Metal sliver in oil -- time to panic?

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monkeyodeath

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Dec 10, 2025

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1

• Yesterday at 8:52 PM

• #1

I was doing my first oil change on my new-to-me MKIII when I noticed a small sliver of metal sticking to the magnetic sump drain plug.

The piece is ferrous and fairly stiff. No glitter in the oil or any other pieces I could find. Engine seems to run fine.

Any ideas what this might be and how worried I should be about it?

 

kommando

Joined

May 7, 2005

Messages

7,828

• Today at 12:09 AM

• #2

A single piece on its own is not giving much information. Its now a watch and see, so check the magnet frequently.

 

Fast Eddie

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Oct 4, 2013

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• Today at 12:51 AM

• #3

Some better quality close up pictures, taken from different angles, may also help people to identify the mystery object… your current picture shows little more than a grey shape when zoomed in…

 

Triton Thrasher

Joined

Feb 10, 2009

Messages

3,214

• Today at 2:01 AM

• #4

Crap photo.

Bearing cage?

 

kommando

Joined

May 7, 2005

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7,828

• Today at 2:07 AM

• #5

Triton Thrasher said:

Bearing cage?

Click to expand...

Possible, but is it an old piece left inside during the last rebuild or a piece from a newly fitted bearing. Need to know the history of the bike, ie was it sold as just having had a rebuild (a red flag IMHO) or one with a decent amount of miles since the rebuild.

 

Triton Thrasher

Joined

Feb 10, 2009

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3,214

• 38 minutes ago

• #6

There’s a risk there are similar fragments still in there and they might not stay in one place.

Could do a lot of damage.

 

concours

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Dec 29, 2011

Messages

10,568

• 23 minutes ago

• #7

monkeyodeath said:

I was doing my first oil change on my new-to-me MKIII when I noticed a small sliver of metal sticking to the magnetic sump drain plug.

The piece is ferrous and fairly stiff. No glitter in the oil or any other pieces I could find. Engine seems to run fine.

Any ideas what this might be and how worried I should be about it?

View attachment 124591

Click to expand...

Well, if panic is your preferred method of response, so be it. It would be prudent, however, to investigate the source.

https://www.accessnorton.com/NortonCommando/why-we-call-it-inspection-2018.24374/

One thing is for certain, mechanical things do not heal themselves.