Metal shavings on a drain plug magnet any input appreciated

[BoilerAnimal]

When we lived in Arizona during the 80's's, I worked for a company that built and serviced commercial air conditioning systems utilizing natural gas engines. Long story short, we had a new engine that we had installed as a replacement for an older one. The new engine soon developed problems running. We ended up dropping the pan and couldn't believe what we found.

On a completely brand new engine, from a very large manufacturer, with a very good reputation for building very good equipment, we found the oil pan literally full of metal shavings! However, it was very obvious that the shavings were not from the engine and were from a machining operation and had to be placed in there as an act of sabotage by an employee. We cleaned the pan and and inspected the bottom end, replaced the pan, filled with oil (measured by the gallons) and ran it. Never had another problem with it after that.

Hopefully, your situation is the result of something similar and you're getting the last few particles out of the engine. Otherwise, I would be concerned.

 

[09gs]

I am not sure of the type of cycle you have , is it the s-e spyder ? or the s-m ? { the one with the clutch lever on the left handle bar } ... I am thinking about those metal shavings , they are long , and I am wondering if they could be from the transmission clutches , { if your cycle is the semi-automatic , shift paddle -- s-e model } if this is the deal , the shavings might have been through the break in period , and just finally made its way too the magnet ... ( I would ride the cycle as you are doing just pay attention to the different sounds and shifting , if the engine starts too get a noise or small knock { bearings or some other moving parts , with-in the engine / harder to shift or a lag time in shifting --- as in 2nd gear too 3 rd gear , takes a few more seconds longer too engage , then the trail of shavings will be identified } question : if you can remember , when you changed the oil , did it smell burnt , or something like this ? ( there has been a few people who find some shavings in their oil after the plug has been pulled , but I do not think that they find this much , so you are probably right that the oil is very old in change intervals ) keep on having a good ride ,

hi thanks for the input its an SM5 model manual transmission i was thinking of opening a cover on right side to inspect the clutches and springs, as i mentioned earlier sometimes you have to fish for neutral as it goes from 1 to 2 or from 2 to 1 and skips the neutral

 

[09gs]

Do the particles feel like metal or do they smear between your fingers like grease?
Metal particles on a drain plug magnet (often called "swarf") are not uncommon.
Concern would be if you can actually feel them as little slivers of metal or if they smear when rubbed between your fingers.
An oil change should be done and cut the filter open and see what you have inside.
Do another oil change in 500-1000 miles and check the drain plug again.
If it's the same, you may well have an issue.

its actually looked like real metal shavings some shorter some longer but they stay same when rubbed with fingers, and like i mentioned earlier i tryed to magnet drained oil nothing found as well, oil filter looked clean but i will cut it open and inspect in a day light today

 

[KX5062]

Do the particles feel like metal or do they smear between your fingers like grease?
Metal particles on a drain plug magnet (often called "swarf") are not uncommon.
Concern would be if you can actually feel them as little slivers of metal or if they smear when rubbed between your fingers.
An oil change should be done and cut the filter open and see what you have inside.
Do another oil change in 500-1000 miles and check the drain plug again.
If it's the same, you may well have an issue.

Beat me to it.

I agree with the above. However, I'd give it a couple of oil changes, all done prior to schedule before I panicked.

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

TRANSMISSION AND CLUTCH

hi thanks for the input its an SM5 model manual transmission i was thinking of opening a cover on right side to inspect the clutches and springs, as i mentioned earlier sometimes you have to fish for neutral as it goes from 1 to 2 or from 2 to 1 and skips the neutral

To the best of my knowledge all 5 & 6 speed transmissions are essentially the same. They differ in that the SE has additional parts to activate the clutch the manual has YOU to do it ...... If you have a lot of money you could ADD the SE feature to either the 5 or 6 speed Manual trans & make it an SE ..................hope this makes sense to you .... Mike :thumbup:

 

[billybovine]

If I was to guess. The oil has never been changed or only once. I would change the oil and filters. Then do the next oil change early. Maybe around 2,000 miles. Check for metal on the magnet then. A few metal shavings is not a problem. Even a piece of a circlip can happen and should be ignored.

Since the maintenance is suspect. Call a dealer with your VIN and ask if there are any outstanding Safety Recalls. In particular I would be concerned if the DPS has not been replaced.

 

[finless]

If I was to guess. The oil has never been changed or only once. I would change the oil and filters. Then do the next oil change early. Maybe around 2,000 miles. Check for metal on the magnet then. A few metal shavings is not a problem. Even a piece of a circlip can happen and should be ignored.

Since the maintenance is suspect. Call a dealer with your VIN and ask if there are any outstanding Safety Recalls. In particular I would be concerned if the DPS has not been replaced.

My take too... Not the first time I have seen this on a Spyder in the first couple oil changes. Shawn Smoak says it from the clutch pack and is somewhat normal to see depending on assembly.

Bob

 

[Highwayman2013]

As stated earlier it wouldn’t hurt to do an oil analysis when you change it next time, this will tell you a lot about the condition of the engine internally. I would run it at least 1,000 miles before the next change. Probably only had the 600 mile break in service.

 

[09gs]

anyways i filled it with fresh oil and new filter and just came back from 300 km trip not a single issue engine sounded great and tranny shifted good even neutral was sharp will ride it more for a few days and do the oil change then

 

[09gs]

UPDATE drove the spyder for a trip around 300 km which is aprox 200 miles, and decided to undo the drain plug see whats on it as i was riding hard for all these 300 km reving up max rpm on take off and in my opinion if there would be something very bad drains plug magnet would catch atleast one shaving, i think that might be an original oil there before

so i drained oil into new clean pan inspected it was clean and pour it back into reservoir, will try to ride for another 500 km then check again

 

[finless]

UPDATE drove the spyder for a trip around 300 km which is aprox 200 miles, and decided to undo the drain plug see whats on it as i was riding hard for all these 300 km reving up max rpm on take off and in my opinion if there would be something very bad drains plug magnet would catch atleast one shaving, i think that might be an original oil there before

so i drained oil into new clean pan inspected it was clean and pour it back into reservoir, will try to ride for another 500 km then check again

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

Bob

 

[missouriboy]

At the first break-in service on my 2015 there was that much shavings, or more, on the plug. The tech who did the change brought the plug out to show me, and said it was likely from the clutch plates. At 54,000 miles now (88,500 km), I've never had a problem from it.