what oil should look like,

after starting this hybrid build, the oil has a grayness to it, and some shinny to it. no large chunks or anything, but what should oil look like when you break in a motor (rings, rod bearings new only)?

Sounds to me like it is making metal. I would go out to the FBO at your airport and see if you can buy an oil analysis kit at the parts counter; or maybe something like that can be had at the auto parts store (I never tried there). Then run the engine til warm and draw enough oil out to fill the sample container and send it in for analysis. You will have your answer in just a few days.

Jerry Feather

I always hear folks say take a drip of oil from the dip stick and let it drip on to a black piece of paper and then look at it in the sun and see if there are any sparkly bits in it... if so that is a BAD SIGN, that said, this would be with old engines, not a new engine being broken in, but I would not expect to see much metal flake in a brand new rebuild I wouldn't think...

During break-in, it's not uncommon at all to see some metal in the oil. That's why break-in oil is used, or some other "sacrificial" oil is used during initial miles. If it continues after the first change, then yeah, probably not a good thing. But if this is the first change, I would expect it.

Keep in mind that the "break-in" period is pretty short. Don't continue running that oil to a regular oil-change interval.

Jon B.;11255 wrote: During break-in, it's not uncommon at all to see some metal in the oil. That's why break-in oil is used, or some other "sacrificial" oil is used during initial miles. If it continues after the first change, then yeah, probably not a good thing. But if this is the first change, I would expect it.

Keep in mind that the "break-in" period is pretty short. Don't continue running that oil to a regular oil-change interval.

I normally only run break-in oil for around 1 hour at 1800 rpm.
The neighbors hate you if you have loud or even worse open exhaust.
Then I drain and run normal required oil for 2 to 3 hours with usually a drive in the middle.
Draining that oil and putting in the fresh makes sure that all the contaminates are out and not hammered into the bearings.
The next change I run up to 3000 kilometers or 2500 miles.
then 5000 k or 3800 miles.

This is just my quirkiness as a mechanic while breaking in a high/perf engine that I have spent maga bucks on

well it does not look like metal to me. i do have some Blackstone labs oil sample kits (from when i had my diesel) and i plan to change this oil, and take a sample and send it out. one thing that is could be also is the Moly engine assembly lube. but we will know more later .