bad oil leak

[beerman2therescue]

Hey everyone.Lately my 87 6.9 has been runing real good. No need to post when all is well I guess?Here's the problem at hand as of today:
I went to do an oil change and got under the truck.While under there I realized there was a TON of oil on the starter. I changed the oil and while doing that I see that I was really short. I barely filled a gallon jug.This has me confused because the dipstick had plenty of oil on it.I have been reading about the dipstick leaking at the base?Is that a problem in these year trucks? I can snap a few photos off if my description isnt good. I cheaned the crv valve during the oil change just to make sure it wasnt clogged open. It was dirty and it had visable oil on theedge of the rim. Help me I love this truck and am thinking of buying another.I have time today to fix it so I was hoping for a strike of luck from someone with a little knoledge on this matter.
Thanks again
1987 f250 6.9
67000-
167,000 ?

[catfish101]

You oil on the starter is could be a couple of things. The best thing to do there is clean up the motor and watch it. You will find the leak.

As far as the dipstick. It is what it is. A dump piece of steel. Fill the motor with the correct amount of oil and see where the stick shows at. Somebody could have changed the stick at one time and it is wrong. Mark the location on the stick if it isn't where it belongs so you have a mark to refer too. The way it sounds it should be off.

[tjc transport]

the passenger side valve cover loosened up on my 88, and oiled the starter.

clean the engine real good, then go for a quick ride and look at the engine. you will find the leak quick enough.

what i thought was a bad front main seal coating the whole bottom of the truck after i tightened up the valve cover turned out to be a leaking trans line on the radiator..

[PLC7.3]

DieselDon posted this way back......

Oil consumption, and the proper checking of the oil levels in Ford diesels comes up periodically. Ford dipsticks are calibrated for hot oil. The 10 quarts in the IDI engines expand about 1/2 to 3/4 of a quart as the oil heats up, and contracts the same amout after cooling. If you check the oil first thing in the morning ( which I grew up doing ) the engines will all indicate oils level below full, but when checked hot, will ( after a 10 minute drain time ) the oil level is usually at full. If you are checking the oil cold, and keeping the level at full, you are actually over filling the engine which will burn of the extra rapidly.

Suggestion: Check oil hot after 10 minute drain time.
Don't add until level reaches add line ( 2 quarts ).

In my days at Ford this often cured, or at least improved, the apparent oil consumption complaints.

My info.. check the CDR valve and gasket to intake also down tube........... I will PM you some info.

[beerman2therescue]

thanks plc I have done that cdr valve cleanup. I did it a little while before I changed the oil. I think that it may be a leaky valve cover gasket so I will take a peek at it later today.thanks for the help everyone.posting results later on today

[beerman2therescue]

i went to tighten the valve cover gaskets today and sure enough.they were all finger loose. I tightened them up and now looking to see if their is any stray oil. the passenger side on the back had a lot of oil on it. I am assuming that thats were the leak was originating from.I just went and bought a mechanical gauge. Where do I plumb in the lines?I see that theres two sending units. I have already replaced the water temp gauge with a mechanical one.Now the oil pressure is next.I read somewhere that not to put the oil line in the car?But it is a mechanical gauge so what should I do?

[beerman2therescue]

alright I put the oil pressure gauge in.Im getting 42 psi is that a good number?thanks for the reassurance

[catfish101]

Originally Posted by beerman2therescue

alright I put the oil pressure gauge in.Im getting 42 psi is that a good number?thanks for the reassurance

Is that at an idle. My 6.9 makes 40 psi at a hot idle.

[beerman2therescue]

yea at hot idle

[6.9 Diesel]

wow my truck makes about 40 psi at a cold idle, and approx 4-5 psi at a hot idle, usually around 50 on the highway