Just did an oil change and found this

[zhollett]

Im hoping that someone can assist me in determining exactly what (bearing ?) this is.

The pieces were found on the little magnet in the oil pan plug when i took it out to drain my oil.







Any help would be great.
1991 318is

[Landscape]

looks like it could be valve guides to me, did you do a compression test?

Good Luck!

[darkhorse737]

Valve stem locks is what they look like to me.

MY suggestion: open the valve covers and turn crankshaft manually. Observe if all the valves move the way they should. If not, there's your problem.

* I wouldn't suggest compression test until after u are sure valves are ok. Things being the way they are, a loose valve just might punch a hole in ur piston if u do compression check.

Let us know...

[darkhorse737]

Originally Posted by Landscape

looks like it could be valve guides to me, did you do a compression test?

Good Luck!

Landscape could be correct also. Broken pieces from a valve stem would resemble what you have in pics.

[zhollett]

Well, I just went through AirCare and my numbers were actually lower than last year. So I can pretty much safely assume that my compression is ok.

Im going to pull the oil pan and valve cover just to be safe.