[vlamica]

Hello Ford truck fans,

Just got the results of my oil sample back from Blackstone labs. The results show high iron and coolant in the oil. I have added the pdf file as an attachment so you can see what it looks like. Chuckster57 has been very helpful throughout my rebuild and hinted that theses engines have an oil cooler mounted on top of the engine. Possible that some failed o-rings area allowing coolant to find its way into the engine oil? The engine doesnt seem to use oil and I havent noticed that the coolant level dropped in the last 2500 miles. I have only had the truck for 2500 miles and when i drained the oil from the original purchase it was cold in the pan and had not started in a couple of months. I wonder if the new oil had some residual from the first poor drain. Has anyone had experience with these o-rings? Its a 94 IDI Turbo.

Thanks Vinnie

 

[chuckster57]

Sorry, you might have mis read or I may have mis typed. the oil cooler is mounted to the block on the Drivers side. IIRC the filter mount is on the back end of the cooler.

 

[vlamica]

Ok.. so the spin on filter mounts to this unit? I will go out and check. Did you see the results from blackstone that i added as an attachment? Wonder if i should replace that cooler and the orings just as a precaution?
Thanks for the clarification

Vinnie

 

[chuckster57]

I did see the results. You might want to pressure test the cooling system and see if the coolant is "moving" under pressure. I'm sorry if I didn't make it clearer where the cooler is located.

 

[vlamica]

Ok. Im going to go do it right now. I will remove the oil filter and pressurize the cooling system over night and see what happens if anything. It cant be that much as i dont really see the level moving.

Thanks Vinnie

 

[chuckster57]

There is a special set of tools for doing this procedure. You have to use a pressure gauge to know the starting point and then check it after a period of time. Radiator shops probably have this set, I don't yet :icon_wink:

FWIW Sears shows a universal set for $120.00 . I might have to get it

2nd edit: Autozone shows a cooling system pressure tester for "loan" with adaptors free

 

[vlamica]

I removed the oil filter and pressurized the system. The engine is cold so it might not show results but i figured i would let it sit overnight. I noticed while under there that white residue under the manifold. I dont see anything coming from the headgasket area and it might just be from a steam cleaning that i performed. Im not sure what im chasing here and it might be nothing but I am going to be traveling for ten days across the western states in June and want it to be right.

Vinnie

 

[vlamica]

"When the o-rings harden and fail the radiator pressure will force coolant into the oil." Is this a true statement? I have no signs of oil in the coolant. Perfectly clean and green. Should i even both chasing the results of the oil testing at this point? I have no symptoms of anything and now im beginning to think of cavitation? Ugh.

 

[Foz]

I would change out the oil cooler o-rings, then after an oil change or two get another oil analysis. At least then, you've eliminated the cheaper, easier variable. When buying gaskets, get as many as you can from Navistar (International) because they're cheaper than Ford. Your cooler will have 4 o-rings total, two on each side and you will need new gaskets (2) for the cooler-to-block. When I rebuilt mine, the o-rings were so brittle, they were just breaking off.

 

[vlamica]

I called the Ford dealer and they said the gaskets and o rings will run me $32.00 dollars. Im thinking i will tackle this job. Atleast it would eliminate the this possibility.

Vin

 

[vlamica]

I hope this was worth it..

After about 2 hours in my garage i got the oil cooler out. Not real difficult but more a less a pain in the butt as you have to lift the drivers side of the engine and remove the motor mount and bracket to wiggle the thing out. I will replace the gaskets and orings as everything is very brittle and falling apart. Cant tell if this was a point of entry for the coolant but time will tell.

Here are some pictures of the cooler once removed.

Vinnie

 

[Foz]

Hopefully that'll fix it. I'm not too worried about the cavitation-thing, although I do use Napa cool (sca's). Yes, there are horror stories out there, but there are many hundreds of trucks still out there with no issues and I'm sure not all of them are running sca's. Good job on the fix!

 

[grebmohr]

What method did you use to lift the DS of the motor? I have to lift the PS to do my stinking valve cover gaskets... YUK

Thanks for the post!
More visions of sugar plums to come for my truck...

 

[vlamica]

The method that i used was a floor jack and a 2x4 at the rear edge of the engine then I lifted it very slowly once the motor mounts were loose and had another 2x4 to support just under the edge of the pan lip in the front on the drivers side to support it once the jack was removed. No damage to anything and seems safe enough to work around. I have it on cement so it wont slip in my garage.

Vinnie

 

[asauer]

$32 is pretty cheap for the o-rings and gaskets both. I think I had that in just o-rings from IH.

 

[vlamica]

Back together and running

Boy am i glad this job is done. I have no idea how the results will turn out but i know that the orings were very brittle.. especially the large ones. The gaskets were rock hard and its very possible there was some bleed over of coolant into an oil passage at the front gasket. Not sure. I changed the oil and filter after draining it hot and added coolant and additive. Time will tell. This truck only has 103k on it and these gaskets were toast. I would suggest to anyone to take a look at this area and maybe consider doing it on this vintage.

Thanks Vinnie

 

[Greenie]

Blackstone told me that the iron was high in a sample, I went back and found even higher iron readings years ago that Blackstone didn't comment upon so I assume that:
The iron reading of years ago didn't affect engine longevity and whoever is writing the comments on the analysis sheet is unduly cautious with the iron readings in the 7.3 IDI

 

[asauer]

Could be. Who knows anymore with the constant changing of oil formulations required by the government. Each one gets more and more 'environmentally friendly' and gets worse for engines.

 

[vlamica]

Blackstone told me that the iron was high in a sample, I went back and found even higher iron readings years ago that Blackstone didn't comment upon so I assume that:
The iron reading of years ago didn't affect engine longevity and whoever is writing the comments on the analysis sheet is unduly cautious with the iron readings in the 7.3 IDI

Thanks for the feedback. When i talked to the guys from Blackstone i felt like my engine was eating itself up due to coolant contamination. I have never noticed any coolant loss in the recovery bottle or radiator and the oil level slowly drops a little bit with mileage. Im not sure i am chasing anything of real concern but all in all im glad that i got this cooler updated as it would have been failing soon at some point. Time will tell. I will drive it a few throusand miles and recheck with those guys.

 

[vlamica]

High iron readings?

I still have some mileage to go before my next test from Blackstone. My readings were 110 and the norm is 17 according to the sheet provided. I am going to let over half the oil come out of the pan this time before i collect a stream of oil into the container. I am starting to wonder if I caught the oil at the bottom of the pan just as the plug came out. (wishful thinking on my part). Once the test gets back i will post here.

Vinnie