Diesel Pick-up oil change

[FC]

We never tested any of the oil, we always used delo and the trucks would just keep coming back for oil changes. After a few hundred thousand miles we asked some owners if they were going to actually start fixing a few things on their truck or if they would like a complimentary sticker that said "Honk if Parts Fall Off". Most diesels go for a really long time with minimal maintenance, the trucks they are bolted to tend to be what has issues.

I was pretty amazed when I did an oil change on a Kenworth after 40k and thought their owner was nuts until I looked at the odometer, it was at 1.6 million and counting....

I would definitely not be changing your oil before recommended interval and I would ditch the motorcraft oil for delo.

[Rick]

   My 7.3 powerstroke would start to breakdown after 5k.  Idle would start to roughen slightly.

Powerstrokes are the one diesel I'd change oil sooner on. The PS uses engine oil to fire the injectors. Because of this,the oil in a PS gets hammered in comparison to a CTD or Dmax.

Finding used oil analysis reports isn't difficult. I'm sure Bobistheoilguy.com will have some for a CTD. Any of the major CTD forums will have UOAs to read as well.

Or you could just run your own UOA. Blackstone Labs will send you out sample kits for free. Pull a sample at your next oil change and send it in with $25 IIRC. They'll tell you exactly how much life is left in the oil at whatever interval it was pulled,and make a recommendation for the length of the next interval.  You'll also be able to see how well your air filter is filtering,if there is antifreeze in the oil,or if there is any fuel dilution.

Oil analysis is just another tool.

[Mudman]

Good info!

[wildweeds]

Think thats why the heweitt guy reccomends the vac out of the hi pressure oil pump system that drives the injectors,supposedly according to engineers its supposed to mesh.mix and drain with the fresh oil that occurs during a regular change but as with many things in engineered science it works on paper/computer but not so much in practical application.

   My 7.3 powerstroke would start to breakdown after 5k.  Idle would start to roughen slightly.

Powerstrokes are the one diesel I'd change oil sooner on. The PS uses engine oil to fire the injectors.

[PolarBear]

http://www.powerstrokehelp.com/7.3liter/inj_tune/1of4.asp


This might  work, if not click on 7.3 and its the injection tune up series in the longetivity module. I made a vaccum canister out of a half gallon canning jar with a  homemade copper lid and some soldered tubing,I used my 6 horsepower shop vac for the suction,Worked very well.Redneck hillbilly factor of about 6.5 of 10,I used 3/4 tube for the suction supply power and 1/4 for the dip tube down into the resivoir and into the jar.My buddy who gave me this info tried a turkey baster and said it was a huge PITA.The shop vac works pretty good I think,performs about on par with the pump used in the videos from hewitts.Some negative  net reveiws on whether you really need to do the upper change,but my truck had 220k on it when I did it and I had changed the lower first and then sucked out the upper,FLAT out NASTY looking paste/grease,coked up slurry,it got better with each quart added.and I noticed a big difference in the cold weather starting ease.

Two 7.3L Powerstrokes, 16.5 quarts each. I change the filter every time I change the oil, about every 6k-7k.

Same movie here but I also change the oil in the upper resivor and heads for 3 more quarts. See Bill Hewitts powerstroke.com and Fuel system maintence section(free video series).I did it and about crapped my pants at the horrible grease like goop that came out of that resivoir.I've done that maintenece procedure a couple of times now,I could tell a  big difference in cold starting after doing so.

Do you have a link to changing the upper reservoir and heads on that site.  I've watched most of his stuff before, but went back after reading your post and can't locate that specific proceedure.

Getting ready to change my oil in my 02' Excursion.  Using Shaeffers 9000 oil and a Donaldson ELF filter...thanks

Thanks for the link!  I change my own oil in my 97 7.3 but had no idea about that other reservoir.  I am cleaning it out next weekend!  That might be why my truck is so hard to start if it is under 40 degrees.  It starts up great when plugged in.

