet that protrudes is better than one that is flush, hmmmm....

 

[Bad Sir Culation]

I have always run magnetic plugs in the past and will probably do so again the next time I change the oil. I plan to change this in about 3k just to be sure everything is as it should be.