Last couple of times I have changed my oil I have noticed these white, ceramic-like flakes in the drained oil (see below). Disregard all the other gunk in the drain pan, it is just a bunch of dirt from sitting in the garage. The bottom of the second picture contains bits of the white flakes in the pool of oil. The first picture shows them taken out, on my finger.

I have cut open the filter housing and non of these flakes are found in the filter element. Next time, I may drain through a fine screen to separate them out from all the other gunk in the drain pan.

I could use some help identifying what this could be. I have no idea.

 

For anyone that comes across this post: After conducting several short-interval oil changes at 1,000 miles each, I have determined that these flakes are most likely from an exterior source, despite my best efforts to insure the drain pan was clean before draining oil into it (most likely flaking steel beams near the location of storage of the oil drain pan, as the coloring of the flakes seem to match the peeling paint).