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Interesting info and greatly appreciatedSounds like a very similar process that my tractor goes thru.
Oil DilutionThis is a very common problem in 6.4 Powerstroke engines. If you’ve ever changed the oil on a 6.4 Powerstroke, you might have wondered about all the extra oil coming out. Owners of the 6.4 have reported several quarts and even up to a gallon of extra oil that shouldn’t be there.The truth is that it’s not actually oil. In fact, it’s diesel fuel. The 6.4 includes an emissions process that leads to oil dilution. The problem is that fuel in your oil reduces the lubrication of oil to your engine’s essential parts.How do you fix oil dilution? The first step is to check and change your oil frequently. By checking it frequently, you can find out if your oil capacity is too high. Always use high-quality oil that meets or exceeds OEM standards and quality Powerstroke parts like Motorcraft filters.
The 6 Most Common Ford 6.4 Power Stroke Engine Problems5) 6.4 Power Stroke Fuel Dilution ProblemsActive regeneration is the process that attempts to help keep the DPF clean. The Ford 6.4 diesel does this by injecting fuel during the exhaust stroke. This allows the fuel to exit the cylinder and flow downstream in the exhaust. This helps keep the DPF cleaner and burn off harmful emissions. However, there’s an inherent flaw to the way Ford designed this system.Some engines use an extra injector to spray fuel directly into the exhaust stream. The 6.4 Power Stroke injects the fuel into the cylinders on the exhaust stroke. This allows small amounts of fuel to deposit on the cylinder walls where it can then contaminate the engine oil. Some fuel dilution of the oil is OK and shouldn’t cause any harm.However, if too much fuel mixes with the oil that can affect the oils ability to properly cool and lubricate the engine. This could lead to premature wear and tear on the 6.4L diesel internals. Not a good thing for engine longevity.How to Avoid Ford 6.4 Fuel DilutionThere really aren’t any symptoms or specific fixes for the fuel dilution problems on the 6.4 Power Stroke. Instead, we’ll discuss a few ways to minimize fuel dilution and reduce the risk of it causing premature wear.First, avoid excessive idle time as the cylinders cool down during idle. This increases the likelihood of fuel sticking to the cylinder walls and diluting the oil. It’s also a good idea to allow the engine to warm up before subjecting the 6.4 diesel to heavy loads.Lastly, we recommend having an oil analysis done from time to time. It’s pretty cheap and will tell you just how much fuel is mixing into the oil. You can then adjust your oil change intervals to account for the fuel dilution.
1. Oil DilutionOil dilution is an extremely common problem that 6.4L Powerstroke owners face. Have you ever changed your engine oil on your 6.4 by yourself? You might have been surprised that after draining the oil out of your truck, you found a ton of extra oil. Several quarts and sometimes even over a gallon of extra oil can be removed when changing your engine oil.It’s not really oil though. What you’re experiencing is oil dilution. That extra liquid is diesel fuel. When your 6.4 undergoes active regeneration, diesel is injected late in the exhaust stroke. It then travels into the exhaust stream, elevates EGTs and burns off hydrocarbons from the diesel particulate filter.Oil dilution is an unfortunate by-product of this emissions process. What problems can oil dilution lead to though? Diesel doesn’t offer the same lubricating properties as your engine oil does. This can lead to increased wear and tear on crucial engine components because of a lack of lubrication. So how do you prevent this problem from happening?The Fix For Oil DilutionFirst and foremost, check your engine oil frequently. Once a week take a look at your dip stick. If you’re over max oil capacity, change the oil and oil filter immediately. Don’t use the 10,000 oil change intervals recommended by your owner’s manual. Instead, change the oil and filter on your 6.4L Powerstroke every 5,000 miles. Also make sure you use high quality oil that meets or exceeds OEM specs
Asked my diesel guru guy to see what he'd say since we're in the same building now. Q-"Does a 6.4 make oil because there's something wrong with it or do they make oil because of the normal regen process?"A-"Yes"Says it could be both ways. He thinks they normally "make" a little oil because of the regen process and also because he thinks that they leak a little bit internally all the time. Went on to say that seeing an extra quart of oil in the engine at an oil change interval is "normal" even though Ford never said out loud that that was normal. He thinks that comes from the pump leaking a little bit over time and not from injectors leaking but it could be injectors leaking a little bit over time. He said when they're a gallon or 2 overfull, that's when you have to worry about it. That's when the pump fails and when they run away. He then asked if this was a buddy of mine with a 6.4 and I said kind of. And then he said "tell your buddy to get rid of it."They have a less-than-amazing reputation over the long period. He said to change your oil every 5k miles. He's been a Ford diesel tech for 20+years and has worked on several hunt-wa members' trucks in the past on the side. He knows what he's talking about.
