20W-50?
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20W-50?
I have inherited a case of 20W-50 oil from my dad and I was thinking about running it through my '87 F-250 with a 460 engine (75K miles). I say "run it through" since I appear to be badly in need of a valve job - 1 quart per 250 miles.
Pros? Cons?
And what is a reasonable price to pay for a valve job on this monster?
Pros? Cons?
And what is a reasonable price to pay for a valve job on this monster?
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Joined: Jun 1999
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From: Lee's Summit MO
20W-50?
Yep, you can't lose anything. My friend has a 1976 "other" truck with a 350, that uses a quart about every 300 miles or so. He runs 20w-50 oil and it has slowed consumption severely. This doesn't solve anything, just slows it. A valve job can be expensive, but not bad. I think $250 is an average. If you pull the heads yourself and take them for a grind job, it would be A LOT cheaper.
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Joined: Mar 2001
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From: So Cal
20W-50?
The 20W50 is a bit thick for normal use, but for hot weather or a truck with lots of miles, or one that is using up oil, it is probably OK.
Only time I see a real negative is if you live in sub zero conditions. Then 1) it may be hard to start and 2) Thick oil has been known to blow out oil filters in cold conditions.
74K is a bit early for a valve job. Maybe all you need is new Valve seals? Relatively easy to do and you don't have to pull the heads, but you will need a special tool to keep the valves from dropping. I haven't priced out a valve job lately myself, but I have heard some people talking more like $1,000 for this kind of work.
Good Luck,
Jim Henderson
Only time I see a real negative is if you live in sub zero conditions. Then 1) it may be hard to start and 2) Thick oil has been known to blow out oil filters in cold conditions.
74K is a bit early for a valve job. Maybe all you need is new Valve seals? Relatively easy to do and you don't have to pull the heads, but you will need a special tool to keep the valves from dropping. I haven't priced out a valve job lately myself, but I have heard some people talking more like $1,000 for this kind of work.
Good Luck,
Jim Henderson
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20W-50?
My fear about doing anything with the valves is finding later that the problem is somewhere else...the rings perhaps? It blows smoke on start up and is very noticable when I'm backing up a loaded 3-horse trailer.
A few other Ford owners say valve seals as well. I'll check into that. Thanks everyone.
A few other Ford owners say valve seals as well. I'll check into that. Thanks everyone.
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Joined: Dec 2000
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20W-50?
do a compression check. first do a dry run and write down the readings, then squirt a little oil or tranny fluid down the spark plug hole... if the readings increase, its rings. if they stay the same... valves. takes about a half hour and a helper, but would save a lot of need less work. just my opinion
87 f-250
" if you are going to have a bear, it might as well be a grizzly"
4.9 granny tranny 4.11 gears
87 f-250
" if you are going to have a bear, it might as well be a grizzly"
4.9 granny tranny 4.11 gears
