Thoughts?

Hate to ask this, but just did an oil change on my 2003 996 6spd yesterday. found some small metal ferrous pieces (about 8-10 total) hidden within the folds of the oil filter. Car runs great, no smoke, no rattles, no funny sounds, no leaks, no seepage. these particles (as pictured) were very flat and look more like shavings then chunks (which they were not). Concern or Not? much research lead to believe that these cars do have some particles at all oil changes. hope the peanuts gallery will chime in on this one.

It's hard to say, but I would get an oil analysis soon. Run this new oil for maybe 2k miles and change it or pull a sample. Don't just take oil from the waste, always pull directly from the drain plug or siphoning from dipstick. The analysis will tell you if you have levels inconsistent with a healthy engine.

Spin on oil filter adapter and magnetic drain plug are defiantly recommended. Also, make sure you are running an oil with a solid wear protection package like DT40 or equivalent. It's tough to tell but it doesn't look like the shavings are very large. But others can comment on the implications better than I can.

Are they metallic and sort of a shiny silver colour, could be the start of your ims ?? Sorry don't want to worry you but be careful too much running could pull metal all through the engine resulting in a full build being needed , might be worth getting it done now, when was your clutch last done ?? You could try and save on cost a little and get both done together!! Good luck hope it goes ok

Sorry to say... that does not look good... looks like something is shedding... like layers on a ball bearing or a race?! Paging JAKE... Paging JAKE!

It could be be just extra casting....are they alum or steel? Did you put a magnet on them?

They sure look like aluminum to me, which would be normal.

The pieces were able to be picked up by a small magnet that I ran across the pleats. I hate to say that they do look like the surface area of a ball bearing. Could just be my pessimistic view of things....I hope! Did install a magnetic drain plug this time around.

I would pull the pan and see if you have anything interesting there and in the oil pickup. Not hard to do. Then depending what that looks like I would start thinking about a new IMS.

For what its worth, took her out for a drive, flawless and the oil pressure was just under 2bar all nice and warmed up. Will put a few miles and recheck the current filter.

as already suggested earlier, Used Oil Analysis might also be able to give you a glimpse into the health of your engine.

In addition, you might attach some rare earth magnets to the outside of the new filter casing to increase the 'harvest' of ferrous particles.

Assuming we know what we know about these particles (8-10) in the filter and about 3-4 in the oil that was drained. Is replacing the IMS still a viable option?

Removing the ims bearing will certainly let you know if it is breaking apart.

^^which is my fear, opeing it up and finding out its beyond a simple replacement of the bearing. talk about being placed between a rock and a hard place.

I would act now before it gets worse you might still save it but continue to drive it and it will be putting more metal in the oil all the time and will be likely to fail soon , oil pressure has no bearing on the ims bearing ,It's not part of the oil pressure lubrication system, as far as I know it's the only item in the engine where you get shiny magnetic particles from as a lot of the engine is aluminium or some sort of alloy, the lifters are shiny but they don't usually give off debris unless it had failed but you would hear it tapping! If you replace it now it's future proofed also plus you can do the clutch and maybe flywheel, this should add some value to your car even though it will cost to have it done, buyers like to hear that the ims has been done! Could do with Jake coming in just to find out if you can still just change the bearing or if you need to strip her down hopefully just the bearing !

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No it's not. If the bearing is shedding then the whole motor needs to be torn down and cleaned. The debris can gets caught up in places only to come loose unexpectedly later and destroy the motor. A shedding bearing is not a sign that it is failing. It has failed. Any short cuts are just going to screw someone down the road (you or whomever you sell it to).

Well that sucks big *****!

Find a respected Indy near you, preferably one certified for IMS solution if possible, and have them take a look at it. I know of two cars that caught their IMS failing during an oil change, had it swapped, and were fine. I would have it towed there and not drive it just to be on the safe side.

An occasional tiny fleck in the filter is normal. What I think I'm seeing in your photos are larger, flattened pieces that look like they've been through the oil pump...and that isn't normal.