couple noobie but important ?s

[gdhillon]

its been pretty cold here latley and ive been using the heat full blast and i find that ive developed a cough (no i dont smoke) my ? for you guys is wheres the cabin filter for these trucks? (if it has one) and could i clean it with compressed air? or just new filter?

second ? trucks consuming a bit of oil, right now has 5w40 synthetic rotella, was at the full line when first changed and a couple days after that and now its about a months time and the oil level is a bit under the full line. should i just add very little at a time then run her and check? (with truck off ofocurse)....and yes truck is always warm when i check oil

Thanks!

 

[DragRag]

No cabin filter on these trucks. I have tried synthetic oils in the past, I developed an oil leak with it in, and it went away when I changed back to conventional. It is slicker then regular oil so it will get past things like gaskets, seals, push rods, rings, easier IMO. I will not use the stuff, it costs to much, and it doesn't perform well in my book.

 

[Wyreth]

Also watch out when converting to synthetic, the esters can break up hardened deposits in your engine, which can clog things. Things like piston cooling jets.

 

[TWeatherford]

If it won't leak past your seals like crazy, the synthetic will help a ton with cold starts in Canada (but you already knew that). How many miles have you driven in the month? My truck requires 2-3 quarts between changes, maybe even a little more. I have some leaks I need to fix. I check regularly and don't add until its at the add mark. Its not like the engine is starving for oil even right on the add mark.

 

[Simp5782]

I have a few 55gal drums of 5-40 Mobil I am looking to sell lol. I prefer to use castrol over anything else. Go buy some of the duct cleaner and spray in the vents and let it foam up. also spray it up in the evap box and the heater core to help clean it out. You can remove your air box and install some of the home floor vent filters in your box and zip tie them to the cores. it helps. My wifes car doesnt offer a cabin air filter but she needed one so I did that.

 

[gdhillon]

Thanks for the replies!
Spray the duct cleaner in vents let it foam then go full blast to get it all out? Evap box is the vents under windshield?

It does start a lot easier with the synthetic, so you guys normally wait til the dip stick is at the add mark to add oil?

 

[OLDBULL8]

Here is a cabin air filter for a 99, might work on a 93. Check it out.

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/pa...Duty-P-U-4WD/Cabin-Air-Filter/_/N-jd42eZajdwn

 

[johneich]

so you guys normally wait til the dip stick is at the add mark to add oil?

I started a similar thread, read it here for more info, I hope this helps it did for me

http://www.oilburners.net/forums/showthread.php?t=53889

 

[CDX825]

From the book, applies to the 7.3 as well

"OIL DIPSTICK (6.9L) - ENGINE OIL LEVEL CHECKING PROCEDURE

LIGHT TRUCK 1983-86 E AND F SERIES
In order to measure engine oil levels consistently and accurately, it is useful to employ the following recommendations:
¨ Park vehicle on level surface. Low oil level readings will be obtained if the vehicle is sloped away from the dipstick.

¨ Have engine at normal operating temperature as oil expands at the rate of one percent per 25~F (14~C) change and the dipstick is calibrated to the engine at normal operating temperature. In addition, allow at least a fifteen (15) minute engine shutdown period to assure that oil contained in the upper parts of the engine has returned to the oil pan.

¨ Have dipstick loop directed inboard as this eases installation and minimizes wiping action on oil level gauge.

¨ Read oil level on both sides of gauge and use highest level (reading) for the actual engine oil level.

Correct oil dipstick calibration can be verified by draining the engine oil and filling the engine oil pan with nine (9) quarts (8.5 liters) of oil. When the oil dipstick is properly seated, correct dipstick calibration is indicated if the oil level is within 1/16 inch of the "Full" mark.

NOTE: The area between the "Add" and "Full" marks represents two (2) quarts. As long as the oil level is between the "Add" and "Full" marks, no oil should be added. When the oil level does reach the "Add" mark, only one quart of oil should be added. If the oil level exceeds the "Full" mark, oil consumption could result."

I would stick with the synthetic oil because of the cold. 15W40 is way to thick below 20 degrees. I switched my truck over to synthetic this fall and wouldnt go another winter without it.