Motor oil weight for triton v10

427435 wrote:
Sorry to hear of your expensive problem.

I think the next time I change oil on the Explorer or MH, I will pull a sample and send it to Blackstone labs.

Mark,

Thanks for your concern. I mention it only to support a great deal of knowledge and links I accumulated while learning about Triton oiling systems, not so much to elicit sympathy. My hope is that folks here may learn from my experience.

I have overhauled several engines in my lifetime and have some familiarity with the principles of operation etc. I never heard of engines losing oil pressure while idling before, and did a lot of research. After writing off the engine as best replaced, when I finally did risk restarting to deliver it for replacement, I had normal oiling. It may have merely been a stuck gallery pressure bypass, or had debris holding it off the seat after a cold start. The crankcase was filled with fairly fresh 5W20 from a recent oil change.

It ran ok, but the old engine already had other issues like slightly noisy lifters, probably multiple spark plug blow-outs (I had one) and used some oil when towing, about a quart per 800-1000 miles. No one locally would reassemble it, even if I had it machined, the heads weren't great (no cam bearing inserts). The cost was the same as another older used truck, but now it has a new engine, thus replacement the best option IMO.

It wouldn't hurt to send a sample to a lab. Engines shed extra fine particles in a snowball effect as they become more worn. I sometimes wonder if a fellow couldn't learn a lot from cutting the old filter open after removal. If there is anything in the oil, there should be lots in the used filter, a metalic film perhaps visible to the naked eye.

Wes
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