Finally running SVO and I have issues - Diesel Forum

Stefan · 12-20-2006, 04:22 PM

I have a 1993 F 350 7.3 idi with a Banks Sidewinder Turbo, the truck presently has 190,000 miles and use 1 qt of oil every 3000 miles

I took my truck to Canada for a hunting trip, on this trip I towed a 20 ft trailer one way that weighed about 6000 lbs and on the trip I covered about 5800 miles all run on #2 diesel. I sent in a oil sample to Blackstone and it came back thumbs up!

I established some VO suppliers and started collecting used soy bean and canola oil. With the collected oil I pump it through 3 barrel top strainers, 600,400 and 100 micron and let it sit for at least two weeks in black painted barrels that are exposed to sunlight all day. When I start pumping the oil ito the truck I pump the oil through two cartridge type filters that rated at 20 and 2 microns in my bed auxilary tank, from there I tranfer it through a Golderod filter into the front stock tank.

Since the weathr was still so warm here in Sept and October I ran without a heated tank or fuel line. After 4000 miles on this oil, 2000 running on VO I sent in another oil sample to Blackstone.

While wiating for the results I installed an electric fuel pump and removed the stock lift pump, I ran a new fuel line to the tank along with two hot coolant lines and have the three all wrapped together and surrounded by pipe insulation.

Well I just received the Blackstone report back and my lead readings went way up.

Any ideas?

firemediceric · 12-20-2006, 04:37 PM

I think that if lead readings are up it indicates wear on the lower bearings. Possibly SVO fuel getting past the rings, into the lube oil and wearing the bearings?

Stefan · 12-20-2006, 04:43 PM

fire,

Assuming that's true, you would think I'd have some fuel in my oil or lot of blow by which I don't

Brentsbg · 12-20-2006, 05:05 PM

Arent you supposed to heat the vo to 160 degrees to burn in your truck?

firemediceric · 12-21-2006, 08:10 AM

If the Blackstone report found nothing other than the higher lead, I would contact them and ask them to give a possible explanation for the sudden rise.

Stefan · 12-21-2006, 08:51 AM

firemediceric,

I did that and they blamed the SVO. In their opinion the SVO was making it past the rings and into the crankcase oil, if that's true, why do I have NO diesel fuel in my crankcase oil?

firemediceric · 12-21-2006, 06:45 PM

I may be grasping at straws, but could it be that because the #2 diesel combusts easier it is being completely used up in the cylinders, leaving only the thicker WVO that has not fully combusted to get past the rings?

Halitosis and Ford Nut (FN74?)are both pretty sharp, maybe they'll chine in or you can try PMing them. You may also want to ask this on the Info-Pop Solvent Blending forum or the SVO forum.

Halitosis · 12-23-2006, 12:10 PM

Well, I appreciate the 'nod' from firemediceric..... I'll kick in my .02...

Off the top of my head: (in no real order, and with no "finger pointing" intended)

1) As I understand it, high lead readings in your oil are probably an indicator of abnormal wear on your lower bearings. (Not sure what other components in your engine that your oil has access to that contains lead in its construction... but if anyone else knows, please chime in).

Taking this in conjunction with the fact that on #2 you DON'T have high lead readings, and with the fact that on VO you DO have high lead readings, it stands to reason that VO is probably getting past your rings. Don't get caught up in the "but it's not happening with #2, so it can't be happening with VO" notion. The evidence is in your oil.

2) Not sure that the two oil samples you did were a truly fair test to draw rock-solid conclusions. Your first oil test on #2 was on a sample that was for a hunting trip. I presume lots of highway miles to get there... engine warmed up, stayed warmed up, on the way there, working a little harder w/ 6000# of trailer... but generally once it was running it stayed running. (Everything nice and tight for long periods, etc etc)....

On the VO sample, however, I don't know what the driving conditions were, and I don't see a description of your VO setup... so I'll make some wild-ass assumptions:

VO was running around town, picking up oil... starting on VO cold (cold meaning < 160*), and not heating it up.... possibly long periods of idling while running around town... stuff like that?

firemediceric might be correct when he suspects a higher-viscosity oil might not be getting a complete burn, and the stuff that didn't combust might be squeezing its way past your rings. (This would explain why you don't see diesel fuel in your oil).

I would take it a step further and say that the VO squeezing it's way past your rings might be only when your engine is cold, or first starting up/running.

(And, I believe that even #2 will work its way into your crank case with excessive idling.... )

Again, wild-ass assumption, 'cause I don't know your setup or the driving scenarios...

(and... as always... everyone has an opinion.... I'm just another voice in the crowd)...

Halitosis

Stefan · 12-23-2006, 06:36 PM

All good points guys, thanks! My next oil sample will be done at 3000 miles so more info to come! I spoke with a guy in Canada yesterday who has 300,000 km on SVO with a 87 6.9idi and his oil samples ccome back better than universal averages! He runs by pass oil filter as does Jojohn who also had a great report on his oil sample!