Metal in filter - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

I changed my oil the other day and found a small amount of silver in the filter when I cut it open. Looks like Crome shavings. I only have 65000 kilometers on my 99, as it is only a summer driver the oil is only changed in the fall, 4600 kilometers this season. I suspect that it is the start of an IMS bearing failure. My question is, has anyone had this done in SW Ontario who can recommend a good shop.

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Before panicking, are the metal bits you found ferrous (picked up by a magnet)? If the answer is no, it is not from the IMS.

I believe Boxstersteve had his IMS done. He is from Waterloo you may want ask him. Only shops here are RSP and Fanshawe Motors other than dealer. Don't know if they do it or not. Good luck. I would agree to see if the pieces are picked up by magnet as well.

First off, the source of the debris must be found. If it isn't, and you just assume its the IMSB, and retrofit it, the chances of the replacement bearing failing are insanely high. Why? Because you have debris suspended in the life blood (oil) of the engine and the smaller and lighter it is, the easier it travels everywhere throughout the engine, and creates a loss of life as it travels through the engine. What color is the debris? Do you have photos of it? Have you quantified that none of this has already made it past the filter by doing my "finger test? If metal laden oil has made it by the filter, the engine has been permanently damaged. The wonderful design of the stock oil filter housing allows this to occur. Again, you must quantify where the wear is rooted and address is before any IMS Retrofit is applied, or any other intervention. I spend hours on this topic in my classes and it amazes me how many shops will just throw a part at the engine in hopes of fixing the root of the problem, when they really have no idea what the failure chain is really made up of. With this you must not guess, and you must cease vehicle operation until you have addressed where the debris is coming form, as well as ensuring what the collateral damages may be.

Mantis in Oakville did mine.Long haul on a flatbed but only one way. I drove mine from Kingston.

As the ex owner of a 2001 base I had the same thing happen. Initially got a few chrome like shavings in the oil filter and oil. They were not metallic. Later got lots of green bits in the oil filter followed by the code P1341. Camshaft deviation out of tolerance on one side. Sold as is! Guy

German Autotech in Waterloo. Very knowledgeable Porsche mechanic. Great google reviews. Have used him for my PPI and some suspension work and I know Boxstersteve on here had his IMS done through them. Good luck! Hope it's nothing serious.

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Listen to this advice. Open bearing is susceptible to this.....

This is too late for the Op but: I had a somewhat similar situation recently - but way more severe. The quantity of debris was greater. The entire engine was clean and debris-free because by chance an LN spin- on filter kit had been fitted before the problem started. I have since dismantled the engine completely -down to the very last nut,bolt and O ring. I even dismantled every lifter! No debris anywhere other than the GM filter and in the bottom of the pan and the magnetic sump plug. The engine has 90k miles. The reason is the LN filter screens 100% of the oil flow.The OEM filter does not. So why don't more of us fit a 100% filter kit +mag drain plug? It is cheap and an easy diy job.The IMS is not the big problem, it is the damage done by the debris that causes the huge expense.

Finally able to get back to this, the silver flakes were NON-ferrou, the magnet would not pick them up, I also poured the waste oil over a magnet and it did not pick anything up either. I am now suspecting that the material found is aluminum, the pieces were to small to photo, and there were only about a dozen spread across the filter when cut open, my plan is to wait until the weather gets warmer, drop the sump for a look inside, if nothing is found, I think that I will drive it 4-500 miles and pull the filter again. Someone suggested that what I found my be from the continual dry starts that these older low mile week-end cars get. Any one want to chime in?

These motors shed aluminum bits thar are probabky from the original machining pretty much for the life of the engine. I get bits every now and then. As long as the sump is fairly clean i wouldnt worry about it.

After 400 miles of driving, I replaced the filter, after cutting it open no debris of any kind was found, I will do it again in another 800.

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but how do you unroll the filter now?

Well that's a good point. Can you inspect a spin on filter?

You need to cut it open too... think oil filled soda can. Longacre Racing 77750, Longacre Racing Products Oil Filter Cutter | Longacre Racing