Metal chunks on dipstick? 2005 6.0

[expertrider]

I'm looking for any ideas as to what would be causing this problem:
The past couple of times that I have checked my oil, there have been several little pieces of metal in the oil clinging to the dipstick.
I'm not talking about glitter-sized shavings, I'm talking about very large beach-sand sized pieces of metal. These look like little chunks.
Everything is running fine, there's nothing leaking, no power problems, no noise issues...
I want to find out what this might be because.....
I think I have stretched the headbolts, so it's going to the dealer in 2 weeks for new gaskets and ARP's (the coolant is blowing out when towing, and I've read the TSB on the issue, so I'm pretty confident that it's a HG/head bolt problem)
While she's getting new studs and the cab is up in the air, I want to have whatever is causing the metal-chunk problem fixed!!
Any good input would be appreciated! Thanks!
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[symbols]

It's normal to have small pieces but if they are as big as you say it doesn't sound good. I assume they are silver?

[expertrider]

They actually look black. I believe it would have to be metal, since I don't think the 05 has any composite gears or anything inside.
There have been about 20 of these little chunks so far.
I'm going to drain and chage the oil tonight (fully synthetic $$$)
So I may find more info on this after I change it all out.

[symbols]

Are you sure it is not soot? How many miles on your truck?

[TwinTurboStroker]

Have drained your oil yet and the strain it and see what you actually get? Have you checked out your turbo lately?

[expertrider]

It's definately not soot...these pieces will cut your finger!
Haven't checked the turbo...I guess you mean the exhaust side? or the intake side?
I'm going to drain the oil tonight, I'll use a coffee filter screen to catch what I can.
Everything seems to sound normal and strong. The truck hauls butt!
It has 94,500 miles.
I already have the 200k extended warrantee, and I have a good diesel service advisor connection for the warrantee work that I have planned, but this is something new.
I'm worried about the gears that would crumble apart on some 03's.
I think that was the composite HPOP gear or something like that.
I hope I don't have something like that happening on this 05.

My OASIS on this truck is super-clean: 1 EGR valve and the recall for the degas bottle sticker, that's it!

[rbloodhound]

It might be worth the $ to run an oil analasis.

[expertrider]

Great info from everyone, thanks!
I changed the oil and it looked great.
A few tiny specks in the drain pan, but the oil looked almost new. The drain plug (magnetic) had nothing on it.
I took the filter apart, it was spotless and very clean (It has about 2k miles on it!)
The Amsoil bypass filter is doing a pretty good job!!
I'm starting to think that maybe the metal specks came from the custom aircraft hoses that I had made for the bypass oil filter (They look awesome!)
I haven't heard of any other 6.0 problems that created little metal chunks in the oil, so I'm at a loss until I get the Blackstone tests done.
I saved a good sample, so I should know something as soon as the test process is complete.
If anyone else thinks of a good reason why a 6.0 would have small metal chunks in the oil, please chime in.
I'm getting the studs done in about 2 weeks, so it would be a great time to fix any other problems.
Thanks again.

[TwinTurboStroker]

Originally Posted by expertrider

Great info from everyone, thanks!
I changed the oil and it looked great.
A few tiny specks in the drain pan, but the oil looked almost new. The drain plug (magnetic) had nothing on it.
I took the filter apart, it was spotless and very clean (It has about 2k miles on it!)
The Amsoil bypass filter is doing a pretty good job!!
I'm starting to think that maybe the metal specks came from the custom aircraft hoses that I had made for the bypass oil filter (They look awesome!)
I haven't heard of any other 6.0 problems that created little metal chunks in the oil, so I'm at a loss until I get the Blackstone tests done.
I saved a good sample, so I should know something as soon as the test process is complete.
If anyone else thinks of a good reason why a 6.0 would have small metal chunks in the oil, please chime in.
I'm getting the studs done in about 2 weeks, so it would be a great time to fix any other problems.
Thanks again.

Glad to hear it, keep us updated....

[bismic]

Are the chunks magnetic?