gold metal flakes in the oil

[fjbiker84]

Changed my oil today.  Getting the bike ready for the WCR in June.  But, as I was cleaning up the last bit of used oil from the pan after pouring the used oil into containers to take to the recycle place, I took the pan out into the direct sunlight and noticed a small amount of gold metal flakes in the oil.  It was a very small amount of these little flakes so whatever is causing it isn't a problem and there was nothing on the drain plug magnet.  So whatever metal that was intended to pick up wasn't an issue.  My question is what in the engine causes these tiny gold metal flakes to occur?  I'm pretty sure this isn't abnormal and in the past when I used to change my car's engine oil I've seen the same thing.  Is this from bearings, piston rings, or something else?

[ribbert]

Changed my oil today...... I took the pan out into the direct sunlight and noticed a small amount of gold metal flakes in the oil.....

Oil change day at 84's place.

[ZOA NOM]

sounds like bearing material

[JMR]

sounds like bearing material

Exactly

[copper]

Is there brass bearings used in the engine?

[ribbert]

Is there brass bearings used in the engine?

I thought more people would jump in on this topic, but as they haven't here's my 2 cents worth..... Firstly, pretty much anything is going to look gold through the oil, aluminium will look gold in the sunlight.
With such scant information and so many people waiting to pounce I'm not going to speculate on the origin but I can tell you it is not uncommon.

Size matters! Dust, glitter, flakes, shavings, size goes some way to explaining where it comes from. Unlike a car engine, the gearbox and clutch use the same oil and add to the possibilities.
My advice would be to change the oil indoors in future. 

Seriously, if there are no other indications, just ride it. People have been sweating over this for ever. In the old days you would find the sludge in the bottom of the sump sparkling with much the same thing, these days it's just suspended in the oil.

IMO

Noel

[red]

fjbiker,

Strain the old oil through a paper coffee filter, set into the top of a funnel. 

See if a magnet will pick up all of the metal flakes.  Please post the results.

[JMR]

If the used oil has non magnetic flakes, is shimmering and showing "trails" when stirred lightly with a screw driver it is usually bearing material. Very common to have the shimmering etc after an engine build with new bearings but you should have pretty clean oil after 3 or 4 changes. Sometimes you can see a drop in hot oil pressure if the bearings are loose but you need an accurate gauge.
I replaced at least a dozen ZX-11 cranks after #3 con rod bearing went away.....it was very common. What you describe was typical.

[fjbiker84]

Thanks for your input.  I've already disposed of the old oil but will try the coffee filter idea next time. And possibly try moving a strong magnet around in the oil pan to see if that will pick anything up.  I'm sure it would be better to see the particles outside the oil to see what they actually look like.  Color and size could be distorted as sunlight reflects thru oil.  Again, I don't think the amount of these particles has reached a level where I should be concerned about the condition of my engine.  I'm running the best stuff Yamaha makes - their 15-50 full synthetic. But I'll probably change the oil again this fall and see what it looks like.

[andyoutandabout]

I concur with the ride on regardless approach. On my first oil change a load of metal chunks came out and I really thought that the bike was a gonna. That was about 80,000 miles ago during which time I've been pretty regular with 4,000 mile changes. The oil seems free of pieces mostly and (touch wood) the bike runs like a top.
In remembrance of classic FJ buying advice: runs right, is right

[red]

Thanks for your input.  I've already disposed of the old oil but will try the coffee filter idea next time. And possibly try moving a strong magnet around in the oil pan to see if that will pick anything up.

FJbiker,

What I almost said was, whether or not the particles are picked up by a magnet, I suggest that you get a magnetic drain plug for the engine oil.  These things can't hurt, and they may do a great service for you. 

Plan B there (since you just changed the oil) is to install a strong (neodymium) magnet on the bottom side of the oil filter.  Secure the magnet in place with a serious universal adhesive (Shoe Goo) or tape, and do not remove the magnet from the filter until the filter is removed from the bike.  The external magnet on the filter may not be as good as a magnetic drain plug, but any help is better than no help, there.

[fjbiker84]

I do have what appears to be a magnet on my drain plug.  I assumed it was OEM.  Never tested it to see how well it worked.  Can they lose their magnetism over the years?  Probably would be a good idea to replace it next oil change and/or add another such device.  Will look into it.

[racerrad8]

Here is a Magnetic Oil Pan Drain Plug.

I also sell an Oil Filter Magnet 18-22mm that you can use over & over again.

Or, if you go with the FLO Stainless Steel Oil Filter it has a magnet built into it.

Randy - RPM

[Earl Svorks]

 As for the little bits that are visible in the oil, they mean far less than what you will find when you autopsy
the oil filter. Easy to do on the cartridge filter element, not so easy with the spin on filter. Perhaps this is the
first disadvantage we see in the spin on can ? In either case, once it's open, the filter medium can be stretched out like an accordion. Everything the filter has trapped will be very visible. You can also get oil analysis done
by Caterpillar, or an outfit of their sort. They are able to tell you the exact type and amount of metal, or any chemical found in a sample of a few ounces of oil.
    Cheers
Simon

[FJ Flyer]

You might want to send an oil sample in for analysis at the next oil change.  I've been using Blackstone Labs http://www.blackstone-labs.com/ for a long time and they do a great job.  They'll send you a free sample kit, then you pay when you send in the sample.  There are probably other companies that offer similar services.