Metal Shavings in Engine Oil - Honda PCX 2021 125cc

[krm712]

I'm interested in buying a white Honda PCX from 2021, 125cc engine.

 

When removing the dipstick I noticed that there is shavings in the oil , quite alot. It has 3,600 kms, with one service done at the dealership. 

 

I'm not sure about the oil intervals however there is a sticker that a service is due on 6,300kms, oil intervals are 4,000kms if I'm not mistaken so first service was probably done at around 2,300 kms. (Oil is still yellow, so probably it was changed). Brake in period not done properly perhaps?

 

Also I noticed an oil leak from the bottom, where could it leak apart from the drain bolt? 

 

My friend has a 2024 PCX, with 400 kms and same, he has shavings in the oil (can be seen on the dipstick also.) Any help?

 

Both have a gritty feel when I wipe the dipstick with my fingers. 

Edited Monday at 18:03 by krm712

[Simon Davey]

@krm712

The shavings are from the first early days of the bike's use, but that oil should have been changed at 1000k at the very latest. It's been left in the bike, which will damage other components.

Just don't buy it, you've described the oil of a bike that hasn't been looked after at all. There is already a problem, just a problem that hasn't yet appeared.

Also, it has an oil leak, just leave it alone.

 

Edited Monday at 18:25 by Simon Davey

[Bender]

You may get near invisible particles in oil, you should never get visible shavings, walk away.

[krm712]

Just now, Bender said:

You may get near invisible particles in oil, you should never get visible shavings, walk away.

Is it normal on a 400km pcx also? Both the same amount of shavings and they both have a similar gritty feel..? 

 

Shame, because the bike cosmetically is great.

[Simon Davey]

6 minutes ago, krm712 said:

Is it normal on a 400km pcx also? Both the same amount of shavings and they both have a similar gritty feel..? 

 

Shame, because the bike cosmetically is great.

 

It's not normal if the bike has been ridden with care during the early stages of "breaking in".

Those shavings will be caused by the engine constantly being revved hard before the engine components have had a chance to ware evenly together.

Seems your friend with 400Km has also been "thrashing" his bike, it won't last long.

Edited Monday at 18:29 by Simon Davey

[krm712]

2 minutes ago, Simon Davey said:

 

It's not normal if the bike has been ridden with care during the early stages of "breaking in".

Those shavings will be caused by the engine constantly being revved hard before the engine components have had a chance to wear evenly together.

Seems your friend with 400Km has also been "thrashing" his bike, it won't last long.

Damn 

[krm712]

7 minutes ago, Simon Davey said:

 

It's not normal if the bike has been ridden with care during the early stages of "breaking in".

Those shavings will be caused by the engine constantly being revved hard before the engine components have had a chance to wear evenly together.

Seems your friend with 400Km has also been "thrashing" his bike, it won't last long.

 This is the best picture I could get. It seems like after some time the "shavings" disappear. You can still see some on the picture however initially I can see a lot more than they go away after some seconds I look at the dipstick. It sounds stupid but thats the best way I can describe it.

Edited Monday at 18:35 by krm712

[Simon Davey]

It's painful, you want the bike, it looks to be in great condition, but inside, it's like someone has put grated metal in it's blood.

It's bad, the answer won't change.

If you buy it (you shouldn't) change the oil. Ride it 20 miles, change the oil, and so on..

Edited Monday at 18:59 by Simon Davey

[krm712]

21 minutes ago, Simon Davey said:

It's painful, you want the bike, it looks to be in great condition, but inside, it's like someone has put grated metal in it's blood.

It's bad, the answer won't change.

If you buy it (you shouldn't) change the oil. Ride it 20 miles, change the oil, and so on..

Sad as there is barely any for sale which are 2021+, sellers for some reason wont reply to meet up. Almost like they don't want to sell it.

 

Anyways, what would riding 20 miles and changing the oil do? Basically just flushing it and see if more shavings occur? - Tomorrow I'm taking it to a motorcycle mechanic and I will see what he says.

[bud]

If you say it has an oil leak. Perhaps the oil level has been run low. Causing internal friction.

It might also explain why the oil looks yellow and new. It's been topped up.

Walk away. Honda PCX are everywhere.

[Bender]

It's impossible to tell from the pic, drop the oil is best way.

[krm712]

19 minutes ago, bud said:

If you say it has an oil leak. Perhaps the oil level has been run low. Causing internal friction.

It might also explain why the oil looks yellow and new. It's been topped up.

Walk away. Honda PCX are everywhere.

Surprisingly where I live there is ALOT of PCX on the road however not a lot for sale. Very few for sale, I also want the white.

Thinking of biting the bullet and buying a new one, however its €3,475 for a brand new one (2025), second hand 2021-2024 PCX are from €2,300-€3,000. The 2025 model has the ugly display which I dislike.

Edited Monday at 20:09 by krm712

[Simon Davey]

1 hour ago, krm712 said:

Anyways, what would riding 20 miles and changing the oil do? Basically just flushing it and see if more shavings occur? 

 

Yes, that's it, but it looks like there is already damage.

[Capt Sisko]

You have to remember shavings are not normal. They've come off something they shouldn't have, and that's not good. Some very fine particals in the filter at the first 600mile oil change maybe acceptable, but even then only detectable with a magnet. With modern engines there simply shouldn't be anything big enough to visible. As SD said the damage is already done. Walk away.

