Mechanic and gearbox-shop word for metal particles big enough to catch the light in drained oil, on a magnetic plug or in the pleats of a cut-open filter. A fine gray haze is normal wear; glitter means flakes and chips from spalling, scuffing or a breaking bearing cage. Cutting filters open and looking for glitter is one of the simplest and cheapest condition checks in maintenance.
Cut the filter open and there's glitter all through the pleats, that diff is coming apart.
Also heard as
- metal in the oil
- sparkles
- flakes
Related terms
Mag plug
Magnetic drain plug that collects ferrous wear debris and is checked at oil changes as a quick wear gauge.
PQ index
Magnetic measure of total ferrous debris in an oil sample, including large particles that spectrometers miss.
Spalling
Flaking of large chunks from a bearing race or gear tooth after fatigue cracks below the surface link up.
Analytical ferrography
Microscope study of wear particles pulled from oil by a magnet, used to identify how a machine is wearing.