Residues in oil filter

[Renaud Bizet]

Hello,

I am trying to get some feedback as to what the rubber residue in my oil filter could come from. It is definitely not metallic, it is pliable, has a rubbery feel to it and the color is olive green. It looks like a gasket material.

It started to appear during last oil change 6k ago. My car is a 2000S with about 55k miles and always maintained perfectly.

I thought it might be the AOS but I replaced it and the diaphragm which has the same olive colour was intact.

I was told that when the previous owner had the valve cover resealed maybe they used a green compound but I checked the engine and the gasket material is black.

I am running out of idea where is this coming from?

Please anybody can help?

Thanks in advance

[lilredpo]

http://www.blackstone-labs.com/

I use these guys for oil analysis every time I do an oil chnage, very comprehensive report for about $22. They also track historical info for comparative purposes and give a detailed explanation on their findings.

[Macster]

Originally Posted by Renaud Bizet

Hello,

I am trying to get some feedback as to what the rubber residue in my oil filter could come from. It is definitely not metallic, it is pliable, has a rubbery feel to it and the color is olive green. It looks like a gasket material.

It started to appear during last oil change 6k ago. My car is a 2000S with about 55k miles and always maintained perfectly.

I thought it might be the AOS but I replaced it and the diaphragm which has the same olive colour was intact.

I was told that when the previous owner had the valve cover resealed maybe they used a green compound but I checked the engine and the gasket material is black.

I am running out of idea where is this coming from?

Please anybody can help?

Thanks in advance

Resonded to this post on another board, but perhaps you didn't see it.

If the stuff's soft, most likely sealing material that has come loose and been run through the scavenge and pressure pumps.

The sealer can be one color out of the tube/applicator and turn color after exposure to heat, air, oil.

It may be from the valve cover reseal, or it may be something left over from when the engine was assembled.

Engine oil passages are cast in and when engine cases are assembled sealant is used. There is a spec for how big/wide the bead can be and the position of the bead, but if the applicator wavers or there's an air pocket in the sealant as its being applied more sealant can sploosh out and any excess gets squeezed out into the crankcase area or into the oil passage.

This stuff can be carried to the oil pump first time engine is started, or it can if a large portion of it still attached can hang around for a while until it breaks loose. Depends upon where the stuff is -- is it in a realtively protected area in the crankcase away from the violence of the oil being whipped around by the crankshaft? If so it can remain in place for a long time.

Or it can have come loose right away and got hung up somewhere and then recently finally broken free.

If the material is soft and dented by a fingernail I'm going with sealant.

If the material is harder but still non-metallic it could be --- could be -- IMS bearing seal material.

Another possibility is again if it is harder is it is a piece of a valve stem seal.

The only thing you really have to fear is if it is or turns out to be from the IMS bearing seal. This can be an early warning sign of more serious IMS bearing trouble.

Added: Forgot to mention the oil sump baffles are rubber like and these have been known to come apart over time and of course any piece small enough to fit through the oil pick up screen will end up looking like the bits in the pictures you posted.

The health of the oil sump baffles can be checked by removing the oil sump. IIRC someone/company makes replacement that are metal and more robust. Maybe LN Engineering or Jaky Raby's company: flatsix innovations. I know of, read of one company that makes a deeper sump plate that adds extra oil cap. to engine. Kit looks pretty nice. There's an install article in one of the recent Porsche car mags, 911 & Porsche maybe. Can't remember off top of head and I'm late for work.

Sincerely,

Macster.