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I maintain a bunch of stored vehicles, this 1986 F250 with a 6.9 diesel being one of them.
This is an old work truck, there is 465,000 miles on it in WI winters and all. Now it mainly sits in storage, I bring it home every 5 years for maintenance. Today was that day to bring it home again. Replacing the oil pan this time and a drivers front caliper.
Sorry the video is dark, not much for lighting in storage.
Nice. I'd be a little worried about the condition of the diesel in that tank, but it started up decent.
Grew up in Wausau. Nice to see another northwoods wisconsinite here.
I worry about the fuel as well especially since I haven't put any in for the last two (now 3rd) times it has been home. The fuel in it is at least 15 years old.
Started in on the oil pan right away. Here is the difference between the use of rock salt and liquid (brine) salt used today. The thought of these nuts coming off on any vehicle today driven in brine would be a joke. But this vehicle only being driven in rock salt all its life:
I guess maybe I'd be worried about sucking in rust from the tank, maybe change the fuel filter? Pretty sure uncle sam stores emergency fuel in underground bunkers so i'm sure old diesel will be fine
A buddy of mine once bought a truck to redo that had been sitting for at least a decade, we pulled the sending units once the bed was off to see what shape the tanks were in, both were full to the top with no sign of water being in either one. Tanks looked beautiful and the diesel had the normal almost yellow tint to it.
We ended up pumping it into five gallon buckets and I ended up burning it all within a couple of weeks. Never had a hitch, of course this was probably before they were adding biofuel so that helped because the veggie oil can pull moisture out of the atmosphere especially if it's sitting openly vented to the atmosphere.
Truck ran fine and never smoked any more than it already did. I walked away with roughly $150 in diesel for free because at that time it was at or just above 4$/gallon here in Texas
A buddy of mine once bought a truck to redo that had been sitting for at least a decade, we pulled the sending units once the bed was off to see what shape the tanks were in, both were full to the top with no sign of water being in either one. Tanks looked beautiful and the diesel had the normal almost yellow tint to it.
We ended up pumping it into five gallon buckets and I ended up burning it all within a couple of weeks. Never had a hitch, of course this was probably before they were adding biofuel so that helped because the veggie oil can pull moisture out of the atmosphere especially if it's sitting openly vented to the atmosphere.
Truck ran fine and never smoked any more than it already did. I walked away with roughly $150 in diesel for free because at that time it was at or just above 4$/gallon here in Texas
Thats the way to store tanks. Either completely full or completely empty and dry.
Thats the way to store tanks. Either completely full or completely empty and dry.
x3
When you change the fuel filter fill it with ATF. You can run it briefly after installing the fuel filter and the truck will be good for long term storage with the ATF in the injectors and IP.
When you change the fuel filter fill it with ATF. You can run it briefly after installing the fuel filter and the truck will be good for long term storage with the ATF in the injectors and IP.
That's why folks use the ATF in their fuel filter. You can read extensively on our site and other diesel sites about how ATF does well in our old IDIs. I can tell that my IP and injectors chatter less if they run a high % of ATF.
Lots of times I read the only way to change a pan is by pulling the motor. I haven't comes across a motor yet I could change the pan on while in the truck. I was a bit worried when I saw the different style oil pump on the 6.9 when I dropped the pan down but still got it done no problem. The pics are reverse order (installing) but just posting to show the process.
Old and "new" pan next to each other. I got a used pan because I wanted oem but not the price. I also kind of wanted the "patina" to somewhat match the year of the truck. Corny I know.
With the pan and oil pump/pickup tube off. I had just a 2x4 under the passenger side motor mount and a true 2"ish of blocks on the drivers side.
With the pump/pickup tube assembly inside the pan shove it all up onto the cross member.
Lift the pump into place and start a bolt a couple turns on each side.
Go back to the pickup tube support nut.
Its a bit of a hand contortion, I was lucky and got the washer and nut on the first try. I used a ratchet wrench to tighten it up.
After that I go around and wipe down the gasket surfaces with a rag and brake cleaner. Then smear on the rvt and stick all the bolts in.
Let the motor down, install motor mount nuts, exhaust, and fresh fram filter!
I did however break the drain back nipple off the power steering pump when lifting the motor. Luckily ford didn't change the power steering pump for quite some time as the pump off our 1995 parts truck worked perfectly. I filled and started the truck today, so far no leaks! Will check in the morning for any drips over night.
