Modern Vespa

Are they related?

Background: Purchased a 2009 GTS 250 with 7.4k miles. Maintenance basically unknown but seemed like a sound scooter. From what I was told, purchased in FL, ridden there, brought to VT, then sold, ridden a little here.

Tires were date code 2015 so during some maintenance replaced. Battery has a date code of 8/16, is an AGM type so I deduce some maintenance done in 2016.

Issue is that when doing oil change, there are some small metal, probably aluminum, flakes in strainer. See pic.

Coolant was very low but no obvious sign of leaks. All clamps still factory. When draining coolant it looked very diluted. Got like 2.5 cups out when draining. See pic. Filled with new coolant but no leaks. Disclaimer: haven't started scooter as waiting on tire mounting, new bearing for variator cover, so it may leak when under pressure.

Thoughts on metal flakes? Seems to me minor.

I had metal flakes in the strainer the first couple times I changed oil in my MP3.

Personally I'd not worry about it. Clean it out, so you know next time it was cleaned.

Most likely they are burs from manufacturing.

I wouldn't sweat it, the pre-filter screen is doing its job. it appears to be all aluminum. if it were brass, then I'd be a little concerned.

I'd probably do a short OCI, like say, 500mi and throw a fresh filter at it just as a little insurance.

Thanks all. Confirms my thoughts about not being overly concerned on the metal flakes but what really bothers me is the the low coolant and that it seemed so diluted.

So far, with just a static head, seems to be no leakage. but we will see when I get it all together to run.

When I bought my MP3 500, new old stock, it was a half quart low on coolant. Total capacity of coolant is 1.8 liters, so, yeah, pretty low.... Apparently not a huge issue as it has over 50,000 miles on it that it didn't have at that time.

Do a full service, keep an eye on the oil and coolant level, and ride the daylights out of it. What else can you do?

I like Greasy's recommendation. Button it up, ride it like normal, then do another oil change in 500 miles & carefully check the oil screen. And keep a close eye on your coolant levels.

If you see more metal flakes after that, take a pic to compare the sluff to what you posted above. hopefully there will be none.

Sounds like only tap water was used at the last coolant change. Keep a lookout for coolant leaking from the header tank cap when bringing it up to operating temperature. That's probably the most common area for coolant loss.

Ahh, nothing like getting a good deal on a 'well maintained' trailer with a couple of vespas thrown in for free.

I'll bet you anything that at least one of 73 the hose clamps is a touch loose.

..at least you'd better hope that this is the case. Wouldn't want you having to rebuild YET ANOTHER water pump!

I wouldn't worry too much about the shavings. They're fairly fine and shouldn't have anything to do with slightly low coolant. Keep an eye on it. Switch to the house brand oil and change it out after a 500 miles. That should be sometime around mid-May?

Ah, I was wondering if The Garage of Broken Dreams was going to chime in with a few words of wisdom!