Metal chip from engine oil

I need a little advice. Yesterday I changed the engine oil in my 2005 Tacoma Prerunner and found this on the drain plug. I also cut open the oil filter and pulled apart all of the filter elements but found nothing other than oil. Any ideas on what it is or could mean?

I currently have about 155,000 miles on the truck.

 

That's nothing; don't worry, just enjoy driving your truck.

 

Same... If its running fine I wouldn't sweat it.

 

little piece of dried oil, also known as sludge. Normal for an engine with that kind of miles

 

I think the plug is magnetic so if it is sticking on it that piece isn't sludge.

 

Well it doesnt look shiny like metal. Could be a piece of silicone that fell down into the pan from the inside

 

I don't have the factory drain plug (Fumoto), so I don't remember if the drain plug is magnetic?? If so, It ain't sludge or a piece of gasket or seal material. If it's ferrous, a piece that big probably wouldn't get through the oil pump pickup screen. After 155K, could be a lot of things. You might want to consider a Blackstone oil analysis - FWIW

 

The factory drain plug is not magnetic. At least the on on my 2006 is not.

 

I'd recommend a Blackstone analysis aswell.

 

Honest question what will a oil analysis help with?

 

Thank you for all the quick responses.

 

Huh? When an engine begins to "shed" metal, OA can detect how much, from where and probable life expectancy, as a result, among other stuff.....
You can get a very detailed explanation from google.

 

It's mouse poop. Mice have gotten into your engine to drink the blinker fluid.

 

Judging by the rubber gloves, I would say you are a hypochondriac about your truck. That’s nothing. I’ve pulled out teeth off of sprockets and oil pump gears and balancer shaft chains out of oil pans before. Motors ran fine. My dirtbike shreds more metal than that in a 5 hour ride.

 

Haha I was thinking the same thing...mine does too

 

Go onto Blackstone Labs and request a test kit. Send the sample in next time you change your oil. See what they say.
A single sliver of metal isn’t anything to get worried about yet.

 

Changing your oil with gloves on means you're a hypochondriac?

Matt

 

Still seems like a waste of time and money when it comes to these engines.

 

Used motor oil is proven to cause cancer in laboratory animals (i.e, mice). Does not necessarily translate to humans, but still.... cancer? No thanks.
Gloves also make it easier to clean your hands after.

 

Yup, I use gloves every time I work on cars. Not even just for health reasons too, it just makes clean up easier anyway

Matt