2001 5.3.. Tons of metal in oil

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

TheEnder53

Member
Joined
Jan 13, 2024
Posts
75
Reaction score
84
I just did my 2nd oil change since owning my Tahoe.

First time, there was metal in it. It wasn’t too bad.

This time. It was literally full of metal. Oil had that metallic flake to it. It was scary.

I don’t know where it’s coming from. It doesn’t appear to be magnetic, and the engine runs absolutely flawlessly and has great oil pressure. Any help?
 

afpj

Full Access Member
Joined
Sep 16, 2009
Posts
800
Reaction score
352
Confirm Is this motor oil or a differential (just don't want to assume just in case)? what interval between changes? What oil you using? Get a used oil analysis stat! Pics of oil? Nothing on the magnet?
 
Last edited:
OP
OP
TheEnder53

TheEnder53

Member
Joined
Jan 13, 2024
Posts
75
Reaction score
84
Confirm Is this motor oil or a differential (just don't want to assume just in case)? what interval between changes? What oil you using? Get a used oil analysis stat! Pics of oil? Nothing on the magnet?
Nothing magnetic that I can tell. I couldn’t get any pics of the oil before i took recycled it but it’s bad. Bottom of the pan was covered in metal shavings and what looked to be very tiny blue RTV pieces.
 
OP
OP
TheEnder53

TheEnder53

Member
Joined
Jan 13, 2024
Posts
75
Reaction score
84
Likely cam bearing or rocker arm roller is your glitter. Keep an eye on that oil pressure and listen for valve noise. Better plan on pulling the engine. They dont usually last long spitting glitter into the pan.
It’s been roughly 8K since this started. Oil pressure hasn’t been below 35-40psi hot unless it’s 117°F outside and it’s idling in the sun without the clutch fan being able to suck in much air.

Pulling the engine isn’t too big of a deal, i’m putting a new engine in my other truck in a couple weeks. Just curious though, how hard is a rocker arm roller to fix?

It’s as silent as a mouse from cold starts to hot starts and anything in between. Only thing i notice is what sounds like very quiet lifter tick that only lasts around a minute or 2 from when the engine is first cranked over to it warming up.
 
OP
OP
TheEnder53

TheEnder53

Member
Joined
Jan 13, 2024
Posts
75
Reaction score
84
Confirm Is this motor oil or a differential (just don't want to assume just in case)? what interval between changes? What oil you using? Get a used oil analysis stat! Pics of oil? Nothing on the magnet?
I went i believe around 3600mi on this oil change. Oil is pennzoil ultra platinum 5W-30.
 

tom3

Full Access Member
Joined
Jul 15, 2019
Posts
1,038
Reaction score
1,594
My guess would be cam bearing material. I've read that the camshaft bore is sometimes line bored with the bearings in to true up the alignment, I suspect some core shift over time has messed that up and you have some accelerated bearing wear. A Blackstone analysis might pinpoint this. I'm some surprised the oil pressure is still normal.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
132,012
Posts
1,860,959
Members
96,438
Latest member
HarpoMike
Top