Has anyone experienced any foaming problems in a Powerstroke due to using Chevron Delo 400 15w-40? A Service Dept. Employee at my local Ford Dealer stated that he had seen several cases of performance problems caused by foaming and Delo was usually the oil used. My 2002 F-250 has 4000 miles on it and I changed the oil and filter at 3000, using the Delo 400. My plan is to change oil every 2500 miles. I am planning on letting the dealer do the service at the 5000 mile interval and I will change it at the half way point.

I think this person at the dealer is just trying to sell oil at $3.10 per quart. At Costco I can buy 6 Gallons of Delo 400 for $33-34. I can't see paying more than $3 a quart for conventional oil.
Thanks,
Randy

 

If you experience foaming it will probably manifest itself as rough running (mostly at idle or just past idle upon acceleration). If that happens, get some anti-foam additive from the International dealer in your area (don't get it from Ford because they will rip you off on the price) and use a different brand of oil at the next oil change. I seriously doubt that it will be necessary to change brands.

 

I think Joe can verify this, but any oil will foam if you've got too much of it in the crankcase, and the crankshaft is stirring it up for you, basically turning your oil pan into a blender.

 

Just kind of wondering why you plan on changing you oil so offten? I am useing Shell and change every 5 to 7 K and never had any issues with rough idel or any other symptom of oil foaming.

 

we use motorcraft 15w40, that is what ford and navistar worked together to design. dont know about the oil prices in your area but we sell it for $6 a galion. there are some other good oils but that oil was formulated just for the powerstroke? hey joe, don't go to the ford dealer to buy the addative they will rip you off??? ford does not even make the oil defoamer only navistar does.

 

We were doing some oil analysis research just this week with an engine we were running on the dyno for a 100 hour part load test (no oil change during the 100 hours) and I noticed when I checked the oil it had some bubbles in it. So, with the engine running, I added 70 CC of Lubrizol brand of anti-foam additive and by the time I had screwed the cap back on the oil pressure came up 2 PSI. This stuff really works! I also noticed that at the end of the run the oil was very runny and watery (cold), hence I reccommend changing the oil at no greater than the interval listed in the owners manual, even if you are using synthetics. Oil may not "wear out" but it becomes useless for the purpose for which it was created after a period of time.

 

did you notice at what point the oil started to bubble? was told by navistar that even the motorcraft oil will foam at 2500 miles. was told at that point is where you are supposed to put the addative it.

 

I've been using Delo 400 for 18 years with NO problems.

Les