? Can a BlackStone lab oil report tell exactly where this is coming from ? Gen1 5VZFE

I wouldn't worry about it much personally. Even with the new picture you just posted. Next time I changed the oil I would drain it into a clean container and then strain it through a clean white rag. If I found anything questionable I would cut the oil filter open and check that. It's hard to tell but in the pictures you just posted that might not be metal, more like sludge or carbon. With that many miles the motor probably has a good amount of oil burned onto everything inside the motor and you are just seeing flakes of it falling off. Have you cleaned the flakes with brake cleaner to see what color they are?

 

Yeah, concur with this statement. At 350K miles the engine is likely to be gradually shedding small bits of carbon/oil sludge, which may also have small amts of normal wear-metals particles in them, on an ongoing basis.

 

What are some actual symptoms to be on the lookout for?
The Truck is having many odd issues since getting out of major 'surgery' 7 months ago

I am a novice diy at Best and much of these is over my head I admit

 

I went down this path with my Mustang. IMO, it’s a waste of time. Blackstone can’t analyze visible metals- if it’s anything larger than microscopic they’ll tell you to have it checked out at a mechanic. Your test will probably indicate high levels of some or other metal, but trust me. It’s just going to give you anxiety.
Unless the metal shards are concerningly large (which they don’t appear to be) my advice is to monitor moving forward but mostly ignore.

 

It helps alot if you've got more experience as there are a bunch of sounds that are perfectly normal but sound bad, or are bad if they're slightly different. I would be listening for any sounds that seem new to you and are loud enough to be questionable. Not real helpful I know, I might get more ideas after I finish this coffee...

 

connecting topic thread
quite possibly interrelated?
possibly not

5VZFE oil pump replacement..book time for 4wd?... could just be the crank seal weeping? | Tacoma World


last oil + filter change there were not these noticeable particulates
the magnetic drain plug used had a 'normal' film stuck on there and was easily wiped off