15 captured repliesPartial discussion capture · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHSparkling oil, time for IMS Replacement ?
Reported or suspected cause
ims
Reported cause
No successful repair reported for this finding.
1
Identified cause
0
Suspected cause
0
Reported fixes
Read evidence and context
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that report identifying a cause
1
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Reported cause
This was my biggest fear when I saw metal in my oil filter, turned out to be the IMS, which thankfully has been replaced without any further debris contamination after being flushed thoroughly.
Leading evidence: 'ims' (1 discussions report identifying this cause; no attributable repair resolution). Across 1 matching discussions, the most frequently mentioned possible cause is 'ims' (1 discussions; 1 report identifying it and 0 suggest it). The most frequently discussed action is 'Check colour you can be reassured about it' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
Source reports, not a diagnosis or a success probability. Counts refer to discussions and can overlap.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed · Original poster
Although I put a magnet where the oil was draining but didn't catch anything, checked the oil filter and also nothing.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed
Take it from someone who has been in your exact situation, get it changed now.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed
This was my biggest fear when I saw metal in my oil filter, turned out to be the IMS, which thankfully has been replaced without any further debris contamination after being flushed thoroughly.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that contain suggestions
1
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Suggestion
I really hope this is not the cause and that by checking the colour you can be reassured about it.
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Suggestion · Original poster
Unfortunately, I don't have the oil anymore, obviously, the new one won't have any debris in it (hopefully,) perhaps I'd better off driving a few months and change the oil again and send it.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
This was my biggest fear when I saw metal in my oil filter, turned out to be the IMS, which thankfully has been replaced without any further debris contamination after being flushed thoroughly.
These are separate views of the same evidence. Frequency alone does not establish a fix, and these counts must not be added together.
ims
No successful repair reported for this finding.
1
Identified cause
0
Suspected cause
0
Reported fixes
Read evidence and context
Discussions that report identifying a cause
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Reported cause
This was my biggest fear when I saw metal in my oil filter, turned out to be the IMS, which thankfully has been replaced without any further debris contamination after being flushed thoroughly.
Counts describe captured discussions, not unique people or a diagnosis. Author identities are not reliably stored. Exact duplicate evidence is counted once across matching discussions; one discussion counts at most once per action/state. Multiple repairs reported together remain a combination. Suggestions and failed attempts do not establish a fix. Matches cover whole discussions and can include related faults, model variants and incomplete threads.
15 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
911uk: 1 discussions
0 evidence records excluded for query context · 0 excluded by outcome qualification · 0 adjusted by outcome qualification.
0 acknowledgements have no verified action link; they do not establish a repair result.
Generation: 20261026T061123Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources
Hi
Today, when changing the oil and filter on my 996 I noticed that the oil was a bit sparkling when touched the oil drainer. Although I put a magnet where the oil was draining but didn't catch anything, checked the oil filter and also nothing.
It is the first time I am changing the oil on my 996 is a reason to worry about or can I just keep drive but keep a closer look on it?
I did budget an IMS replacement when I bought the car, but would be great to wait till it needs a clutch.
Regards
I didn't think about it actually.
Unfortunately, I don't have the oil anymore, obviously, the new one won't have any debris in it (hopefully,) perhaps I'd better off driving a few months and change the oil again and send it.
There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to an IMS im afraid so ill just post what i have seen ..
There is often no prior warning of an IMS failure .. no noises no running issues from the owners i have spoken to that have had this happen .
To check the condition you remove the gearbox , flywheel .. lock the crank .. timing tools etc and remove the cover .. you are looking for side to side play .. in / out and spin it for noises .
A small amount of shiny material sitting on top of the oil drained out doesn't always indicate an IMS failing ... i've seen it a few times shall we say with no problems at all.
You look in the bottom of the plastic container .. if metal in the bottom then yes .. something is certainly amiss .
you cut open the oil filter and lay it out flat .. again any shiny bits of metal are a good indicator that the IMS bearing is breaking up .
The usual mileage for a failure was 40K .. it can happen later but that was the mileage i've seen most fail at .
It's not that common these days .. i've not seen one in about a year but i work at just one garage and there are many garages in this country .
If you are concerned about a possible failure then get it checked .. perhaps have a clutch done at the same time and the IMS bearing cover removed if its all ok .. peace of mind then .
Take it from someone who has been in your exact situation, get it changed now.
Mine came out (dual row) and I recon it would have gone pretty quickly after if I hadn't done it. It's cheap
insurance
.
My car has zero symptoms of failure, no noises no rattles nothing. Just a few flakes of silvery metal in the oil filter which had come from the IMS bearing races and balls
Engine is now fixed and running a treat.
Given the OP reported the oil having non magnetic particulate matter, could be alloy though wonder if the IMS is stainless and thus non magnetic..?
Just thinking in type.. :?:
ld:
Hi, I did open and checked the oil filter and the oil filter cap and there was any shiny stuff, only just on the oil when it drained.
Also had a magnet on the drainer to catch any debris though, but it came clean as well
Anyway, I was already thinking about replacing it for peace of mind, I just don't know how urgent would be.
All good advice but one question unanswered (unless I missed it?) what colour were the shinny non-metallic particles. If they were bronze, copper (not magnetic) or glittery it can also mean crankshaft bearing wear. If the mileage is over 80K I would monitor the particle release again soon (yes cut open the filter) and make sure they are just silver.
Now guys - please don't start having a go because this would be bad news - it's not my fault and the question has been asked and this is a real possibility and frankly - if they are from a crank bearing it will be cheaper to try and fix it before the crank is damaged than afterwards.
I really hope this is not the cause and that by checking the colour you can be reassured about it.
Good luck,
Baz
To be honest depending on the car I'd be less worried about the ims exploding than I would be about the crank bearing destroying itself!!!
I have an oil analysis done every six months. I've no metal in the oil at the moment. I'm looking primarily for copper and lead. That'll be the bearing and seen as I have zero so far the minute I see some it'll be off for a rebuild hopefully in time that the crank isn't destroyed beyond rework.
If you've seen some metal I'd be planning the work now, otherwise you'll just drive round wondering when and not enjoying ownership!
This was my biggest fear when I saw metal in my oil filter, turned out to be the IMS, which thankfully has been replaced without any further debris contamination after being flushed thoroughly.
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