Pooh! metal debris in old oil.

Hello all, what a Sunday!
I've just changed the oil on my 2003 SV650s with about 45,000 miles on the clock.
I noticed the old oil looked like someone had poured a bit of cream into it and then when I poured that into a container, what a shock I got, quite an amount of metal debris sat at the bottom of the driptray. (oh pooh)
The bikes been running fine, no smoke, no noises, no nothing to indicate a problem.

Any ideas whats happened, how much it will cost me and why me?

Any help much appreciated.

Richardh

creamy oil suggests coolant and oil are mixing.
So check the level of the radiator and expansion bottle to see if they have dropped, and check your coolant colour aswell.
If this is the case its a head gasket....not expensive if you can do the work yourself.
as to the metal, cant say as i dont know enough about it but someone will be along who does. otherwise id say the oil colour and metal are related.

[Sid Squid]

Ferrous or not? Colour? Particle size? Uniform dispersion through the oil or clumps?

I think we should be told.

The bits stick to a magnet, so thats non ferrous I think. particle size is dust upto 2mm, flakey and brittle, I hope that helps.
Coolent level is fine, no change there.

richardh

[Sid Squid]

If they stick to a magnet they're ferrous, i.e. steel most probably. Therefore not directly plain bearing material, but there are lots of possibilities, anything elae you can tell us?

Colour? Shiny or dull? Engine running OK, no abnormal anything?

The metal debris is dark and charcoal like and everything was running sounding fine.
If this all is beginning to sound ilogical, maybe I should drain the engine again to make sure nothing from rusty exhaust fastners etc has just fallen in the oil tray after draining first time.
that would be a relief!

He he. I very much like the sound of your latest theory.

But where did the creamy stuff come from?

The engine / oil had been warmed up but that shouldn't give it a froth!
A double check is in orderme thinks, summoning up the strength to change the oil again and dump the 2.7 litres of finest semisynthetic.

Can't you stick it straight back in if it's still nice and clean?

mmmmmm, the drip tray (washing up bowl) isnt, I'll see if I can rig something up with a plaggy bag.
Although if the oils clean with no engine bits in it, i'll fill it up with Don Perignon!