Don't know what to make of this

[1STMP]

440 rebuilt, sat for 20+ years on an
engine stand. Regularly rotated on
a set schedule once a month. Oil
has always been Chrystal clear on
the dipstick.
Break in at 2000/2500 rpm for 30
minutes. Engine running fine at 185
deg.
After the engine sits for a few days,
there is a dark grey substance on top
of the dip stick blade. The bottom
surface is perfectly clear.
Is this just residue of break in ?
There iare no shavings of metal
evident (no grit). Old lithium grease?
There is no lifter noise as this stuff
is not prone to plugging them up.
Engine runs great.

 

[HALIFAXHOPS]

Zinc?

 

[turbine68rt]

Was the oil and filter changed since break-in? With mine I did break-in, change oil & filter, drove 500 miles, changed oil & filter, drove 2500 miles changed both again. After that I'll change both every 3k using only VR-1 from the beginning.

 

[mtbase]

Take no chances...changing the oil after the 1st hour, I'd say.

I do that with any new engine.
Probably overkill

 

[Big Bad Dad]

Sounds like bearing material, possibly from breaking in the new engine. Or MAYBE the engine builder used some cam and bearing lube during assembly?
Anyway, I agree, better change the oil and filter to see if it goes away.

 

[Outlawd]

I had a similar experience with a motor that sat for around 10 yrs. I drove the crap out of it for a couple days and changed the oil and filter every 50 miles for 150 miles. No problems after that.

 

[maxwedgechar]

My best friend is a retired Porsche tech. He told me you can never change your oil too many times!

 

[bearman]

Take a oil sample and that will tell you alot. Also take a oil sample of your new oil so you can have a base line of what is in your oil then take a sample at every oil change. Match up your samples to keep you on the right track.

 

[dvw]

Drain the oil. How does it look? Cut the oil filter apart. Stretch out the pleats. Whats in it it? If all looks good I wouldn't worry
Doug

 

[gkent]

Its the ARP assembly lube residue from all the nuts and bolts

 

[ruffcut]

Assembly lube!

 

[diesel_lv]

It could be any number of contaminants. 20 yrs is a long time and no matter how careful we are, something can get in there. From your description, it's running great. As above, change oil n filter and see what you have after a full heat cycle.

 

[Bighouse]

Moly grease used on the cam maybe?

 

[Fran Blacker]

Agree with all the above. Are you running a pcv valve? On one engine I wasn't running a pcv and white crap came out of valve cover breather. Put a pcv in no problem.

 

[1STMP]

Changed the oil, restarted, brought up
to temp. Residue is still there. Cut the
filter apart. Though it's a grey color
in the 'v' of the pleats, it is extremely
fine material. Again, it only shows up
on the top of the dipstick blade.
Doesn't seem to bother the lifters any
as there's no noise. Pressure good
@60. Engine temp 185. My guess is
back 20 years, most machine shops
used a white lithium grease at final
assembly, and after 20 years, that
grease has turned into a fine powder.
Pulling the dipstick after warm up
evrtything perfectly clear with no
residue after the oil change. It only
shows up after sitting for a couple
days.
This motor has not been run on the
street yet. I'll post up a pic tomorrow.

 

[Kern Dog]

I'm curious about the way that you write. I notice that you have many short rows of words like above.
I wonder how you do this. Do you keep hitting "enter" to return to the left margin? Instead of typing the words all the way to the right margin, your body of text is always skinny and tall.
I'm not insulting you, I just wonder how and why you write this way. I tried to PM you but your inbox is full. The 15 PM limit is really inadequate.
Thanks, Greg

 

[Big Bad Dad]

I'm curious about the way that you write. I notice that you have many short rows of words like above.
I wonder how you do this. Do you keep hitting "enter" to return to the left margin? Instead of typing the words all the way to the right margin, your body of text is always skinny and tall.
I'm not insulting you, I just wonder how and why you write this way. I tried to PM you but your inbox is full. The 15 PM limit is really inadequate.
Thanks, Greg

I am going to guess that this was typed on a phone rather than a computer. I see people using their phones all the time to go on the internet. It would drive me crazy trying to work that little screen. Texting sucks bad enough for me..... LOL

 

[1STMP]

I'm curious about the way that you write. I notice that you have many short rows of words like above.
I wonder how you do this. Do you keep hitting "enter" to return to the left margin? Instead of typing the words all the way to the right margin, your body of text is always skinny and tall.
I'm not insulting you, I just wonder how and why you write this way. I tried to PM you but your inbox is full. The 15 PM limit is really inadequate.
Thanks, Greg

Howdy KD.
BBD is entirely correct. I don't have a computer
and post with my phone in it's verticle position.
I had no idea this causes frustrations for some.
The viewing screen is limited when posting horizontal,
but will make the effort to make it easier on others.
Thanks for pointing this out.
I also don't understand how my PM inbox is full
when it shows to be empty.
PS....I typed this response with my phone screen
horizontal, and certainly no offense taken

 

[Kern Dog]

I'm not bothered by it at all, just curious. I sometimes use my phone to post stuff but my text somehow looks the same onscreen here as when I use the computer. My biggest gripe when posting from my phone is that I make a LOT more errors since the screen is so small. Spelling, punctuation, pictures in the wrong order, etc. I often go back and edit later when I'm in the house where the computer is.
Thanks.
To answer the original question, I agree that it might be assembly lube.

 

[DeltaV]

He is a poet
A poet that writes
Free verse poetry
A poetry that lacks
a consistent rhyme
scheme or metrical
pattern, or musical form.