metal shavings

[adalex]

Ok, so a little while ago tcam01 came over to help me put in a new oem radiator, we drained all of the fluid out but afterwards when we looked at it, in the pan there were little metal shavings and was just wondering what would cause that? we flushed the engine with distilled water and it has 50/50 toyota red anti-freeze. could it have been from the old radiator?(it had a crack in the top plastic piece) or is there some other issue. (hopefully not)
thanks for any info

oh its a 99 le 5sfe auto with 107,000 miles

[fenixus]

when was the timing belt and water pump replaced (if ever yet) ? those shaving in cooling system might be pieces of old water pump propeller or some other metal particles as a result of former corrosion in system.

[adalex]

the timing belt wasn't replaced too long ago, im not sure about the water pump but the timing belt is new

[73sport]

^+1

Could still be floaters from from the orginal engine machining trapped in the block. Anyone ever have the head off for head gasket job? Could be from a head mill too!

If they stay out of circulation of the water pumps seal, it should be fine. But ya might wanna flush again just to feel safe.

[adalex]

well i found a recepit from clearwater toyota, the headgasket seals were changed in june of last year

here i just scanned one of the recepits

[93celicaconv]

Your receipt shows the valve cover gasket was replaced, not the head gasket.

Given that in June of 2009, you at least then had the old coolant flushed, and between that time and now, you found metal shavings, that doesn't sound too good. I'm wondering if you have the original water pump in there yet, and that pump impeller is going out. Not sure, but none of the work done in June 2009 would have caused the shavings to get into the cooling system - might have taken any that were there out though.

[PortugalFocus]

^ Werd, that's valve cover gasket not, head gasket. That job at the dealer alone, would have cost you much more than that whole ticket shows.

Adalex, have Les quote you on the price for a head gasket or ask him what he thinks. That guy is top notch when it comes to Toyotas. It may be the waterpump starting to fall apart or just wear. I'd listen to whatever he tells you.

[adalex]

yea i realized that after i posted, one thing though, when we flushed the engine with distilled water and let it drain i didn't see any more shavings, they were only there when we first drained the coolant

[chronoti]

hey sorry about not calling you back last night me and the girl got in a argument and i saw your post so i started drinking, if it makes you feel better i think she was slapping me in my sleep for like an hour.

but look at your radiator cap it might of fallen apart and bits-o metal might of gotten chopped by the pump

[TCam01]

^hahaha yea man you deff need a new radiator cap btw don't forget that. When you called me friday i have like 12 minutes on my phone so thats why i didn't answer lol ohh and btw i found alot of corrosion in your top hose plug on top of the radiator the day after like rust an shannagins.....