Fine Metal Shavings on Dipstick After 10 Hour Break-In Service

[Seattle-Wind]

2019 Yamaha AR190 with 11 hours on the engine. I took the boat in for its 10 hour break-in service (includes oil and oil filter change). I checked the dipstick immediately after the service and noticed nothing peculiar. Then I ran the boat for 20 minutes, checked the dipstick again and I noticed something I have never seen before on any dipstick...fine metal shavings embedded in the oil. You have to look close, but they're indeed there at the very top of the dipstick. I put the dipstick in and out 15 times (wiping it off each time) and each time there was a little bit of metal shavings on the end of the dipstick.

Is this something to be alarmed about or is this normal? Your input is appreciated!

 

[Noko]

You could do an oil change and see if it comes back. Odd that you are seeing this after you just had the oil changed.

 

[tdonoughue]

I would not be alarmed if I found them before the 10 hour change. But after? That is a lot odd. I would be running it back to your dealer... That can't be good. At the very least your brining it in will document the problem during your warranty period.

 

[Liveto99]

I would bring that back to the dealer immediately and not run it before hand.

 

[Liveto99]

At the very least email them and get a paper trail going that is not normal.

 

[marcham]

Ask them to dump the oil and send a sample for analysis, that will tell you if it's bearings, pistons, etc...

 

[dshscarab]

Definitely not normal. I didn't notice any metal before or after on my 2019 AR 195. I would take it back to the dealer ASAP.

 

[Liveto99]

I would almost say that they had a mixup and ran it without oil or they put complete garbage oil in there.
Thank God it is under warranty

 

[AmesJainchill]

2019 Yamaha AR190 with 11 hours on the engine. I took the boat in for its 10 hour break-in service (includes oil and oil filter change). I checked the dipstick immediately after the service and noticed nothing peculiar. Then I ran the boat for 20 minutes, checked the dipstick again and I noticed something I have never seen before on any dipstick...fine metal shavings embedded in the oil. You have to look close, but they're indeed there at the very top of the dipstick. I put the dipstick in and out 15 times (wiping it off each time) and each time there was a little bit of metal shavings on the end of the dipstick.

Is this something to be alarmed about or is this normal? Your input is appreciated!

If yamalube products are being used, it might be worth logging the service info in the yamalubeadvantage site for additional warranty as well.

 

[Wishfull1]

Sure doesn't seem right. They will probably do this anyway, but make sure they cut the oil filter open and analyze.

 

[Wishfull1]

Maybe they used a cheap electric oil extractor and let it drain back into the dipstick tube when they were done? You would think that would leave some bits behind.

https://jetboaters.net/threads/oil-change-concern-disregard-problem-solved.20017/#post-342440

 

[Looper7]

I would take it back to the dealership and have them cut the filter and inspect it with you peasant. You know trust but verify.

 

[Seattle-Wind]

Thank you for the replies and info everyone. The dealer opens tomorrow morning, I'll be calling them first thing. In the interim, I went back down to the boat and put the dipstick in-out-and 10 times, cleaning it after each time and took these photos...click to enlarge.


^ Note the metal shavings/debris at the top of the dipstick.


^ Here is a napkin after wiping off the dipstick.

Unfortunately the boat is in the water at the marina right now and it's a 15 boat ride to the boat launch to get it on the trailer to take to the dealer. Should I be concerned about further damage to the engine running it in its current state to get to the boat launch? The dealer will undoubtedly run the boat on a hose to warm up the oil for extraction.

 

[tdonoughue]

I wouldn't move it. Ask the dealer what they want you to do. And document that with a confirming email to them. They may want to come tow it out or something.

 

[anmut]

I wouldn't move it. Ask the dealer what they want you to do. And document that with a confirming email to them. They may want to come tow it out or something.

X2 on this. Have the dealer put in writing what they recommend and have that paper trail started now.

 

[Seattle-Wind]

I spoke with the Service Manager at the dealer. He forwarded my concerns and photos to Yamaha and will await their advice. In his opinion there is nothing to worry about and that the photos show a very small amount of metal at the top of the dipstick, which is normal for a new engine according to him even immediately following the 10 hour service. I politely pushed back and explained that I've been doing oil changes all of my life and have never seen metal shavings or flakes like this on a dipstick. I've done all I can at this point, got as much in writing as possible, and have notified Yamaha myself of the issue. I suppose I will change the oil and oil filter myself and keep an eye on it. If it the engine fails in the future at least I documented it.

Hate to say it, but this has been a very poor ownership experience so far. I want to be excited about this boat, but I'm wondering if I should've saved up a few more years and purchased a better built boat. I had my SeaDoo Speedster 150 for 13 seasons and over 1,000 hours. I've had more issues and quality concerns with the Yamaha in the first 10 hours than I did in all of my time with the Speedster...and that's a 14 year old Sea-Doo. Ouch.

 

[Looper7]

Sorry to hear that I would cut the filter open and see if there is any debris in it if you decide to change the oil. Best of luck to you

 

[Scottintexas]

I would suck some oil out before the dealer gets the boat and send it to Blackstone labs so you get an independent analysis,

But i don't really trust a dealership

 

[ZGhost]

I think you’ve done everything right especially contacting the dealer and documenting your experience and what you saw. My guess Yamaha is going to come back and say this is normal and that’s why they recommend the 10 hour service. They will ask the dealer to perform another oil change or even two and check after that. They will tell you to keep an eye on it and report back.

It’s normal for new engines to produce shavings after first use and all manufactures of engines of any sort recommend an early oil change to remove this stuff. The challenge with our marine engines, the oil has to be sucked up compared to drain down where it’s more effective to get rid of the shavings with the help of gravity. The end of the extractor tube will only suck the metal shavings in the location it touches or surrounding locations unless they are floating around in the oil with a warmed up engine. If there was shavings in other areas, they will settle in those locations where the extractor tube end may not reach. When the engine is fired up the next time, some more floats around and settle at the bottom which needs to be removed. When you checked after the oil change, you found more due to eneffective oil extraction from the first time. my guess there is more.

I personally make it habit to do more frequent oil changes with new engines for this reason. On my new boat purchased last fall with only 3 hours or so from 2 runs last season, I plan to do a 5hr, 10hr, and 15hr oil changes. Some may say this is an overkill but hey, it won’t hurt. Oil is cheap and as such, this is cheap insurance to prevent headaches at a minimum. My 2 cents but glad you documented it and getting the dealer to address it. Will see what Yamaha comes back with?

 

[tdonoughue]

In fact, many engines have a magnet in the oil pan or somewhere for exactly this reason. The shavings are normal, so they do an early oil change and then have this magnet that just attracts them and they stay there forever where they are out of the way and do no damage.

So, understand we are just having you be careful with what is an unexpected situation on your dipstick. It may all work out fine and not be an issue. But, if it is an issue, you want yourself protected. In a week or two you will be out enjoying your new purchase again...