Details first. I now have 55 miles on my rebuild. I'm using a Comp retro fit roller cam with a thrust bearing behind the timing gear. I'm using a composite gear on my MSD dist and a bronze tip on my fuel pump push rod. All of my bearings are new and everything looked and felt good before I finished building the block.

The engine is very quite with no piston noise, valve train noise or bottom end noise......at least so far. Although not necessary with a roller cam I used EOS and ran it for 25 minutes on the first start up. I changed the oil and filter and noticed some copper looking powder in the oil. A magnet won't attract it. I pulled my fuel pump pushrod but it looked new. I had to pull the intake to fix a leak at the rear of it and saw no evidence of bearings or any metal in the intake valley.

I now have 55 miles on it and decided to change the oil again and more of this stuff showed up. It's so fine you can't feel it at all but you can see it. Plus my oil is darker than it should be for no more miles than this. Castrol 10-30. I don't remember if I used EOS in the oil on the first change or not.

I just cut my K&N oil filter apart looking for a clue of what this stuff is. Other than finding some evidence of more of this copper powder there was nothing in the filter paper.

Am I over looking something obvious here? Or do I just dump more oil in and stand on it?

Thanks

Are you using a cam button? Is it possible the thrust washer is getting chewed up? I would be concerned. You might also want to check your fuel pump push rod.

Are you using a cam button? Is it possible the thrust washer is getting chewed up? I would be concerned. You might also want to check your fuel pump push rod.

Yes on the cam button.. set at .004 cold and I'm using a thrust bearing behind the cam gear. I checked the fuel pump push rod and it shows no wear.

I'm very concerned. But with no more metal than I see so far if I pulled it I doubt if I could see anything. I fully expected to find bearing flakes in my filter but didn't.

I forgot to say that my oil pressure is 75 lbs at any rpm above idle and 55 idling. No fall off at all...but again, so far.

The way I look at, I am sure you have some money in the motor. If I saw copper looking debris in the oil I am pulling it down. It is not worth tearing the motor up. You would have to look at whatever would be made of copper. I doubt it would be lower bearings. You usually see a grey residue. What material is the thrust washer made of? I have seen this from a brass distributor gear but you aren't running one. I wish you luck.

I was also thinking brass. What else is made of a copper colored substance?
Valve guides?

I was also thinking brass. What else is made of a copper colored substance?
Valve guides?

I keep coming back to my fuel pump push rod as it's a comp cams bronze tipped they recommended for the cam. But it showed no wear when I pulled it.

And blown1981z28 the thrust bearing is steel with steel roller bearings in if if I'm not mistaken. If it has any copper in it I didn't see it.

I've used EOS in all of my flat lifter engines for many years and I know that it'll made the oil darker and stink to high heaven but I don't remember ever seeing anything that looks like copper powder in it.

I have fresh oil and filter on it now and I think I'll cruise it around easy for a few miles and look at it again. I don't know what else to do at this point.

Thanks guys

what about the dizzy gear? Is it brass or standard? It could be showing a small amount of break in wear from gears meshing.

I am not sure if you cut open the filter yet, but deffinately cut it open and see what else is in there.

what about the dizzy gear? Is it brass or standard? It could be showing a small amount of break in wear from gears meshing.

I am not sure if you cut open the filter yet, but deffinately cut it open and see what else is in there.

I'm using the new composite dist gear from Comp on a MSD dist.

I cut the filter open this afternoon and it looked great. No visible particles of any kind, just a little evidence of this copper looking powder.

FWIW I was impressed with the inside of the K&N filter.

Has anyone used a bronze tipped fuel pump rod and did you have this stuff in your oil? Or what fuel pump rod do you use on a roller cam?

I'm not sure what to say. I only have rebuild experiance on my own motors. Many gearheads in the forum have a ton more experience than I do. Saying that, I always noticed a small amount of metal in filters during the break in period. It is normal.

You may want to change the oil/filter, drive for 20 miles, and then report back. It should not do any more damage (if that is the case) than it already has.

I have I was using one on my newest motor before switching to electric. I never had any particles. When I pulled it I saw no wear. If that was the cause you would see it.

change the oil, drive it a bit and see if it does it again? maybe it ain't a biggy...

I wouldn't worry about anything on the first oil change.

Drive it more and and change again, everything has to get worn into mating surfaces. I've seen what looked like glitter in oil before on fresh rebuild and no problems...as long as it's not bigger peices...you know.

Be sure and cut filter open and inspect for any large particles of metal.

maybe someone use copper-slip(grease) on build.

Are you sure its copper?
Every time I've used new rings on a fresh cylinder hone, the oil looks like metallic paint. First time I saw it I almost passed out.

Are you sure its copper?
Every time I've used new rings on a fresh cylinder hone, the oil looks like metallic paint. First time I saw it I almost passed out.

I hear that. It looked like copper but has no feel to it and I couldn't attract it with a magnet. I put fresh oil and filter in it and just drove it 25 miles and the oil is as clear as it was when it came out of the jug. And it sounds great, absolutely no noise from the block or heads. So I think I was just being paranoid.

I ordered a filter cutter and I'll keep a close eye on it.

i got to thinking, did you use any copper sealants??

maybe some got lose and got into the oil.

I had this same problem with a 383 that was in my jeep (still have the engine) we tore it completely down and found nothing but a few worn main bearings, but nothing major or catastrophic, i was runnin a flat tappet cam with no bronze gear or anything like that... material was thought to be coming from the main bearings.. We cleaned the whole engine down and re-assembled it and the problem went away, it was mostly built up around the drainbacks in the top of the heads... Nate

i got to thinking, did you use any copper sealants??

maybe some got lose and got into the oil.

Not any copper sealants. I put another 25 miles on it with fresh oil and it all looks good.

I had this same problem with a 383 that was in my jeep (still have the engine) we tore it completely down and found nothing but a few worn main bearings, but nothing major or catastrophic, i was runnin a flat tappet cam with no bronze gear or anything like that... material was thought to be coming from the main bearings.. We cleaned the whole engine down and re-assembled it and the problem went away, it was mostly built up around the drainbacks in the top of the heads... Nate

My first thought was the thrust bearing part of the rear main. But this oil very clear now so I'll just keep an eye on it.

Thanks for all of the feed back folks.