Definitely stick with the short OCIs. Gradually increase the intervals as you see cleaner results. Thanks for the updates on this. A lot of these threads are never reported back on to see the progress. I really enjoy threads like this.
Sludgy 1990 F150 5.0
- Thread starter cbrf3
- Start date
OVERKILL
$100 Site Donor 2021
Yep, we are definitely seeing some flushing out of garbage. To deal with the pump screen, letting some kerosene or some solvent sit in the pan for a bit and then draining might help. Often times the crud lays on the bottom of the pan and gets picked up once the oil is flowing, then falls off the screen when the engine sits.
This is a long thread, but the OP has already filled the pan with carb dip through the dip stick tube and let it soak for a few days to clean the pickup and pan.
OVERKILL
$100 Site Donor 2021
He may want to do so again, based on what we see in that filter. Some of this stuff is likely migrating to the bottom of the pan.
Not sure of the actual pan capacity. I want everything to soak but not get the level up to the oil pan gasket.
Think 5 quarts would be ok to put in through the oil fill tube as the motor has a 6 quart capacity?
OVERKILL
$100 Site Donor 2021
5L wouldn't come close to the pan gasket and would definitely immerse the pump pick-up.
This is a great thread.
Congratulations to your Son on all of his (and your) hard work! What a great learning experience that I'm sure he (and you and your Wife...bless her!) will remember for the rest of his life.
Ed
Congratulations to your Son on all of his (and your) hard work! What a great learning experience that I'm sure he (and you and your Wife...bless her!) will remember for the rest of his life.
Ed
Really appreciate the encouragement. He is 22 years old and is not afraid to dig in and do what needs to be done. We have learned by reading, YouTube and help from forums such as this. He has done 90% of the work as I am just there to give advice as we go, sometimes spinning the wrench. This is more than I have ever had to do in the 40+ years of driving/maintaining vehicles.This is a great thread.
Congratulations to your Son on all of his (and your) hard work! What a great learning experience that I'm sure he (and you and your Wife...bless her!) will remember for the rest of his life.
Ed
This adventure started with wanting to change the valve cover gaskets that were leaking. Now we are trying to get the engine to the point of normal oil changes and not be so concerned with the internals. All wear we have seen on any parts has been light so we have faith in the 302 but does not guarantee it will not throw a rod through the block and end the thread.
We hope we are turning the trucks life around! 
He has done the gas tank/pump, rear-end, transmission removal/install, brakes and the engine work. Of course with an older vehicle there have been a lot of other smaller things along the way. Most tasks have been done with zero experience.
I commend your work as well as your sons hard work. That’s amazing to see a older V-8 engine in a beautiful truck with those cool steel wheels come back around again. I’m anxiously awaiting any new updates. Huge Thank You sirReally appreciate the encouragement. He is 22 years old and is not afraid to dig in and do what needs to be done. We have learned by reading, YouTube and help from forums such as this. He has done 90% of the work as I am just there to give advice as we go, sometimes spinning the wrench. This is more than I have ever had to do in the 40+ years of driving/maintaining vehicles.
This adventure started with wanting to change the valve cover gaskets that were leaking. Now we are trying to get the engine to the point of normal oil changes and not be so concerned with the internals. All wear we have seen on any parts has been light so we have faith in the 302 but does not guarantee it will not throw a rod through the block and end the thread.
He has done the gas tank/pump, rear-end, transmission removal/install, brakes and the engine work. Of course with an older vehicle there have been a lot of other smaller things along the way. Most tasks have been done with zero experience.
Really appreciate the encouragement. He is 22 years old and is not afraid to dig in and do what needs to be done. We have learned by reading, YouTube and help from forums such as this. He has done 90% of the work as I am just there to give advice as we go, sometimes spinning the wrench. This is more than I have ever had to do in the 40+ years of driving/maintaining vehicles.
This adventure started with wanting to change the valve cover gaskets that were leaking. Now we are trying to get the engine to the point of normal oil changes and not be so concerned with the internals. All wear we have seen on any parts has been light so we have faith in the 302 but does not guarantee it will not throw a rod through the block and end the thread.
He has done the gas tank/pump, rear-end, transmission removal/install, brakes and the engine work. Of course with an older vehicle there have been a lot of other smaller things along the way. Most tasks have been done with zero experience.
"He has done the gas tank/pump, rear-end, transmission removal/install, brakes and the engine work. Of course with an older vehicle there have been a lot of other smaller things along the way. Most tasks have been done with zero experience."
That is tremendous...good for him!
Ed
Two days with parts cleaner directly in the sump soaking.
Not as much junk as last soak. Fluid was not as dark and the debris is soft, no hard pieces.
Magnet was on the drain plug (sorry for the blurry pic), got some stuff but way less than the oil interval.
After the 1,268 mile interval.
So now the 302 pan has 5 quarts of kerosene. Is this a quick flush or should it sit a spell?
Not as much junk as last soak. Fluid was not as dark and the debris is soft, no hard pieces.
Magnet was on the drain plug (sorry for the blurry pic), got some stuff but way less than the oil interval.
After the 1,268 mile interval.
So now the 302 pan has 5 quarts of kerosene. Is this a quick flush or should it sit a spell?
Last edited:
So the Kerosene is out and the $7.19 Chevron 5w30 is in with another Motorcraft oil filter.
Going to run this for 500 miles then we will utilize the 'oil filter opener'.
Going to run this for 500 miles then we will utilize the 'oil filter opener'.
Nice pics. You and your son are slowly getting there. Are you going to keep the oil filter on for 1200 mile intervals? At this rate I think I would just change the filter twice as often as the oil and top up.
Are you going to remove the valve covers soon and take a peek at the progress?
The last interval was really just working to get to easy 5k oil changes. Odometer readings of 125k, 130k etc.
Stopped at 123k as I was anticipating a 2k run to 125k. The plan was to just replace the filter and keep going with the Mobil 1 5w30 but the filter was too far gone and we decided to bail on the oil as well.
Not sure about opening the valve cover, possibly when we get to 125k...
Questioned the oil pick up screen again so we did another parts cleaner and kerosene soak, stuff we had on hand.
Performing a short 500 mile cycle with the new Chrevon oil/Motorcraft filter as the pan still has a bit of the cleaning liquids.
Last edited:
So with the brakes sorted, the F150 is back on the road. Son finally got 500 miles on the Chevron 5-30 with the Motorcraft filter.
Seems like less sludge coming out but it was a much shorter run. Here are some more pictures.
Filter pleats were not as full. The cheap Chevron oil back in with another FL-1A.
Thinking maybe 750 miles this next run.
Seems like less sludge coming out but it was a much shorter run. Here are some more pictures.
Filter pleats were not as full. The cheap Chevron oil back in with another FL-1A.
Thinking maybe 750 miles this next run.
Looks like you’re working that sludge out. I’d say rocking just the oil and filter with short changes will clean it to as clean as it needs to be. Carry on and keep us updated
Great looking truck. Good luck with it!
Similar threads
