Small metal flakes/glitter in oil - thoughts on how bad it looks?

[bazzookatooth]

Hi all. I noticed some glitter in my oil. Don't mind the water droplets in the pan - it just started sprinkling as I was wrapping up. Looking for any trained eyes to tell me how bad this is in their opinion and if I should reach out to a dealership (I am still under CPO warranty). Pics and details below. Deleted my old thread in the wrong forum (BRZ).

https://imgur.com/a/7r3AxTV

Notes:
-2019 86 GT 6MT @46k miles, owned by me since 2020 @5k miles
-This oil has 3.5k miles on it. I always change before 4.5k
-The car is driven enthusiastically, but not raced regularly (only tracked once @40k miles, on the oil *before* this drain)
-It gets warmed up appropriately every drive
-Oil dipstick checked every .5-1k miles, never got below halfway between the two dots.
-However, it does consume between .25-.5 quarts per change - probably mostly near redline
-Been using Motul Eco-Lite 0w-20, Tokyo Roki black filters since 30k miles, previously was on dealer oil changes
-2nd Gen/WRX oil heat exchanger added at ~15k miles
-Brand new, clean oil drain pan used
-The particles seem very fine, not sure of the value in cutting open the filter, as I've seen nothing large enough to my eye to be caught by it
-Oil is already being sent for an UOA, sampled mid stream, with 3 existing UOAs for comparison
-Car sounds "normal", eg, no changes to my ear
-Car drives fine
-I come from Miatas, as well as German shitboxes on their last leg. I do not know what is "normal" for these timing chain engines, but this is the newest and most expensive thing I've owned.
-I have ~1.5 years of certified pre owned coverage remaining, $7k owed and $20k current market value on the car - should the topic of trading it in come up.

Thank you in advance for any thoughtful replies/questions

[strat61caster]

Looks bad. imho drop the oil pan and see if you or mechanic can inspect bearings, maybe you can get lucky and it's the #3 rod like usual and fresh bearings can get you going for several years.

However many are of the opinion on Subarus that once contaminated you basically have to strip and thoroughly clean every nook and cranny - lots of oil passages are not actually accessible so the extra cautious will discard the whole engine and start fresh. There's probably particles embedded into the oil pump pre-filter, post filter is probably pretty clean, at least that was true for my engine.

[Sapphireho]

I wouldn't Drive IT anymore. That is super bad. It's so bad I would make likec3 threads about it. DON'T DRIVE.

[bazzookatooth]

Originally Posted by strat61caster

Looks bad. imho drop the oil pan and see if you or mechanic can inspect bearings, maybe you can get lucky and it's the #3 rod like usual and fresh bearings can get you going for several years.

However many are of the opinion on Subarus that once contaminated you basically have to strip and thoroughly clean every nook and cranny - lots of oil passages are not actually accessible so the extra cautious will discard the whole engine and start fresh. There's probably particles embedded into the oil pump pre-filter, post filter is probably pretty clean, at least that was true for my engine.

Do you think it's worth waiting for the UOA to come back before taking it to the dealer? It is under a certified pre owned warranty, and the only engine-related modification is the 2nd gen oil heat exchanger, which has been on for ~30k miles

[bazzookatooth]

Originally Posted by Sapphireho

I wouldn't Drive IT anymore. That is super bad. It's so bad I would make likec3 threads about it. DON'T DRIVE.

Sorry for the 2 threads. I cannot figure out how to delete the one I put in the BRZ general section by accident. Just to confirm, your reply isn't sarcastic? It looks very bad to you? I have seen more in my other/previous cars before - but they are much older and much higher mileage.

[alex87f]

I'm not sure whether he's sarcastic but that is a lot of glitter with some uncomfortably large chunks.

It's very surprising the car still drove fine with this.

[NoHaveMSG]

Originally Posted by bazzookatooth

Sorry for the 2 threads. I cannot figure out how to delete the one I put in the BRZ general section by accident.

Considering they are the same car you could have just left it, not started another thread and it wouldn’t have mattered.

Originally Posted by alex87f

I'm not sure whether he's sarcastic but that is a lot of glitter with some uncomfortably large chunks.

It's very surprising the car still drove fine with this.

It’s weird. Usually when you loose a rod or main bearing there can be bigger chunks, but usually it is pretty fine material in the oil. I’ve never seen larger chunks in any engine unless something was broken or slapping around pretty hard.

[bazzookatooth]

Originally Posted by NoHaveMSG

Considering they are the same car you could have just left it, not started another thread and it wouldn’t have mattered.



It’s weird. Usually when you loose a rod or main bearing there can be bigger chunks, but usually it is pretty fine material in the oil. I’ve never seen larger chunks in any engine unless something was broken or slapping around pretty hard.

Understood. I will leave it if this happens again.

I should probably delete the pictures with the water droplets. I think those are being seen as larger chunks - but the zoomed-in picture is how the bottom of both new oil drain pans looked. Kind of like stars in the sky.

[bazzookatooth]

Originally Posted by alex87f

I'm not sure whether he's sarcastic but that is a lot of glitter with some uncomfortably large chunks.

It's very surprising the car still drove fine with this.

The large chunks are water droplets. It just had to start sprinkling right as I was wrapping this job up. The glitter, though, yeah - that's in the bottom of both new/clean drain pans I ended up using.

I've seen it in much older, much higher-mileage cars. But never in a 2019 with under 50k miles.

I'm beginning to wonder if there was some break-in material that was dislodged as I did this oil change on a bit of a backward, passenger-side slant (and I could thus see more material making it to the drain plug, given its location).

[NoHaveMSG]

Originally Posted by bazzookatooth

Understood. I will leave it if this happens again.

I should probably delete the pictures with the water droplets. I think those are being seen as larger chunks - but the zoomed-in picture is how the bottom of both new oil drain pans looked. Kind of like stars in the sky.

It’s no big deal.

The picture is a bit hard to see. I would call a local shop that you are considering to work on the car, explain you have a UOA on the way, and see what they want to do. They may just ask you to wait being the UOA is already in the works as that will help with their diagnosis.

I would be surprised if this was material from break in with as many miles are on the car now. There are some places in the block it can get trapped, but not for that long.

[Sapphireho]

Hey Bazooka Joe, just busting your chops. We do that. Don't leave.

Seriously I think msg gave the best advice.

[Ultramaroon]

It's stripper glitter. That shit gets everywhere. A friend told me.

[Sapphireho]

Originally Posted by Ultramaroon

It's stripper glitter. That shit gets everywhere. A friend told me.

Is your friend's name Bambi?

[Ultramaroon]

Originally Posted by Sapphireho

Is your friend's name Bambi?

No, but that's his fiancé's name.