What is the area just under the air cleaner (when removed) Is it the air intake. There is dirt and grime (moist) If it is for the air coming in it has to be dragging through all this stuff and effecting air flow right? and where is it coming from. Thanks in advance

 

The air cleaner sits on the air intake manifold. There is a canister looking device mounted to the back of the intake manifold called the crankcase depression regulator (CDR). The CDR uses a diaphragm and air to pull gasses out of the crankcase that result from combustion pushing past the piston rings (I think). Because the gasses come out of the crankcase, overtime they'll bring oil and other grit with them. That oil and grit gets stuck to the inside of the intake manifold over the years and can build up, but I wouldn't think it would cause a problem with the engine getting enough air. So, I would guess the "dirt and grime" are not coming out the air being brought into the engine, but are coming from the gasses being brought out of the crankcase.

 

Thanks I wonder if you can tell how old the motor is bases on that accumulation

 

not reliably.

best way is always to check clearances throughout the engine, but that involves a tear down.

next best option is to run a compression test (do not use a Gasser test gauge)

 

I HaD a compression check a few years ago. They said it had 400 lbs and said that was great and hadn't seen it on that age truck before. Is that good?

 

I would say yes if they tested all 8 and they were all similar. At high altitude your compression will read less than at sea level, so where I live at 7,000' you just don't see numbers like that... Flat landers might say your readings are low, but from what I've heard high 300's to low 400's is par for the course.

 

I HaD a compression check a few years ago. They said it had 400 lbs and said that was great and hadn't seen it on that age truck before. Is that good?

 

While we are on that subject......I pull rv's and get all over. I have a problem in higher elevations with power. Is the lack of compression in these elevations unavoidable

 

diesels love air.
the higher you go,the thinner the air.
if you want to have about the same power levels up there as you do at sea level,then you'll need a turbo.

 

it's not compression that is your problem, we have the highest compression on most all diesels. you just need some boost man, there is a reason that most all diesels now days have turbos.

 

I hear ya I've been looking to buy but have to wait until I can swing a new one but I've been looking to for used too.

 

The CDR (Tuna can ) attached with two bolts onto the back of the intake, is recommended to be cleaned every other oil change. Use either carb cleaner or gas to soak and clean the CDR, until clear liquid comes out, dry it good before re-installing. I purchased a second one and have a clean one to replace it with. I found this thread while searching for "Cleaning CDR":

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...e-and-out.html

BTW, I have a used ATS 093 turbo that needs a good home. If your interested see my ad in the classified's with this link:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...nsmission.html

The question came up about whether or not the 093 ATS turbo pipes are interchangable between the manual & E4OD engines according to 94IDITurbo7.3 with this link, they are interchangable:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...093-turbo.html

Thanks, hugger94

 

You can also do what I did. I didn't want that oily grime in the intake, so I deleted the CDR and put a crank case vent tube "CCVT" on instead. Now, the crank case is vented out the bottom of the truck, not in the intake. Some say oil will come out and leave a puddle on the ground. I don't see that on mine. You can use some of the parts off the CDR to make your own. Otherwise, you'd just have to deep clean the CDR, probably every time you do an oil change.