So I changed a buddies oil today AND FOUND THIS in his filter and some in the oil.He had a catchcan and I thiiiink he put in the brillo pad cleaner style filter packing for it and I thiiiiiiiink that THATS what this stuff is As it broke down from the oil and cleaners that went through the catchcan. The car actually runs fine ( other than abit excessive oil consumption) but if it were rod bearing wouldn't it be copperish colored and magnetic? This stuff looks like stainless steel or aluminum.
I also did his oil last change like 6k miles ago and there was nothing of concern last time..

 

If there is any consolation, the filter did its job

 

That's a lot of debris and metal.

 

lol I said that too..
I popped off the valvecover and didnt find anything uptop or any flaking of the cams like the r53..
his car does use alot of oil and he does alot of driving and I mean ALOT , like 3k a month !
but I fear he might maybe have gone too low on oil and the engine might have chewed up some of the bearings.
but then again , with that amount of metal , would it not be starting to tick , tap or knock atleast Slightly ???
here's what the cheapo cans come with as a filter element, id NEVER run it in mine and told him not to also but he often doesnt take my advice..

 

I'd take an oil sample and send it to Blackstone; metal analysis can tell you if it's bearing material. I'd suspect the oil pump because I've seen those come apart.

 

I would too but he didn't want to...
here's more pics once the filter drained more..
Theres about 5x more metal too than pics show , it just wouldnt show up well in pics but the filer is loaded , like almost solid chunks in the grooves of the filter.

 

Yep thats a bunch. Check that oil pump/strainer.

 

I advised him I should but he kinda doesnt take advice when given , my freinds kinda one of those "I know better " types.. lol
I don't think it's the filter element from catchcans because I looked at the filter that came with my catch can and the strands are much thinner and smaller than the chunks in my buddies oil filter, so I'm leaning towards a low oil situation and something began chewing its self up. Oil pump gear ??? Lower bearings ?? Idk but it wasn't anything top end like cams flaking or rockers.. odd thing though ??? Youd THINK there would be sooooooome odd/bad engine noise , loss of power or hard starting. But NO BAD symptoms..
I been telling him TO GET HIS CAR HERE again asap so I can atleast pull out and check his new filter since we did an oil flush and change. And the amount of driving he does , hes probably got atleast another 1k since oil change so that should be plenty miles enough for me to check again..
once I'm able to 2x check , I will post back and let you guys know what I've found again..

 

ok let us know. Might be left overs from an engine rebuild and they did not drain the pan?

 

no unfortunately.. no major maintenance was done anytime soon and i had changed his oil about 5k miles and maybe a month TOPS befor and there was NOTHING in that oil change what so ever..
I keep telling him get it here and let me 2x check so hopefully he will be swinging through soon..