I went to check my oil today...
#16
The dirt on the dipstick should not be there. Its possible you have a rusty or dirty dipstick tube interior.
All the the Motorcraft 5w-20 I've seen is a Semi Synthetic blend. Regardless synthetic and dino will mix no problem. I'd send off a UOA to double check and cut the top off the old oil filter and take a look at what the filtering media caught.
If your having consumption issues with no smoke or leaks the PCV valve is the first place to look.
Synthetic oils clean gradually over time. Even on a very gunky engine I would not expect particulates like that. Even straight dino oil has plenty of detergents in it to prevent deposits. Oil has come a long way since the 60s and 70s.
All the the Motorcraft 5w-20 I've seen is a Semi Synthetic blend. Regardless synthetic and dino will mix no problem. I'd send off a UOA to double check and cut the top off the old oil filter and take a look at what the filtering media caught.
If your having consumption issues with no smoke or leaks the PCV valve is the first place to look.
I have heard when some people switch to synthetic it sluffs off some of the caked on conventional sludge, could this be it?
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#19
Right, and that's where my problem is. The oil is recirculated frequently enough that any solids should be filtered out very quickly as they get run through the oil filter. This isn't sludge on the bottom of the pan, this is actually in suspension or floating in the oil, meaning it's getting pumped through the engine repeatedly...and that means through the oil filter repeatedly. Meaning that this simply shouldn't be there.
#20
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Backwoods of Snowflake AZ
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This was the first time ive checked my oil since i changed it with MC synthetic 5-20 and MC filter about 2000 miles ago. Not sure what i should think of what i found on the dipstick... this was also after i pulled it out and cleaned it, 3 times in a row...
55,0XX on my engine
55,0XX on my engine
Trav
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#23
Miles I still stand by what I said. I would change the filter. Blackstone isnt a bad idea. I believe these filter systems have a bypass so that if the filter clogs you dont run dry. With solids like that, it is possible a filter passage has clogged and the bypass is in effect. I would put a new filter on ASAP and see what happens.
One way or another there is a filter failure, address that issue first.
If youre going to replace the oil I would run a detergent or solvent in the oil before changing if for a few hundred miles. I would use Seafoam just to clean it out. Then I would change the oil. But that depends what Blackstone has to say.
For the record; I dont advocate running additives in the oil as a habit, only pre change. Not added to fresh oil.
One way or another there is a filter failure, address that issue first.
If youre going to replace the oil I would run a detergent or solvent in the oil before changing if for a few hundred miles. I would use Seafoam just to clean it out. Then I would change the oil. But that depends what Blackstone has to say.
For the record; I dont advocate running additives in the oil as a habit, only pre change. Not added to fresh oil.
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#29
I really do not see any reason whatsoever that this is an oil problem. Your engine only has 55k on it and it has all modern seals thus switching to synthetic is a non issue. I switched my 74' 302 over to synthetic when it was 30 years old with zero issues whatsover. The engine was gunked up from sitting a lot with dino oil. The full synthetic cleaned everything out nicely. Its possible you could have gotten a filter with a faulty bypass valve but I just find it hard to believe particles that size are floating around your engine without you noticing ill effects.
#30