My 2001 F250 with 250k miles 7.3 has water in the oil. I was driving cross country when the tone of the engine changed, my oil pressure dropped off. I stopped checked to oil and it was milky. I drove it 4 miles and then had it towed to a Ford dealer. It didn't over heat. The dealer said I needed a new engine since there was water in the oil and it had a knock and it might have a pin hole in the cylinder wall ( there was nothing coming out the overflow) I had them change the oil cooler, drain the oil and flush the coolant. They said they drove it 3 miles and it still has water in the oil. I had the truck hauled back to NC. I was told that the 7.3 seldom blows a head gasket. I am not sure where to go from here. Does anyone have some thoughts?

 

Welcome to FTE.


Sounds like injector cups, if one cracks you’ll get coolant in the oil. You can do the job yourself if you rent the tool buy new bolts. Clay at Riff Raff Diesel rents it. Plenty of information about doing it. In the future post here in the 7.3L section, we know more about our trucks than most. If they did your oil cooler then they HAD TO change your coolant and oil...just an FYI.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/forum31/

 

Thank you very much. Someone else also said that. I had no idea about the injector cups. Jack

 

Actually you want to double check because it will cause fuel in the coolant, not coolant in the oil if you crack an injector cup. Here is a link to the cups but I think it might just be an oil cooler or seals.

https://www.riffraffdiesel.com/injec...et-7-3l-94-03/

https://www.riffraffdiesel.com/oil-cooler-94-03/

https://www.riffraffdiesel.com/oil-cooler-seal-kit/

 

I had them change to oil cooler drain and refill the oil and flush the radiator. There is still water in the oil.

 

I've had o-rings replaced in an oil cooler before and the individual who did the work (my son) did not pre-lubricate the or-rings and they literally rolled out of position when rpessed back into the heads, and I got water/oil intermix. Quick tear down on the cooler and a second set of o-rings, pre-lubricated this time, and everything was lovely. I did three oil changes with cheap oil and a new cheap filter, then went back with another new filter and the synthetic oil I usually use, and I've not had an issue in the past 150K+ miles.

You say you had the oil cooler "changed". What, exactly, does that mean?
Rebuilt with new o-rings and gaskets?
Brand new cooler with new o-rings in the existing heads?
New cooler AND heads with new o-rings?
Who did the work?

 

Looks like these two threads should be merged!

 

If time allows, you could send a coolant sample to Blackstone to check for fuel and oil in the coolant. I did that to assure I had no problems with my cups prior to replacing the injectors. I didn’t have any indications pointing to cups or o-rings either.

 

Working on it...

 

Pete, you should know how it goes, it’s Friday afternoon all the Moderators are probably gone for the day.

 

HOWEVER, SOUS is a SUPERMOD with SUPER DEDICATION and 100% AVAILABILITY to service ALL FTE needs!




.....[Not saying I have any expectations, mind you!}

 

I left the truck with them and rented a truck to go to NM. The work was preformed by a Ford Dealership. They replaced the oil cooler, o rings and gaskets. W I would like to know if when you replaced the o rings did you have oil in the coolant or just water in the oil?

 

. Lol, Have a great weekend

 

If you have know blow bye that is good at least. I had a Ford dealer tell me one time I had a hole in my block and that was my problem. It ended up, the end caps on my oil cooler got a hole in it and put water in the oil. That was a 6.9 in a van. If you can work on it your self, pull the oil cooler again. Inspect, reinstall and flush out the whole coolant system really good. Need something to flush out all that oil. You can also do a compression test and Cody test on the oil rails. If all looks good you should be good to go. But it didn't do your bearing any good that's for sure. I went threw this three time with my Chevy 6.2 work truck till the crank finely froze up. Have you started it? Do you hear a loud knock? As far as hole in the cylinder you could put it at bottom and put air in each one threw the glow plug holes and see what you find. Valves closed of course.

 

Done

Stewart