[Phil1]

If there's about doubt, just walk away.

 

While any issues would probably get sorted under warranty, you've still got the hassle of having to organise the work etc. 

Edited yesterday at 04:24 by Phil1

[Tinkicker]

Dunno how many times it has to be said to register.  Walk away.

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

Putting it another way, if a used PCX is around £3000 get that amount out of the bank in cash and place it on the ground. 

 

Then light a match and set fire to your money. 

 

The end result will be the same but it will save you the hassle of buying a bike with a knackered engine.

[RideWithStyles]

In the manual the first oil change is due at 1000 km's, and 5he next one at 4000 and from there at every 4000. As the pcx has no "real" interchangeable particle oil filter some suggest to make the first oil change even before 1000 km's and one again between the first and 4000. After all it takes a liter all together.
 

so 600miles from new a oil change of the factory oil, then oil changes from 2500miles and or 1year each time.

now that is with assuming its in the most efficient and cleanest manner possible which the real world isn’t, cold starts, dirty air and fuel, water, hot, stop starts, thrashing just about everything .
 when this engine doesn’t have a internal filter at such, oil checks should be every third fill up and changes should be more often of 1000miles minimum.

Engine design and fitment Nowadays Its rare for few flakes to still be in when it’s had a first oil change, very little of tiny glitter/sparkles maybe of bedding in but those are large flakes.

Agree with the others all the red flags to walk away- it’s been neglected, been thrashed, ran low on oil, its still got bits in it now on the dip stick even after a oil change (so how much more is sat at the bottom of the sump?) and might have the thread damaged from a bodger….id even look at an older model that has been looked after rather than even consider this unit.

The owner couldn’t even look after a new reliable scooter from a solid manufacturer.

[krm712]

9 hours ago, RideWithStyles said:

In the manual the first oil change is due at 1000 km's, and 5he next one at 4000 and from there at every 4000. As the pcx has no "real" interchangeable particle oil filter some suggest to make the first oil change even before 1000 km's and one again between the first and 4000. After all it takes a liter all together.
 

so 600miles from new a oil change of the factory oil, then oil changes from 2500miles and or 1year each time.

now that is with assuming its in the most efficient and cleanest manner possible which the real world isn’t, cold starts, dirty air and fuel, water, hot, stop starts, thrashing just about everything .
 when this engine doesn’t have a internal filter at such, oil checks should be every third fill up and changes should be more often of 1000miles minimum.

Engine design and fitment Nowadays Its rare for few flakes to still be in when it’s had a first oil change, very little of tiny glitter/sparkles maybe of bedding in but those are large flakes.

Agree with the others all the red flags to walk away- it’s been neglected, been thrashed, ran low on oil, its still got bits in it now on the dip stick even after a oil change (so how much more is sat at the bottom of the sump?) and might have the thread damaged from a bodger….id even look at an older model that has been looked after rather than even consider this unit.

The owner couldn’t even look after a new reliable scooter from a solid manufacturer.

I took it to the mechanic before obviously buying it and he said they're only bubbles in the oil. Seller didn't use it for quite a while so I assume maybe condensation? After a drive the oil doesn't seem to have anything on the dipstick anymore, just pure oil. I thought it was shavings but it was just bubbles. I thought it was shavings but I guess it wasnt.

Edited 20 hours ago by krm712

[Bender]

16 minutes ago, krm712 said:

I took it to the mechanic before obviously buying it and he said they're only bubbles in the oil. Seller didn't use it for quite a while so I assume maybe condensation? After a drive the oil doesn't seem to have anything on the dipstick anymore, just pure oil. I thought it was shavings but it was just bubbles

Did say it's hard to tell from a picture, it was also odd when you said they disappear after a while....

[krm712]

Just now, Bender said:

Did say it's hard to tell from a picture, it was also odd when you said they disappear after a while....

Yeah, If it was shavings it wouldn't just disappear.

[Simon Davey]

That's a great outcome @krm712

 

We all thought it was a damaged engine.... 

Bloody shavings

[krm712]

1 minute ago, Simon Davey said:

That's a great outcome @krm712

 

We all thought it was a damaged engine.... 

Bloody shavings

So true! Cleaned up well, paint is immaculate. Do you have any idea if premium petrol does any difference or harm? Some say it adds some power, is this true?

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

4 minutes ago, krm712 said:

So true! Cleaned up well, paint is immaculate. Do you have any idea if premium petrol does any difference or harm? Some say it adds some power, is this true?

Not in a bike. Car engines have engine management systems that can adjust the ignition timing to enable better running with premium fuel but bike engine management systems don't usually have this capability. Stick to regular fuel unless you're planning on laying it up for a long time over the winter. E5 can last better than E10 over longer periods of not being used. Personally I leave E10 in all year and have no problems, even on my older carb engine.

[krm712]

1 minute ago, Mississippi Bullfrog said:

Not in a bike. Car engines have engine management systems that can adjust the ignition timing to enable better running with premium fuel but bike engine management systems don't usually have this capability. Stick to regular fuel unless you're planning on laying it up for a long time over the winter. E5 can last better than E10 over longer periods of not being used. Personally I leave E10 in all year and have no problems, even on my older carb engine.

We work with RON95 and RON98 Petrol. 98 is the premium petrol. ron95 will do just fine then