How much should i be alarmed????

The oil pickup screen is made of a fairly heavy plastic. You didn't damage it with just a finger poke unless you felt it tear(pretty unlikely).

Hard to tell what the debris is. Sounds like machining/drilling residue. Could have been left over from mft, or else someone drilled something out during a prior service.

Usually debris from a failure is either a fine grit, or else is bits of a broken nut, washer, part of a bolt, etc.

 

I agree with Verell here as well, most major failures would be fine sludge like material. When it starts tearing off chunks that look like metal turnings you will be mostly beyond failure.

But I might suggest pulling the pan, if for no other reason just sheer curiousity. You have a 26 year old car, that very possably has only had 20 some oil changes in its entire life. Less? Its not that hard to do, you can inspect the screen, and you can look at the bottom of the pan for other debris. Also, always change oil HOT, so it takes all the material held in suspension out with it.

 

The manufacturer cannot be as thorough as a professional engine builder in cleaning out that last little bit of machining slurry, so a little will appear in most motors. Its probably not a problem with your motor. Racers often cut open their oil filter and carefully observe the particals that have accumulated, this often gives them a view into the condition of their motor. In all of the motors that I have built I have always observed some debris on break-in no matter how clean you are on assembly. Just change to a great synthetic and don't loose any sleep until some problem arises.

Gary

 

Christopher - is the debris ferrite? Place a magnet close by and see if it is attracted. Aluminum, of course, will not seek the magnet.

Aluminum and iron come from different places in your engine. This would at least eliminate some of the sources.

Jim S.

 

Is drain plug hole de-threading? Could lead to a curled piece of aluminum.

 

I have found these on many drain plugs, and its from when the casting flash is deburred at the factory. Theres always some left somewhere in the engine and with your low mileage, I'd say thats what it is. If people are drilling into your engine, you've got bigger problems.

 

If you're really worried have an oil analysis done. I just got my kit from these guys: http://www.blackstone-labs.com/gas_engines.html

They were recommended on another car board by several people.