7 captured repliesDiscussion pagination complete · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHflakes in the oil sump
Reported or suspected cause
oil bottle seal
Suggestion or failed attempt
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Identified cause
1
Suspected cause
0
Reported fixes
Read evidence and context
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Discussions that suspect a cause
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Suspected cause
If it's truly thin and flexibility like tin foil, then it's probably the oil bottle seal.
Leading evidence: 'oil bottle seal' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, the most frequently mentioned possible cause is 'oil bottle seal' (1 discussions; 0 report identifying it and 1 suggest it). The most frequently discussed action is 'Check cam deviations' (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.
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Suggestion
I agree with UOA and check cam deviations, but I also wouldn�t freak out.
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Suggestion
You should get a scanner and check camshaft deviations.
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Suggestion · Original poster
When I was cleaning the sump I found these flakes.
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7 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
Rennlist: 1 discussions
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Generation: 20261026T122219Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources
I added a .5 qt sump kit to my 01 996 c4. When I was cleaning the sump I found these flakes. One on the left is clearly a piece of the chain guides ( 1/8" long hard brown plastic), the one on the right is a small piece of either a seal or gasket material (soft pliable rubbery), and the middle one is a very thin piece of metal. The metal was caught in the oil pick up screen.
I also found in the bottom of the pan a small amount of very very fine metal. You could not feel any grit in your fingers there were so fine.
I bore scoped the middle cylinders when I had the sump out and found no sign of scratches or cracks on the two I could see.
The engine has about 70k on it. Runs great. My only concern is the Oil Pressure. At hot idle its at just over 1 bar. At 3,000 rpm hot its around 3.5 and up to 4 over 4,000. I have installed a new 997 style OP relief piston and spring and it raised the numbers about .2 bars. 0W40.
Is this a freak out moment, or just typical stuff on an engine of this age?
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Probably wise to start having UOA done at each oil change.
RE: the brown plastic bits. You should get a scanner and check camshaft deviations. Variocam wear pads are probably in your near future.
I would be mostly concerned about the metal piece. clean it up and post some pictures from different angles.
also, place it next to a coin so we can size it up.
The metal is very thin. Almost like foil. .
Another thing - before I bought the car I put my scanner on it and the cam timing was within tolerances.
Where do folks get their oil tested?
Thoughts appreciated.
I agree with UOA and check cam deviations, but I also wouldn�t freak out. Some of that stuff could have been in there for awhile.
Regarding oil pressure, you could also switch to 50w oil to bring up the oil pressure a small amount. If hot idle oil pressure gets too low, you could drive with the AC button depressed, which raises idle, turns on the front radiator fans, and therefore, keeps coolant and oil temps lower than without, which brings up oil pressure at hot idle in slow traffic.
If it's truly thin and flexibility like tin foil, then it's probably the oil bottle seal. Unfortunately, people drop them down the oil fill tube all the time.
Speediagnostix is the way to go on UOA.