[wildweeds]

Hint for you fellas executing this procedure,you'll NEED to pick up the (if I remember the size  right) 3/16 allen head socket,it cant be done with a regular hex key!!!!!! If your truck ain't never been monkeyed with I suggest a drop or two of Kroil  on that little plug before attempting it.I was sweating bullets as I pulled on the ratchet!!!!!

http://www.powerstrokehelp.com/7.3liter/inj_tune/1of4.asp


This might  work, if not click on 7.3 and its the injection tune up series in the longetivity module. I made a vaccum canister out of a half gallon canning jar with a  homemade copper lid and some soldered tubing,I used my 6 horsepower shop vac for the suction,Worked very well.Redneck hillbilly factor of about 6.5 of 10,I used 3/4 tube for the suction supply power and 1/4 for the dip tube down into the resivoir and into the jar.My buddy who gave me this info tried a turkey baster and said it was a huge PITA.The shop vac works pretty good I think,performs about on par with the pump used in the videos from hewitts.Some negative  net reveiws on whether you really need to do the upper change,but my truck had 220k on it when I did it and I had changed the lower first and then sucked out the upper,FLAT out NASTY looking paste/grease,coked up slurry,it got better with each quart added.and I noticed a big difference in the cold weather starting ease.

Two 7.3L Powerstrokes, 16.5 quarts each. I change the filter every time I change the oil, about every 6k-7k.

Same movie here but I also change the oil in the upper resivor and heads for 3 more quarts. See Bill Hewitts powerstroke.com and Fuel system maintence section(free video series).I did it and about crapped my pants at the horrible grease like goop that came out of that resivoir.I've done that maintenece procedure a couple of times now,I could tell a  big difference in cold starting after doing so.

Do you have a link to changing the upper reservoir and heads on that site.  I've watched most of his stuff before, but went back after reading your post and can't locate that specific proceedure.

Getting ready to change my oil in my 02' Excursion.  Using Shaeffers 9000 oil and a Donaldson ELF filter...thanks

Thanks for the link!  I change my own oil in my 97 7.3 but had no idea about that other reservoir.  I am cleaning it out next weekend!  That might be why my truck is so hard to start if it is under 40 degrees.  It starts up great when plugged in.

[PolarBear]

 

[wildweeds]

Report back once you get it done!Be interested to know how nasty the grease is you get out and if you think your truck starts better afterwards

[PolarBear]

Will do!  It may sound weird but I am pretty excited about seeing if it helps. 

[MagKarl]

Polarbear, if your rig starts fine when plugged in then your glow plug system isn't working.  Do some googling on checking and replacing your glow plug relay. 

Also do some checking on the top end oil change.  It's not a closed system, it's the same oil you see in the pan circulating through the reservoir. 

[Mudman]

Your right, but it doesnt circulate much and creates sludge!  I did glow plugs, relay and injectors and harness and my powerchoke still started a little long on crank.  But she started!  Oil may help in my experience with mine.  I think there is an aftermarket relay with more poop to help starting.  International part ir something, dont remember.

[PolarBear]

The only time my truck has truble starting is when it has been sitting for more than 10-12 hours in below 40-45 degree weather, otherwise it starts right up.  Oncw I get it started it will start right up all day long until it has a good long time to cool down.  If I have it plugged in it iwll start at any outdoor temp.  I put a brand new relay on it and it still has the same problem.

[gutsnthegrass]

Polarbear,
As another member posted, you might want to check into your glow plug relay.  I sounds like that is your issue with the cold starting issues after 10-12 hours between starts below 40 degrees.  It is a really simple fix and only $80 or so.

[Huntboy]

Two 7.3L Powerstrokes, 16.5 quarts each. I change the filter every time I change the oil, about every 6k-7k.

Same movie here but I also change the oil in the upper resivor and heads for 3 more quarts. See Bill Hewitts powerstroke.com and Fuel system maintence section(free video series).I did it and about crapped my pants at the horrible grease like goop that came out of that resivoir.I've done that maintenece procedure a couple of times now,I could tell a  big difference in cold starting after doing so.

 

[kisfish]

I did an oil change on my 7.3 PS. After watching the link I also changed the oil in the top end. I have replaced relays before and glow plugs about 3 years ago. It was having some trouble starting again and sometimes long cranks to get started when cold. Today went out and it fired right up, no hesitations. I will keep you posted when I have about a weeks worth of cold starts.