1999 996 Fine Metal
 

Looking for a little insight. I changed my oil in 2016 when I bought my 1999 996 Mobile One 0W-40 and sent off the old oil to Blackstone Labs and came back engine in great shape(still a baby). Long story short it started not starting very well so I kept it on a trickle charger and started it about every couple of weeks since at some point in 2017 but didn't really drive it much while we were in Norfolk on active duty until March this year. So I took it to a local INDY shop here in the finger lakes region. Frank's Shop got the starting issue fixed pretty easy(don't but rebuilt alternators on eBay) so on to oil change. Trevor sent me a couple pictured with very fine metal in the oil filter housing so he cleaned it out as well as the oil pan and we will change in 750-1000 miles and use 20W-50 this time and see where we stand. I will send the next sample off Blackstone Labs for testing. Trevor said he's not remotely worried about IMS as its in great shape. I do have the AOS smoke on hard cornering acceleration. Anyone else have anything like this? I get that 4 years in between oil changes(2000 miles) is borderline abuse lol but not many miles on the oil. This car has not been driven hard since I've owned it. If you guys have questions please don't hesitate to ask just trying to get to the bottom of this issue.

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Hi Norm, is the metal magnetic? Helps narrow down between engine bearings and other parts. What’s overall mileage?

Hey Tony, not sure I will ask my mechanic but I have a magnetic oil drain plug and I think he said there was a little on it 136,700 on the clock.

if you see metal bitz in the oil.... the IMS bearing is ready to give.. needs to be updated asap or engine will be ruined.

If you are only changing the oil every 4 years, I am not surprised. The oil should be changed at least every year, usually before the car is put away if it is not a daily driver. and if the AOL is smoking, change it.

136,000 is a better than normal life on the IMS. I personally wouldn't keep it in any longer. I had a 99 and the first thing I did was the bearing even though it seemed fine at 58,000. They can go without warning and the car is then less valuable than the engine replacement. The 3.4 engines are getting scarce, so better to protect the one you have than try and find another.

So to follow up could this residue in the oil filter housing be from only putting about 200 miles on the vehicle in the last 2 years and just be cylinder wall corrosion? My INDY said he's not that concerned but we will be changing the oil at 1000 mile and I'll send the oil off to Blackstone Labs as well.

Also the 20-50 is the wrong weight oil
Put in a proper 5-40 and keep checking the filter

Agreed, 20/50 is way to thick for that engine, and plus one on changing the IMS Bearing ASAP.

Mobil 1 is not the best oil either

I would not even drive it anymore. Change IMS as others have stated ASAP before you are out more than double the money of just changing the IMS

If you brought this car into my shop, it would automatically fail the pre installation examination required for an IMS retrofit. Loose metal in the oil would potentially kill the new IMS, particularly the ceramic hybrid type which is open to lubrication from the sump.

Bad idea...............