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.

 

I need to change my PCV valve, i was planning on doing it when i changed my spark plugs but i somehow ordered the wrong one. I need the one you just push in, i have one that is light blue and 1/4 turn screws in. And if anyone wants that, its yours

 

Sounds like you got the PCV valve for the 04'. My 04' has the blue PCV valve my dads 03' has the standard push in PCV. Ford swapped over to a different PCV hose assembly in 2004. When you change your PCV valve check the hoses especially at the elbow for cracks.

My 04' setup.

 

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.

 

Is this the first time you ran synthentic through your truck miles? If so I had the same problem with our last 2002 when we change to sythentic it went away after a few oil changes. I think it was trying to adjust to the synthentic oil since it has been off and on of synthetic. I would wait a little bit and just keep an eye on it if it builds up then maybe you might want to bring it to a shop. Just my advice.
Trav

 

yeah this is the first time ive used synthetic, and planned on switching right back to valvoline durablend for the next change. would have used it this time except i went to 13 stores in 3 towns and couldnt find a single quart... but thanks for all the replies everyone!

 

Valvoline I run that in our current 2002. I run Castrol GTX in our 1986 F150 because it runs wierd when I run any valvoline.
Trav

 

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.

 

Have you checked the dip stick tube itself. I've read on here that they rust and break off. Could your tube be getting ready to break off and have a hole in it and getting road grime into it? Just a thought!

I would also change the filter immediatly.

 

I didn't see that he didn't get the filter. I would defenitaly try the filter and then see. If it keeps going do like I said. This is a good point too IslandblueV10.
Trav

 

How much oil do you think i'd lose by changing the filter? Just need an estimate (rounded up) for how many quarts of oil i need to buy when i change it

 

How quick are your hands?

2 quarts. 1 for the filter, 1 for the pan.

 

Alright ill grab 2 more quarts then... should be able to borrow a buddies truck to run to parts store if need be. Thanks

 

The 820s filter doesn't even hold half a quart. The lines will hold some oil that will drip but the majority of the oil is in the pan. Let it sit for several hours before changing the filter. I'd get two quarts to play it safe. Its good to have spare oil around.

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.

 

What kinda filter are you running? My dad has had 2 fram's fail, on his 97 F-150 4.6ltr. I would find a MCraft filter, and stick with it.