1995 VLX600 Gold / Silver flakes in oil, - Honda Shadow Forums : Shadow Motorcycle Forum

dannyboy · 10-26-2010, 10:01 PM

I drained my oil again after 2,000 miles and noticed gold and silver flakes in the bottom of the pan. These flakes are not attracted to a magnetic source, so I do not think they are metal. One side of the flake is gold in color and the reverse side is silver in color. When placing the flake in your hand, the flake breaks in half. Does not feel like metal either. I do not know what is breaking down inside. Is there anytype of coating that could be breaking down inside the motor to cause these flakes.

shadowmib · 10-27-2010, 12:02 AM

That's very weird.. My friend just bought an 85 shadow so I will be interested in findind out what this stuff is.

SHADOW 1100T · 10-27-2010, 02:17 AM

Put some heat to the flakes, if they melt it could be the cam tensioner going south on ya.

tubes_rock · 10-27-2010, 07:27 AM

How big are these flakes? Little metallic particles are somewhat normal, since that's the little bits of the clutch suspended in oil. That's normal for the particles to get in the oil as the clutch wears. Usually the oil filter traps them all, but it's not uncommon to see a few in the oil here and there. But if they're bigger than a spec of dust, this is not normal.

--Justin

Lou Pietrandrea · 10-27-2010, 09:20 AM

this is reaching a bit.....but what about the oil filter itself? What kind of filters have you been using and have you tried disecting a used filter to see if there are any of those particles on the trapping side of the filter?

callmeal · 10-27-2010, 09:39 AM

Blackstone Labs can tell you what it is.
http://www.blackstone-labs.com/

dannyboy · 10-27-2010, 10:49 AM

The flakes in the oil are larger than a spec of dust. I am going to send the oil sample in to see what they say. Thanks for the info

cl65ame · 10-27-2010, 09:33 PM

if they are gold on one side and silver on the other then it is bushing / bearing material wearing. The lab will define exactly what it is.

If the flakes are large then you are looking at pulling the motor and replacing bearings.

dannyboy · 11-02-2010, 11:31 PM

Some people told me that it may be bushings / bearing material, but the flakes are not metalic, they do not appear to be of metal material and are not attracted to a magnet.

The flakes break apart in your hand very easy, they feel like paint chips / paper like material. If it was bearing material, would the flakes be metal???

I am sending the used oil into the lab, but the lab said they could not tell me what the flakes were, just what is in the oil.

Thanks for any advise.

I was thinking that the gold color was coming from this source. Please see the attached photo. What do you think?

1995 VLX600 Gold / Silver flakes in oil,-engine.jpg

1995 VLX600 Gold / Silver flakes in oil,-engine1.jpg

jagojon3 · 11-02-2010, 11:38 PM

You do know that many metals (such as aluminum and bronze which are commonly used for bearings) are non-ferrous, meaning they won't be attracted to a magnet, right? RIGHT?

10-26-2010, 10:01 PM	#1 (permalink)
dannyboy Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 4	1995 VLX600 Gold / Silver flakes in oil, I drained my oil again after 2,000 miles and noticed gold and silver flakes in the bottom of the pan. These flakes are not attracted to a magnetic source, so I do not think they are metal. One side of the flake is gold in color and the reverse side is silver in color. When placing the flake in your hand, the flake breaks in half. Does not feel like metal either. I do not know what is breaking down inside. Is there anytype of coating that could be breaking down inside the motor to cause these flakes.

10-27-2010, 02:17 AM	#3 (permalink)
SHADOW 1100T Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: LEAVENWORTH WASHINGTON Posts: 5,303	Put some heat to the flakes, if they melt it could be the cam tensioner going south on ya. __________________ Ted

10-27-2010, 07:27 AM	#4 (permalink)
tubes_rock Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Northern NH Posts: 5,341	How big are these flakes? Little metallic particles are somewhat normal, since that's the little bits of the clutch suspended in oil. That's normal for the particles to get in the oil as the clutch wears. Usually the oil filter traps them all, but it's not uncommon to see a few in the oil here and there. But if they're bigger than a spec of dust, this is not normal. --Justin __________________ 2010 Honda NT700V 1986 Shadow 700 1986 Honda Trail 110 (Postie Bike)

10-27-2010, 09:20 AM	#5 (permalink)
Lou Pietrandrea Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Western PA Posts: 1,964	this is reaching a bit.....but what about the oil filter itself? What kind of filters have you been using and have you tried disecting a used filter to see if there are any of those particles on the trapping side of the filter? __________________ 96-VT1100C (other bike is an '81 kaw KZ)- I am not required to know everything....I am only required to understand what I know...

10-27-2010, 12:02 AM	#2 (permalink)
shadowmib Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 123	That's very weird.. My friend just bought an 85 shadow so I will be interested in findind out what this stuff is.

10-27-2010, 09:39 AM	#6 (permalink)
callmeal Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Kansas Posts: 1,273	Blackstone Labs can tell you what it is. http://www.blackstone-labs.com/

10-27-2010, 10:49 AM	#7 (permalink)
dannyboy Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 4	The flakes in the oil are larger than a spec of dust. I am going to send the oil sample in to see what they say. Thanks for the info

11-02-2010, 11:31 PM	#9 (permalink)
dannyboy Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 4	Some people told me that it may be bushings / bearing material, but the flakes are not metalic, they do not appear to be of metal material and are not attracted to a magnet. The flakes break apart in your hand very easy, they feel like paint chips / paper like material. If it was bearing material, would the flakes be metal??? I am sending the used oil into the lab, but the lab said they could not tell me what the flakes were, just what is in the oil. Thanks for any advise. I was thinking that the gold color was coming from this source. Please see the attached photo. What do you think?

11-02-2010, 11:38 PM	#10 (permalink)
jagojon3 Banned Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 149	You do know that many metals (such as aluminum and bronze which are commonly used for bearings) are non-ferrous, meaning they won't be attracted to a magnet, right? RIGHT?

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