piston cooling jets
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From: Virginia - SW (Riner)
piston cooling jets
Changed the oil in our 01 F350 tonight - all was going good until right at the end of draining the oil I see something sticking out of the drain. Pulled it out - its a piston cooling jet (tube) - we tow quite a bit with this truck. Can't remember - are there 1 or 2 jets per/cyl?
Don't know how worried we should be. Can't see pulling the engine for 1 jet but don't want to fry a piston either. Truck regularly makes the "climb" out of NC on I77 - there's a long grade (~ 4miles) pulling 15k or so. We make this trip at least once per month. Engine gets good and hot making that pull - there's a few other smaller grades on our way home but they aren't that bad. Only other one this truck sees on a reg basis is the grade up to flat-top in WV which is about the same.
Don't know how worried we should be. Can't see pulling the engine for 1 jet but don't want to fry a piston either. Truck regularly makes the "climb" out of NC on I77 - there's a long grade (~ 4miles) pulling 15k or so. We make this trip at least once per month. Engine gets good and hot making that pull - there's a few other smaller grades on our way home but they aren't that bad. Only other one this truck sees on a reg basis is the grade up to flat-top in WV which is about the same.
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Joined: May 2011
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From: West ID
AFAIK they are critical on a turbo-chraged diesel engine, even moreso if you are towing heavy. I know it's a big job, but I would pull it and replace it if I were you, woudln't want to cook a cylinder or lose compression in that one.
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Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Bend, OR
... Cridical... Maybe not, but its one of those things that if you dont fix it will you ever feel comfortable going up that grade pulling 1200* egt's?
FYI, every oil change I have a dead blow hammer that I hit the bottom of the oil pan with. You will hear it ping back if you have something there.
FYI, every oil change I have a dead blow hammer that I hit the bottom of the oil pan with. You will hear it ping back if you have something there.
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From: Virginia - SW (Riner)
What if we restrict this truck to "lighter" duty till we can replace the jet?
By lighter duty I mean only using it to haul loads in the bed and minimal towing loads say under 10k. Can't afford to pull the motor till the winter when we are less busy - harvest is coming up and we've got plenty of other things to do.
By lighter duty I mean only using it to haul loads in the bed and minimal towing loads say under 10k. Can't afford to pull the motor till the winter when we are less busy - harvest is coming up and we've got plenty of other things to do.
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From: Gilbert Az.
For what it's worth, I have burnt pistons up on stock engines towing less than 10k with a dropped cooling jet! That's flat land towing! Pull it! Pull it! Pull it! Just remember it is a complete teardown to bare block to replace the jets, ^so I always factor in the complete Ford rebuild kit around $1000.00 + $250 to $550 in machine shop work and you have a new short block ready to take on whatever you can throw at it! That's what I do on mine, I have not done this but it is common for people to trade in when they see the jet stick out the plug hole! Sorry bought your luck, if you were out here I'd help you pull it and get it back in the next week they come out very easily!
Jim & fat Monty
Jim & fat Monty
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From: Bend, OR
For what it's worth, I have burnt pistons up on stock engines towing less than 10k with a dropped cooling jet! That's flat land towing! Pull it! Pull it! Pull it! Just remember it is a complete teardown to bare block to replace the jets, ^so I always factor in the complete Ford rebuild kit around $1000.00 + $250 to $550 in machine shop work and you have a new short block ready to take on whatever you can throw at it! That's what I do on mine, I have not done this but it is common for people to trade in when they see the jet stick out the plug hole! Sorry bought your luck, if you were out here I'd help you pull it and get it back in the next week they come out very easily!
Jim & fat Monty
Jim & fat Monty
Huh?
You do understand you can simply replace the jet... Once the motor is out its only an hour or two job to remove the pan, install a new jet and reseal the pan...
Complete rebuild? You must be made of money.
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From: Virginia - SW (Riner)
That's what I was thinking - just replace the jet. The worst case scenario is that this jet dropped about 7k ago - engine is otherwise healthy w/ no issues. Oddly not much towing on this oil - truck has been used as a 'daily driver' for a few months. About 75miles a day at 45-55 mph - nothing other than some light loads. Figure as long as we keep it that way and don't make any long trips on the hwy we'll be ok till I can get to it in Dec/Jan.
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From: Carhenge
That's what I was thinking - just replace the jet. The worst case scenario is that this jet dropped about 7k ago - engine is otherwise healthy w/ no issues. Oddly not much towing on this oil - truck has been used as a 'daily driver' for a few months. About 75miles a day at 45-55 mph - nothing other than some light loads. Figure as long as we keep it that way and don't make any long trips on the hwy we'll be ok till I can get to it in Dec/Jan.
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From: Gilbert Az.
And that jet you put in bought you what? You would pull the engine and not go through it at that time? I'm not made of money I just have common sense! How do you plan on setting the torque wrenchin there with the crank in place? I'm just asking cuz last time I did one I couldn't get a tap in there very well at all!I guess I'm just not willing to gamble on it!
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From: Gilbert Az.
Jim
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From: Virginia - SW (Riner)
If I remember correctly the jets are originally loctite'd in place - (green if I recall) and are a "press-fit" - seems like I remember a thread on this a while back but I couldn't find it.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Rio Rico, AZ.
You could >probably< drive that engine for years if you didn't use the truck to haul or tow anything.
Just remember that if you get that piston too hot, it will crack or burn and then you have to rebuild it.
Just remember that if you get that piston too hot, it will crack or burn and then you have to rebuild it.