Originally Posted By: Jim Allen
Originally Posted By: 440Magnum
To quote Dire Straits, 'warning lights are flashing down in Quality Control....'
You had an "incident" that dropped your oil pressure to below idiot light threshold, cause unknown- BAD
You observed no oil at the top-end, cause unknown- BAD
Now you have shavings in the oil on the clean side of the filter- BAD, even though oil pressure seems to have been restored.
I'd say that some permanent damage has been done, and the cause is completely unknown at this point. If the filter did go into bypass... why? Was it a media failure (collapse) that blocked it? Or was it media loading (meaning that the filter basically plugged up) which would mean that something in the engine is shedding a lot, or else you're getting a ton of insolubles for some other reason. What is the ACTUAL oil pressure? Oil pump failure that generates just enough pressure to keep the idiot light off with a brand new filter, but couldn't push oil through a partially used filter? A look inside that used filter plus putting on a real oil pressure gauge would add a lot of information, I think.
Whatever it is, I wouldn't trust this vehicle further than my ability to walk until I KNOW what caused this whole sequence of events.
This is the best advice here. You don't see that much metal without some damage being done, likely permanent damage. Here are some other things to check.
1) Double check the part number of the filter you installed and double check it's the right number for your application.
2) Find out whether your engine has an internal filter bypass or if the filter is supposed to have a bypass, then make sure the filter number you installed actually HAS a bypass (if required).
3) As was mentioned above, carefully cut the filter open (using a filter cutter), camera in hand showing all aspects of the dissection, and get the filter cut open with a filter cutter. Or you might contact Amsoil first and get some direction there.
Originally Posted By: Jim Allen
Originally Posted By: 440Magnum
To quote Dire Straits, 'warning lights are flashing down in Quality Control....'
You had an "incident" that dropped your oil pressure to below idiot light threshold, cause unknown- BAD
You observed no oil at the top-end, cause unknown- BAD
Now you have shavings in the oil on the clean side of the filter- BAD, even though oil pressure seems to have been restored.
I'd say that some permanent damage has been done, and the cause is completely unknown at this point. If the filter did go into bypass... why? Was it a media failure (collapse) that blocked it? Or was it media loading (meaning that the filter basically plugged up) which would mean that something in the engine is shedding a lot, or else you're getting a ton of insolubles for some other reason. What is the ACTUAL oil pressure? Oil pump failure that generates just enough pressure to keep the idiot light off with a brand new filter, but couldn't push oil through a partially used filter? A look inside that used filter plus putting on a real oil pressure gauge would add a lot of information, I think.
Whatever it is, I wouldn't trust this vehicle further than my ability to walk until I KNOW what caused this whole sequence of events.
This is the best advice here. You don't see that much metal without some damage being done, likely permanent damage. Here are some other things to check.
1) Double check the part number of the filter you installed and double check it's the right number for your application.
2) Find out whether your engine has an internal filter bypass or if the filter is supposed to have a bypass, then make sure the filter number you installed actually HAS a bypass (if required).
3) As was mentioned above, carefully cut the filter open (using a filter cutter), camera in hand showing all aspects of the dissection, and get the filter cut open with a filter cutter. Or you might contact Amsoil first and get some direction there.
4) You have some engine diagnostics to do to determine the source of all that metal. These may entail partial engine disassembly.
There are lots of possible scenario. It seems unlikely the filter could have plugged in only 2700 miles, so my money is on a sudden engine component failure. Even so, the bypass (whether engine or filter located) should have prevented a stoppage of lube flow. To protect yourself in case it's a product failure (car or filter) , tread carefully and document everything. Good luck on all this and I hope you'll keep us informed.
I wouldn't do #3. Let me repost: I wouldn't open the filter myself. I would find a qualified, disinterested 3rd party to do it so that if it is found to be defective and to have caused major engine wear and you have a legal case.