I am one day from buying a 7.3 2001 F350 with 69,000 miles
I pulled the dip stick and saw what appeared to be white plastic about the size of a grain of sand. What could this be???

 

Welcome to FTE. Not sure what it would be. How long since last oil change and did you do it your self? Is it soft or hard grains?

 

Maybe coolant is getting into the system.

 

I know that there will be silica/sand in the cooling system over time. But in the oil?....have you had to add coolant/oil latley? Does she smoke? What color was the oil? what did it smell like(anything unusual?)

To have a grain of "sand" on the dip stick would mean that theres grains floating around in your oil and that would be very bad for your bearings.

This is what i would do if i found anthing other then oil on the dipstick.
Drop the oil into a clean pan/bucket and inspect it. If i suspected the silica/sand came from the cooling system i would do a cooling system test (i know there will be someone that will say "theres no way the cooling system could push coolant into the oil" but it dosnt hurt to check). If i didnt find anymore grains i would throw that oil back in it and run it till operating temp and drop the oil again and repeat.

We are talking about the ENGINE dipsitck correct?

 

Welcome to Ford Truck Enthusiasts BLK01F350CC.

I think I would pass on that truck. Anything besides oil in the oil pan is a bad thing.

 

i would be nervous buying a truck if there was something floating in the oil. i dont have any idea on what it is but it cant be good