Oil consumtion
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Oil consumtion
I recently purchased a 82 F-250 4x4 with the 400 engine in it, after doing a few odds and ends to it to get it road ready I've discovered it has used 1 1/2 quarts of oil in only 400 miles. the truck has 84000 original miles. It came from the original owner & he had the service records to prove the miles . the truck has no smoke from the tail pipe, blow by , oil in the coolant, or leaks. I'm thinking it might be the valve stem seals , since the truck has pretty much set for the last 8 years , any thoughts
New User
Joined: Aug 1999
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Oil consumtion
When the valve stem seals are bad, you will generally see smoke at start-up and on decelleration.
The best way to determine where the problem lies is to use a leak down tester (roughly$60.00 from Summit). Engines will generally run good with up 20% leakage.
The best way to determine where the problem lies is to use a leak down tester (roughly$60.00 from Summit). Engines will generally run good with up 20% leakage.
Junior User
Joined: Sep 1999
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Oil consumtion
Sounds like classic valve seal problem. Symptoms are: a little blue smoke when first started in the morning after sitting all night and a little smoke when slowing down. It can run great but be very annoying to be burning oil.
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 1999
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From: Indiana
Oil consumtion
thanks for the comment Reuel, what does the method consist of changing them with the heads on the engine, with compressed air? I have a good general idea, times past when I've changed them I had the heads off and used the big c-clamp valve spring compressor. do you follow the firing order to change them? thanks
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Joined: Sep 1999
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Oil consumtion
Generaly speaking you should be ableto change all the seal with only 2 (maybe 3)positions of the crank. Check a Chiltons manual. Starting with no 1 position there are several other cylinders as well that will have both valves closed. I have used the cmpressed air method several times and it works perfect. I use a little tool from an auto parts store that compresses the valv springs from the top of the head only. It grabs the very bottom of the spring and you turn a little handle and it compresses the spring. It can be tricky to remove the keepers sometimes. Tight working conditions can also make some of the springs really hard to get to. Let me know how it works out.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 2,297
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From: Indiana
Oil consumtion
Reuel, just for good measure my Son & I ran a compression check on our old Ford today. 150 was the lowest & a little over 160 was the highest. seems pretty good to me.I don't know what is considered good compression in the 400 Ford, my gauge is the screw in type , but its in 5 lb. increments. so can't nail it down real close. guess we'll be installing some valve stem seals soon! thanks
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Junior User
Joined: Sep 1999
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Oil consumtion
Sounds like seals alright. Let me know what you find. Some other words of caution before you start the job. Keep a magnet on hand, it can come in handy if you drop one of the little keepers. I have changed lots of seals but have never lost a keeper yet. However, be very careful when removing the keepers, they are small and very slippery. Work slowly and make sure you have a positive grip on the little guys.
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Oil consumtion
Superdave, What grade of oil are you using in your motor? I've had valve guide seal problems with my 300i6 and would use 1 quart in less than 1000 miles. I was using 10w30 grade and went to a thicker 20w50 grade and this helped considerably.
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 1999
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From: Indiana
Oil consumtion
I use 10W30 also, when things slow down a little I'm going to replace the valve stem seals in it. it had used 1 1/2 quarts in 400 miles, have checked it out completely and that seems to be it, I guess I'll find out.
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Oil consumtion
>When the valve stem seals are bad,
>you will generally see smoke at
>start-up and on decelleration. The best
>way to determine where the problem
>lies is to use a leak
>down tester (roughly$60.00 from Summit). Engines
>will generally run good with up
>20% leakage.
Rather than buy a leakdown tester, go to your local airport and go to a maintenance hangar where they work on small planes. Every A&P mechanic that works on recips will have one and will probably let you use it in his parking lot. It's a primary dianostic tool on light planes, also give the benefit of telling where the cylinder leakage occurs, intake or exhaust valve, or rings, just listen in various openings for air leakage, i.e. intake throttle bores, exhaust pipe outlet, or valve cover breather or PCV valve.
>you will generally see smoke at
>start-up and on decelleration. The best
>way to determine where the problem
>lies is to use a leak
>down tester (roughly$60.00 from Summit). Engines
>will generally run good with up
>20% leakage.
Rather than buy a leakdown tester, go to your local airport and go to a maintenance hangar where they work on small planes. Every A&P mechanic that works on recips will have one and will probably let you use it in his parking lot. It's a primary dianostic tool on light planes, also give the benefit of telling where the cylinder leakage occurs, intake or exhaust valve, or rings, just listen in various openings for air leakage, i.e. intake throttle bores, exhaust pipe outlet, or valve cover breather or PCV valve.
