Valvoline Synthetic 75W-90 Gear oil....chunks/flakes normal in fresh oil?

I changed out the rear differential gear oil today and have used Mobile1 synthetic

$30 75W-90 Synthetic Gear Lube - 1 Quart (Pack of 2)

75W-90 in the past. The store was out so I bought Valvoline Synthetic instead because I didn't have time to go anywhere else. While finishing up filling the second bottle I noticed some chunky flakes about the size of a dime in the clear filler tube go into the differential. I kinda thought I was seeing things but then on the last bottle I saw a few more of these flakes. Is this normal or something to be concerned about? Should I drain and get rid of this oil and then refill with Mobile 1 to be safe? I haven't started or moved the truck yet. They remind me of flakes that I saw when I drained a boat gas tank that had bad gas. Any input would be appreciated.

 

that sounds pretty sketchy shouldn't be not any junk in the trunk floating around in the bottle IMO, I would return it, try the Walmart super tech 75w90 its good stuff easy enough to get

 

I'd drain it and put it back in the bottles. l would contact the company that made the product. Telling them what you bought, from where and what happened when poring it in. See what they say. Return them to the store where you bought it. Even if accept the returnt, I would still contact the company of manufacture and refer to the numbers on the bottle. Usually thete will be a number indicating the batch. May be a contaminated.

 

I had a similar issue years ago with Castrol Conventional Motor Oil and more recently with Zerex Asian Coolant.

I got rid of the Castrol and did the same with the Zerex

Things slip thru the cracks every now and then, but I do not want their contamination in my vehicles.

 

Belated update. The next day I ended up draining the valvoline and refilling with Mobile 1 that I had to travel a distance to find. I used my wifes car and didn’t run the truck before draining and refilling. Interestingly I didn’t see much of any of the junk that I saw going in, but at least I have piece of mind. Thanks for input here.

 

Two thoughts / possibilities:

1: least likely - a piece of machinery or piping at the refinery had some issue with parts separating, or its plating delaminating, and ending up in the oil. I’ve worked in lubricating oil refineries, and the very last step before, and after bottling, is to run the bottles through a very sensitive metal detector. It’s almost impossible for a chunk, wafer, or shard of metal to leave the factory, as they anticipate this may happen, and guard closely against it.

2 - Probable: Many of the additives in gear oil are dissolved metals. If the bottle of oil you bought was very old, or had been subjected to extreme heat or cold during transport, or the mix was off at the refinery that day, some of the additives may have precipitated on the inside of the bottle, the same way they anticipate they will “bond” to your gears. This “flock” is likely what you saw going down the tube.

I still think you did the right thing by swapping it out.

 

Thanks for the update. It''s annoying when people write in with a question or concern buy never let us know how it turned out.

 

I think your right and #2 makes a lot of sense, I was wondering if it was old oil or some gunk from factory precipitated on the bottle. It probably would have been fine to run, but now I have piece if mind!