Dirty oil

BDnFL · Sep 6, 2025

Two questions please.
1. Can a rebuilt stroked engine with 100 miles on engine but only 30 miles on recent oil change have dirty oil on dipstick? See pics for plug and soot on my finger from exhaust pipe.
Car has only been driven easy do to other issues such as brakes.
2. If the engine is a stroked 440 when I use a borescope I should see a
new piston and cross hatching still in the cylinder?
The engine has aluminum heads and I have the old cam but with all other workmanship issues I’m worried what I might see once I pull a plug and look inside.

R413 · Sep 6, 2025

Don't drive a new engine easy, make it work and seal the rings. Don't over rev it, just put a load on it, make it accelerate the weight of the csr.

Could be a possible problem in dirty oil.

gkent · Sep 6, 2025

I just drained 7 quarts of break-in oil after WAY less time and milage than yours and it was FILTHY. And so was the filter. But not metal filings, etc.. Took samples to my buddy who is a mechanic and he figures its completely normal. Probably some blowby because the rings haven't seated - he figures 500 miles should do it. Also, the moly assembly lube is black so that would also contribute to the color. As stated above - DRIVE it - things will improve ... or get worse. You won't know for a while yet.

BDnFL · Sep 7, 2025

gkent said:
I just drained 7 quarts of break-in oil after WAY less time and milage than yours and it was FILTHY. And so was the filter. But not metal filings, etc.. Took samples to my buddy who is a mechanic and he figures its completely normal. Probably some blowby because the rings haven't seated - he figures 500 miles should do it. Also, the moly assembly lube is black so that would also contribute to the color. As stated above - DRIVE it - things will improve ... or get worse. You won't know for a while yet.

Great info I didn’t know about break in oil color or think about the seating of rings.
A shop changed the oil so I forgot to get the filter as I have a little gadget to it cut open.
I’m just a little frustrated. Got car back with kick down not adjusted and almost zero braking. Also there’s a slight engine miss.
Both will be corrected by this week and I’ll run the car longer and a little harder.
Thanks gkent and R413 for the help!

64fury74charger · Sep 7, 2025

BDnFL said:
Great info I didn’t know about break in oil color or think about the seating of rings.
A shop changed the oil so I forgot to get the filter as I have a little gadget to it cut open.
I’m just a little frustrated. Got car back with kick down not adjusted and almost zero braking. Also there’s a slight engine miss.
Both will be corrected by this week and I’ll run the car longer and a little harder.
Thanks gkent and R413 for the help!

Reading your post I was wondering what the shop was doing to your car. Sounds like you had several issues after the shop worked on it. Did they do the install and initial setup? Or just an oil change and screw up your car?

Any shop that works on these cars better know what they are doing and there aren’t many that do. Could you tell us a little more details. Not knocking the shop, just curious about what happened.

BDnFL · Sep 7, 2025

64fury74charger said:
Reading your post I was wondering what the shop was doing to your car. Sounds like you had several issues after the shop worked on it. Did they do the install and initial setup? Or just an oil change and screw up your car?

Any shop that works on these cars better know what they are doing and there aren’t many that do. Could you tell us a little more details. Not knocking the shop, just curious about what happened.

The car had everything either rebuilt or replaced including a color change on paint. Originally power steering/ brakes. In the process I replaced all wiring at mechanic shop.
440 stroked, aluminum heads. New spindles Wilwood discs in front, new drums in rear.
The car just seemed to”linger” at the shop, sitting for weeks at mechanics and then months at paint.
I eventually took the car home.
Lots of small issues that I’ve taken care of such as drivers window didn’t roll up. Leaks in backwards glass.
Major issues; almost no brakes.
Car has an engine miss.
Not shifting into 3rd. Now corrected
Tacking the brake issue no fluid to rear I find residual valve in
backwards. Now corrected. Bleeding brakes this week.
Had first oil change and find oil dirty after about 30 miles.
So I just don’t have a good feeling on workmanship is the
reason for my post.

64fury74charger · Sep 7, 2025

That’s really unfortunate having to deal with all those problems. I’m sure you will get things sorted out and be able to get some good drive time in.

BDnFL · Sep 7, 2025

64fury74charger said:
That’s really unfortunate having to deal with all those problems. I’m sure you will get things sorted out and be able to get some good drive time in.

Thanks, I’ll keep chipping away at it.
Appreciate all the help from this forum

gkent · Sep 7, 2025

Just finished my car about a month or so ago. EVERYTHING mechanical is brand new. I had it out on its 6th outing today. Every outing unveils another little issue ... to add to the list! It comes with having done it yourself and saved some $$. If you had wanted a finished car with zero issues you should have given $250k and the car to a high end resto shop.

Dirty oil

BDnFL

Well-Known Member

R413

FBBO Gold Member

gkent

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BDnFL

Well-Known Member

64fury74charger

Well-Known Member

BDnFL

Well-Known Member

64fury74charger

Well-Known Member

BDnFL

Well-Known Member

gkent

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