Now most folks do not consider metal shards as a lubricant, but they are!
If you are a glacier.
My timing rail tensioner rail has missing metal at the top. I will be replacing the tensioner, tensioner rail, and lower and upper bottom rails and upper guide.. but first I must remove the oil pan to make the best accounting of all the "lost" metal debris before the job is done. This means an oil change after 400 miles. Out it goes. In my car, metal debris is not considered a lubricant, but it may be a "friction modifier"- which does not belong in the crankcase.
Because of these issues, the car is parked until the parts arrive on Thursday.
Sure, there are "shortcuts"..kind of like lottery tickets. You may win, and win big- but most folks wind up with rather costly paper debris as a result of buying them.
This is a gambler's paradise in an automotive kind of way. But a lot of folks here would probably be betting against your engine if you choose to continue to drive.

My opinion, from my experience.

Cheers,

snapped_bolt

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'81 240D For now, a good place to borrow new parts
'80 300TD Probably will be put back into service!
'79 240D BACK IN SERVICE SINCE 09/16; limited use, oil leak. Guide pin r/sealed/replaced. Still a leak. Front crank seal....