picture filter oil with metal fragments 996

[83stef]

hello, i'm new , I just buy a 996 c2 year 2000 aero kit, 84.000km .
I just change the oil on my 996.
and I have checked the status of the oil filter....

there are a few small fragments of metal :


links pictures :




do you think that? IMS BEARING failure ???

many thanks for your responses
stef

[CluelessCanuck]

It could be, it might not be. I would suggest dropping the oil pan and seeing how much metal there is. Install an IMS kit.

[2porscheguy]

I'd hate to say it but....quite possibly you're heading there.





I found this pic of a filter prior to IMS failure....I'm no expert but it might be worthwhile doing the IMS upgrade at this time....imo!

Good luck!

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by 83stef

hello, i'm new , I just buy a 996 c2 year 2000 aero kit, 84.000km .
I just change the oil on my 996.
and I have checked the status of the oil filter....

there are a few small fragments of metal :


links pictures :




do you think that? IMS BEARING failure ???

many thanks for your responses
stef

First of all, check the tiny fragments you found in your filter with a magnet to see if they are ferrous. If they are, you have a potential issue, and I would suggest against upgrading the IMS if they are ferrous. Once the ferrous metal grit starts to appear, it is already too late for an IMS retrofit as the metal is thought the engine already, and will probably destroy the new IMS. Once the ferrous grit shows up, it is time for a complete rebuild.

If the metal is not ferrous, it is probably just normal wear, but I would do another oil change in about 1K miles to see what was happening.

[83stef]

thanks you

the little pieces are not magnetic,
it looks like the aluminum...

I'll drive 2000 km and
and I will remove the oil filter for a new control...

then following your tips, I will update the IMS.

I'll keep you informed

sorry for my bad English....

stef

[Hunt3R]

+1 what JFP suggested. 3 little pieces of non-magnetic metal are likely nothing to worry about, but keep checking to be sure. You could also send your oïl off for an analysis to somewhere like Blackstone labs.

[Long Nose]

"Once ferrous starts showing up it's too late for a rebuild". REALLY????

That's not what I have read. In fact, that's the whole point of the "guardian system", is to detect ferrous metal before an IMS failure. That's why you crack open your filter to check for metal each time you do an oil change.

JFP - on what basis would you say that a few metal flecks in his filter and this guy needs and entire engine rebuild? What are you a Porsche dealer or something?

I would say IMS for sure, but WHOLE MOTOR REBUILD??? C'mon...

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by Long Nose

"Once ferrous starts showing up it's too late for a rebuild". REALLY????

That's not what I have read. In fact, that's the whole point of the "guardian system", is to detect ferrous metal before an IMS failure. That's why you crack open your filter to check for metal each time you do an oil change.

JFP - on what basis would you say that a few metal flecks in his filter and this guy needs and entire engine rebuild? What are you a Porsche dealer or something?

I would say IMS for sure, but WHOLE MOTOR REBUILD??? C'mon...

We are a medium sized specialty shop that specializes in Porsches and other performance oriented vehicles. And not to put what you "have read" into disrepute, but have you ever seen an engine with ferrous grit dispersed inside it? It is ugly.

When the IMS starts to go, it spreads a fine ferrous grit everywhere in the engine, which starts grinding away like an abrasive compound. Unfortunately, the way the M96 engine case and oil system is designed, there are endless places where this grit can accumulate, only to reappear in the oil later and start the grinding process all over again, eventually destroying every bearing surface in the engine. This problem is exacerbated by the bypass filtering system used on the M96, which allows this stuff to circulate around the oil filter media. This is why both LN Engineering and Jake Raby have remained adamant that once this ferrous grit starts to appear, you should not even consider retrofitting the IMS, as the ferrous grit will also destroy the ceramic replacement IMS bearing as well.

While small amounts of alloy flakes will show up from time to time in these engines, they are neither harmful or necessarily dangerous to other engine components. But once the ferrous grit starts to appear in any quantity, the only known way to get all of it out is to disassemble the engine and clean it in an ultrasonic cleaning bath designed for the purpose. It only takes one bit of ferrous grit to reduce a $20K engine to a boat anchor.

[CaracasBBq]

How much ferrous grit is an issue? I ran a magnet over every crease in the filter and got this.

[JFP in PA]

I would call that problematic. That much ferrous metal would disqualify the car for an IMS retrofit.

[BYprodriver]

Originally Posted by Long Nose

"Once ferrous starts showing up it's too late for a rebuild". REALLY????

That's not what I have read. In fact, that's the whole point of the "guardian system", is to detect ferrous metal before an IMS failure. That's why you crack open your filter to check for metal each time you do an oil change.

JFP - on what basis would you say that a few metal flecks in his filter and this guy needs and entire engine rebuild? What are you a Porsche dealer or something?

I would say IMS for sure, but WHOLE MOTOR REBUILD??? C'mon...

JFP is The MVP, Most Valuable Poster on this forum & probably has more experience than

50% of Porsche trained techs!

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by Long Nose

"Once ferrous starts showing up it's too late for a rebuild". REALLY????

That's not what I have read. In fact, that's the whole point of the "guardian system", is to detect ferrous metal before an IMS failure. That's why you crack open your filter to check for metal each time you do an oil change.

JFP - on what basis would you say that a few metal flecks in his filter and this guy needs and entire engine rebuild? What are you a Porsche dealer or something?

I would say IMS for sure, but WHOLE MOTOR REBUILD??? C'mon...

No, I think we are better than a dealership. I have built and raced Porsches for more than half a century; I have owned my own specialty performance shop that cares for and repairs many types of performance vehicles as well as race cars for more than 40 years; during which time we have qualified and retrofitted more IMS bearings than I care to remember, and the very first thing we look for is ferrous debris in the oil system. Once we see that, the car would be disqualified for an IMS retrofit at my shop. One of the biggest problems once metal starts to show up is getting all of it out of the oil passages, which typically requires hot tanking the engine cases in a specialized ultra sonic engine cleaning system, otherwise post rebuild some of that metal can reappear and wipe out a fresh IMS retrofit or a rebuilt engine.

So yes, I am officially older than dirt, and the OP is looking at a real problem................

[CaracasBBq]

Options?

[JFP in PA]

Drop the sump cover and see what you really have; if there is a lot more of the same, your engine has a problem that is not going to get better.