Metallic particles..... In oil :( :( :(

[Tatback]

So today I drained the oil for the first time since I've had the car. First thing I noticed is a lot of oil came pouring out.. A LOT. More like two gallons (haven't measured) but there was no way it was 5 quarts. Then went to take out the filter, drained the filter housing oil into a large plastic Burger King cup and it filled up that cup.

Noticed a metallic sheen

Now the eBay seller says SUPPOSEDLY the engine was rebuilt before it was parked and only has 300 miles since the rebuild.

I put a very large magnet against the side of the cup and this is what I'm getting..... Bad birthday surprise lol

[Tatback]

[Tatback]

[Tatback]

They look big in the pictures but it's just the amount. On my gloves or hands you can't actually make out the pieces, it's more of a fine powder

[Don Coatney]

Is your oil pressure good? What was your dipstick reading prior to the draining?

[Tatback]

To be honest I didn't even check either, I unloaded it off the trailer, drove it 2 miles home, and parked it and drained it. I didn't even think to check the dip stick. But after emptying the catch pan it seems to be about 5 quarts.

[thebeebe5]

Did this motor get a new camshaft with the rebuild....? Gotta hope it's not your cam, but I rebuilt an FE a year ago that wiped a lobe and that's what cam out. Some small particles wouldn't worry me, but I'd be checking valve lift to be sure.

How did the motor sound when it was running? Notice any excessive valvetrain noise?

[1941Rick]

Was the engine rebuilt or re ringed and new bearings. Lots of places to hide all kinds of junk. Pull the valve covers and see how much crap is there.

[Tatback]

The engine sounds great when we had it idleing. Didn't hear any weird or troubling noises.

The original owner passed away in the early 80's and supposedly it was "rebuilt" before it went into storage and only has 300 miles or so since the rebuild. I don't know how much is true or if it was a tune up vs a rebuild.

I do know once I swipe my finger into the particles I can't feel them between my fingers or even see them at that point. There was just a slight sheen to the oil and that's what made me try the magnet. Once wiped with the finger they almost have a graphite sheen to them and I wouldn't of thought they were metal if I didn't have the magnet

[Tatback]

I haven't replaced the plugs, wires, or rebuilt the distributor yet, but noticed what sounds like an off fire every now and then or a slight misfire and was chalking that up the the old, wires, old gas, plugs and distrubitor. I hope it's not from the cam

[Tatback]

Like only if you stood by the exhaust you would hear the smooth idle with no body shake or vibration and every other second or two you would hear a slightly deeper and very slightly louder pop that stands out from the rest of the idle noise

[thebeebe5]

Like only if you stood by the exhaust you would hear the smooth idle with no body shake or vibration and every other second or two you would hear a slightly deeper and very slightly louder pop that stands out from the rest of the idle noise

Sounds exactly like my cam incident.... Drained oil looked like a metallic paint almost.... Motor misfired occasionally starting after break-in with a few unusual sounds. I am very new to the flathead 6, and don't know if the cam can be visialized with the VCs off, but you can at least check valve lash and see if there's an unexpectedly large gap....

Hoping for the best for you...

[Don Coatney]

Try the dollar bill test at the exhaust pipe.

[jeffsunzeri]

Engines make lots of interesting by-products as a result of normal wear. Newly rebuilt engines make more metallic by-products than well bedded in engines. If you have concerns about the contents of the oil, do a series of oil analyses. You can buy kits for around $15 which get sent to a lab for analysis, at most automotive stores or online at Amazon, etc.

I suggest the kits that require you to send the sample for analysis, not the DIY product.

It's important to NOT just do one analysis, but to do several and establish trends. Change your oil and send a sample for analysis every 500 miles or so. Extend the mileage between analyses as your paranoia recedes.

Edited June 4, 2015 by jeffsunzeri

[Sharps40]

Rebuilt in the 80s, 300 miles and sat.......Its likely just some normal accumulation of junk.  Its not an inordant amount either given a supposed rebuild and long as heck sit.  Good news, its fines, not chunks of stuff.

 

Change the oil and filter.  Get it warm and tune it.  Check valve lash hot and for rotation of the lifters when running.  Check vacum and run a wet and dry compression test. 

 

If the motor specs good (compression/vacuum), and since its not clunking/banging/thumping or thudding,  then go drive and enjoy, change the oil at 500 and then again at 1000. 

 

300 miles and a quarter century sit,..... the rings are not even seated.

 

As to the occasional putt putt at the pipe.....slightly sticky valve, slightly worn carb or just a simple lean idle miss (carb and tune will get down to 1 putt every 10 to 30 seconds or so).....want a lean idle miss gone for ever, go to electronic ignition and weber carb.

Edited June 4, 2015 by Sharps40

[Don Coatney]

I rebuilt an FE a year ago that wiped a lobe and that's what cam out.

I don't know what an FE is but if it is a Mopar flathead 6 I would like to see pictures of the failed cam shaft.

[Young Ed]

I don't know what an FE is but if it is a Mopar flathead 6 I would like to see pictures of the failed cam shaft.

Believe that's a ford engine.

[46Ply]

I like Sharps40's advice:  

Change the oil and drive it!  Sounds like it needs some road miles.  Enjoy yourself and don't worry about it.

[Tatback]

I went over tonight, changed the distrubitor cap, plugs, and wires.

Here is the video of the exhaust "pop"

http://youtu.be/1o46hZlpZpo

[Tatback]

And the engine at idle

http://youtu.be/-0wfVBi7Qxk

[Tatback]

I just uploaded Two videos on the end of the first page

Oh and I just want to say honestly Thank you so much to everyone for taking the time to help me out and respond. I really do appreciate it, it just makes the hobby/life style that much more enjoyable. It's a learning process and I'm only beginning.

Edited June 5, 2015 by Tatback

[Niel Hoback]

Sounds pretty good to me.  Intermittent exhaust vale sticking open a bit, but nothing serious. Drive it and quit looking for trouble.

[Tatback]

Lmao I swear I'm not looking for trouble. I tend to be a little... Anal/OCD at times.

I'm just making sure when I do finally take that first cruise it doesn't end with a big clunk bang boom and sizzle.

If it sounds good to everyone then I'm happy.

[thebeebe5]

Believe that's a ford engine.

it is a Ford engine Young Ed. And reviewing the OP's initial post it really does not appear to be that much metal in the oil (or accumulated trash from storage or whatever it is). My point is, and several others have made the same, is that the engine should be checked if for no other reason than it is new to the OP and it has been sitting for a very long time. Checking the valve lash will tell if there's an issue with the camshaft. Maybe this spring pressures in a flathead six are not enough that anyone has to ever worry about a new camshaft at engine break-in which would be a relief to me as I may end up going through my own engine soon. Would be awesome if it were a simple matter of a lean misfire or a failing condenser or coil or other similar item, or simply that the engine needs exercise Edited June 5, 2015 by thebeebe5

[Ulu]

I see water coming out the tail pipe, which either means the muffler is still cold and has condensation, or maybe the head gasket is seeping. I don't want to contemplate anything worse yet.

 

A seeping gasket could certainly cause a missfire. Has this engine been losing coolant?

 

Have you torqued the head? If the engine was re-built and then sat, it might never have been re-torqued.

Edited June 6, 2015 by Ulu