Metal in Oil Filter

[fl9500]

Hi,
after my last Oil-change, I found more than normal? magnetic metal in my Oil Filter. Lycoming O360, ~1200 Hours. ~7month and 40hours after last Oilchange.
For the first time I used CAMGUARD.

I now want to fly it for a few hours and then check again.

Any tips what to do next ?

Achim

[BobRv4]

I would think the cam is getting ate up. Pull a cyl and check cam.

[JonJay]

Put your magnet in a plastic bag next time so you can easily separate the metal from the magnet. The magnet works fine through a thin layer of plastic. Typically you want to measure how much metal is there and start trending it, although it appears to be more than enough to be concerned and it is a “new” event, also concerning.

[Jpm757]

Most logical source of this in an infrequently flown Lycoming would be the lifters.

[rdrcrmatt]

Send the oil out for analysis.

Lycoming's SB for metal in the oil is pretty clear. New filter, new oil, run it for a little and check again.

https://www.lycoming.com/sites/defau...e%20Action.pdf

Start reading at page 8.

[titanhank]

Pull a cylinder on each side and inspect the cam now before the metal has embedded in your piston skirts and ruined the jugs. Hopefully you have caught it in time. I just rebuilt my engine myself with new jugs. Cost me $20k, but my crank, cam and lifters all red tagged. I bet you have a few lifter that look like this.

[johnf_1]

Sorry, I do not know of anything benign that generates that much ferrous metal between oil changes. My guess: lifters/cam/oil pump gears....but nothing that is good or getting better. Good news: engines are easy to disassemble and re-assemble....had a similar event in 1994 (cam/lifters), and flying behind the re-build now...best, John

[mahlon_r]

My thoughts are to ground the aircraft until the source and remedy is determined. That is way, way to much steel in the filter from one oil change interval to ignore or to fly and see. Granted it looks as though it might be a cam lobe, tappet face spalling but maybe not. It's sizable STEEL! not fine rust scraped off something. Steel chips of that size means, if it isn't a cam lobe, something very structural to the engine or its operation is wearing and shedding metal at a very, very abnormal rate. Trust me, its not going to go away and it will increase in severity the more you operate the engine. If it is a cam lobe, operating the engine further will only increase the risk of unrepairable damage to the crankshaft, pistons, oil pump etc. Time to ground that aircraft before you do more damage to the engine and possibly to your self or your aircraft. There is no upside to continue operating the engine.
Good Luck,
Mahlon

[Walt]

Listen to Mahlon, he knows what he's talking about!

[moosepileit]

Please post any suction screen findings when removal starts. Sorry for the downtime and expense.

Thank you for weighing in, Mahlon!