Last time I changed my oil I found some metal flakes in my filter. I was worried but nothing had changed in the way the car ran. Wasn't burning oil or suffering from a loss of power. Today when I changed my oil I noticed there were a very, very small amount of flakes in the filter. Then I discovered this.


Has anyone else ever noticed this and does it look like it could get any worse or cause any damage? I don't think that these flakes are getting into the engine since it's on the outside of the filter but I don't know.

 

Well thats unfortunate, I'm trying to figure out how the hell that could happen and the only thing I can think of is over torquing the filter cap. Even then, not sure….

 

Yeah I don't know. I can't be for certain that it wasn't over torqued since I don't use one to put the cap back on, just make sure it's snug.

 

Totally normal. That's how they're cast.

Here's mine:

 

OH jeez that looked totally broken to me

inb4 boom?

flakes are not good...

 

The filter cap is plastic....

The cap would break before you ever did any damage to the block where the filter screws in.

 

i have never noticed that on either of my cars

 

I agree! Metal shavings in the filter area are a sign of epic boom soon.

 

I'd say you're right but nothing has happened yet.

 

Maybe I have the oil flow backwards, but doesn't it flow from outside the filter to inside? So if it was flaking from there its going directly to the filter and not through the oil passages

 

That is a really weird place to break off like that. Never seen it on here before.

 

Not so true, you could break the housing with the cap if you tried. It's a hard composite material and it's got a ton of leverage on that part of the block, which is relatively thin to begin with.

 

I would like to see that. Well not really, but just for ***** and giggles.

 

Here's what i'll do, just for fun. I have a block in my cobalt that is damaged on the front side, so when I pull it out, I'll tighten that cap until something gives and post results

 

 

In for science experiment.
because science.

 

My prediction....

The threads on the plastic cap give out first.

 

^ yup. im guessing it will sheer right where the o ring sits on the cap

 

My prediction....


The cap itself cracks near the nut portion for the torque required to keep turning the cap in.

 

Do you run any additives in the oil or fuel? Throwing my scientific .02 in. Maybe something in either or in the oil could contribute. I use a socket to open and snug my cap. Tighten until it stops and then give it a light tap. Cap looks fine as well as the threads. In for results

 

No additives at all and I do the same as you when putting the cap back on. I'm just curios if anyone has ever seen anything like this or if it could continue to deteriorate.

Also, I'd like to see results for said experiment.

 

^ are you sure it has deteriorated at all? do you inspect that area everytime you change your filter? Im willing to bet, as stated above, that it si like that from the casting process. When they cut the threads for the cap, there just wasnt any material there.

 

No, unfortunately I can't be 100% sure that it was like that before. This was the first time I saw it cause usually I just take out the old and put in the new. I'm kicking myself after seeing it that I didn't look for it last oil change.

 

Im willing to be none of us have. i dont check that area ever. just dont panic. ive always run an oil pressure gauge. but keep an eye out for that little ligh ton the dash, if it comes on shut it down.

 

That light on the dash is nick named the "change engine" light for a reason.....