Metal in OIL, Not sure

[remist17]

I built a 383 stroker and have about 500 miles on the engine. I have completed 3 oil changes and most recently about 100 miles since last change I see what appears to be metal. Besides sending out for oil anaylsis is there any way to confirm these are metal flakes? The oil is greyish in color and not the normal honey or burnt honey color. Im afraid Im getting some metal wear. Ill take some photos on the next change. I am not sure how long some of the assembly grease takes to work out of the system.

If anyone has photos of metal in oil I sure would appreciate it posted up.

[walkerb]

Pour it out and hold a good magnet to the stream as you pour. Or pour the oil onto the magnet.

[crashz]

I would pull a sample, send it to the lab with the exact oil you are using, miles on oil, miles since engine build, and assembly lube used. See what they say. I would not run the truck until you have a grasp on this.

Grey oil doesn't sound right at all. This could be anything, but I can't think of anything that will shed like that to make the oil actually grey. Metal/iron sometimes makes the oil sparkle a little like metal flake in paint.

You didn't say what oil you are running. Is it something with moly blend, like a racing oil? Some race oils have a high moly blend that is gray/black.

[remist17]

the oil I have in it now is Havoline 5W30 oil. No synthetic. Purelator filter.
I will try and take a photo of the oil on the stick and on a white towel and post it up.

I have some major doubts myself.

[bnoon]

Did you use break-in oil, or just regular engine oil? Did you add any zinc if you used the latter? Did you run the engine at varying speeds for 20-30-ish minutes to heat treat and harden off things like lifter lobes/etc prior to any other operation???

Assembly lube takes one good warm up, then drain to work its way out. There's no way that's still in your engine.

[swb85]

Cut open the filter. You'd be surprised the amount of material you'll find in the filter media of a new engine during the first 500-1000 miles.

[LONGHAIR]

It could be as simple as ring and cylinder wall break-in, but that should get caught in the filter. If it is getting past the filter, you have a lot of junk and the filter is by-passing......not good with 3 changes in 500 miles.
As a side note, all of the metal particles will be magnetic. Bearings make shiny bits that will not stick to a magnet.
It is most likely to be a cam lobe and lifter bottom, if so, it's a total tear-down. Don't let anyone tell you that they can wash that stuff out of an assembled motor.....that is a recipe for a second tear-down.