It is normal to find some brass (timing gear / distributor gear).
It is normal to find bearing flakes if you ' haven't never ' cleaned the
strainer in years and years.

Stan

On Fri, 8 Nov 2002 19:18:14 -0500 Jeff Strickrott <jstric01@CS.FIU.EDU>
writes:
> Hi All:
>
> I was performing Stan's ShapingUp procedure on my 82 Vanagon and
> when
> cleaning out the oil strainer I found a bunch of metal shavings.
> They
> are not magnetic, so either some type of stainless or aluminum.
>
> Does this mean the engine is a goner? I am not sure if the metal
> slivers
> (flakes) where in the engine and my cleaning just flushed them out,
> or
> if they are the result of my valve adjustment. I have only idled the
> car
> about 20 minutes since the valve adjustment. It could be from a
> valve
> seat (though I would think that would be steel and hence magnetic)
> but
> my engine vacuum actually improved.
>
> Now the van sits with all the oil drained out of it. Any suggestions
> as
> to the next course of action? Know of any good engine rebuilders
> within
> shipping distance of South Florida?. The local VW shops I would not
> want
> to use.
>
> Regards,
> --Jeff Strickrott
> 82 Westy, South Florida
>
>

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