Metal in filter

[SteveC4]

2000 996 C4. I just pulled the oil filter and opened it up and ran across all the folds in the filter with a powerful rare earth magnet. I got the tiniest bit of metal particles that the magnet picked up. Very fine, and if spread out they might be about a 1/8 inch circle. Is any amount of metal in the filter acceptable, or am I beginning to see the IMS bearing disintegrating?

[Dmitry at Pelican Parts]

Hi Steve - it sounds like the IMS bearing issue that the 996 experiences. Did you also see small bits of black plastic? That would be from the seal on the bearing.

[jchapura]

Originally Posted by SteveC4

...Is any amount of metal in the filter acceptable, or am I beginning to see the IMS bearing disintegrating?

Is this the first time you've inspected the medium? Have you ever pulled the sump cover to see the level of debris in the sump? Are you due for a clutch change or other engine-dropping, tranny-dropping work (just replace the bearing at the same time)?

For the two years I've owned my 997.1 C2S, I've opened the filter and saw a range of quantities of metallic specs - almost always non-magnetic (but not always):
-peak - about 6 specs per square inch
-avg - <= 1 spec per square inch

I've put 15k+ since buying it. I use DT40 with a splash of DT50 in the summer. No unusual noises or other symptoms indicating IMS trouble.

When my clutch goes, I'll put in the IMS solution if I have a replaceable bearing (not likely with my serial number) or I'll remove the seal on the non-replaceable bearing.

[BYprodriver]

Originally Posted by SteveC4

2000 996 C4. I just pulled the oil filter and opened it up and ran across all the folds in the filter with a powerful rare earth magnet. I got the tiniest bit of metal particles that the magnet picked up. Very fine, and if spread out they might be about a 1/8 inch circle. Is any amount of metal in the filter acceptable, or am I beginning to see the IMS bearing disintegrating?

Anything magnetic is not good! Get it to a 996 specialist A.S.A.P. they should inspect inside the lower sump pan.

[jchapura]

I've been told by independent Porsche mechanics and enthusiasts that a certain amount of nonmagnetic particle shedding is to be expected. Explicitly cleaning the sump can provide a baseline for comparing each inspection's results.

Magnetic metal can come from non-IMS places but in the end you really don't want any.

Other symptoms can inform your search for answers, cam deviation, chain noise, other types of trapped particles, etc.

I use a spin on filter to avoid oil bypass, magnetic plug, and Magfilter.

[BER]

SteveC4,

You really do not want to see any metal particles in the oil filter. I would suggest getting it checked out ASAP.

There are some good suggestions here already for M96/97 engines with the original IMS. Use an oil high in Zinc (ZDDP or ZDP) like Joe Gibbs Racing DT40 or Royal Purple HPS. Use a spin-on oil filter; LN Engineering makes a very nice retrofit kit. You will need a filter cutter to open the oil filter to inspect the pleats. Get an oil analysis done at each oil change; I use Blackstone Labs in Indiana. Change your oil more frequently; I did oil changes on my Boxster every 3k miles.

Good luck.

[KC-CarGuy]

I had the same thing happen to me. I'm not a gambler. I changed the IMS immediately, to be on the safe side. Think about it, a few thousand for the IMS change VS. tens of thousands for an engine boom.

With the new IMS I also added a magnetic oil plug. It will catch anything, and it will give me a visual for the future.

Good luck,

[Edgy01]

Don't go too crazy. Keep in mind that much of the internals of your engine are not even ferrous metals, so a magnet isn't finding everything. You may have even more than you know!

Dan