I have been using Castrol GTX 10w30 with a Napa Gold filter in my Lightning for the last 33000 miles. I had two UOA's done by Blackstone, and they showed high lead, about 3 times the universal averages. My OCI has always been 3k, but the last UOA was done on 2K. I will post the lasest UOA when I get back home this afternoon. What could be causing this, and how can I stop it? The truck is a daily driver, and is not raced, except for an occasional quick interstate entrance.
High lead in 1994 Ford Lightning
- Thread starter JSPulliam21
- Start date
- Status
Heavier Weight Oil to protect the bearings? Maybe a 1-40 or 15-40? What did Blackstone say?
My Bronco with the 351 always did better with a 10-40 or 15-50. Never used any with those, but drank 2 quarts 10-30 bewtweeen changes.
I haven't been here long, but I have noticed a few other threads that mentioned high Pb concentrations in Windsor motors.
If anyone has any reason why this is, I would be interested in hearing about it.
jason
If anyone has any reason why this is, I would be interested in hearing about it.
jason
I'd definitely try a 40 weight
I have the UOA in a pdf. How do I post it here? Blackstone said do a 1k OCI and send another sample, also questioned racing.
You need to be able to host the PDF somewhere, then you can embed a link to it in your message. Many ISPs offer free web hosting, check with yours. With that said, the preferred method is to type your results into your post, that way they'll be here for eternity.
Here are the levels from the UOA
Elements In ppm
Miles on Oil 2,226 3,150 Universal Averages
ALUMINUM 3 4 4
CHROMIUM 1 1 1
IRON 10 13 25
COPPER 2 2 9
LEAD 24 27 9
TIN 1 11 1
MOLYBDENUM 47 65 32
NICKEL 0 0 1
MANGANESE 0 0 0
SILVER 0 0 0
TITANIUM 0 0 0
POTASSIUM 0 1 1
BORON 0 0 27
SILICON 9 11 14
SODIUM 1 2 15
CALCIUM 1969 1977 1749
MAGNESIUM 10 9 296
PHOSPHORUS 620 620 786
ZINC 714 648 957
BARIUM 0 0 2
We are still finding high lead in your Lightning's oil, and we are not sure why. Are you racing? If so let us know. This oil was run fewer miles than the last, so the engine is actually producing more lead per mile than it was last time. The other bearing metals still look okay, so we are hesitant to call this a problem, but it bears monitoring. We did not find any fuel, moisture, or antifreeze in the oil. The air and oil filters are working well (see silicon and insolubles). Stick with these shorter oil changes and check back to monitor.
94 LIGHTNING
EQUIPMENT MAKE: Ford
EQUIPMENT MODEL: 5.8L 351 CI V-8
FUEL TYPE: Gasoline (Unleaded)
Elements In ppm
Miles on Oil 2,226 3,150 Universal Averages
ALUMINUM 3 4 4
CHROMIUM 1 1 1
IRON 10 13 25
COPPER 2 2 9
LEAD 24 27 9
TIN 1 11 1
MOLYBDENUM 47 65 32
NICKEL 0 0 1
MANGANESE 0 0 0
SILVER 0 0 0
TITANIUM 0 0 0
POTASSIUM 0 1 1
BORON 0 0 27
SILICON 9 11 14
SODIUM 1 2 15
CALCIUM 1969 1977 1749
MAGNESIUM 10 9 296
PHOSPHORUS 620 620 786
ZINC 714 648 957
BARIUM 0 0 2
We are still finding high lead in your Lightning's oil, and we are not sure why. Are you racing? If so let us know. This oil was run fewer miles than the last, so the engine is actually producing more lead per mile than it was last time. The other bearing metals still look okay, so we are hesitant to call this a problem, but it bears monitoring. We did not find any fuel, moisture, or antifreeze in the oil. The air and oil filters are working well (see silicon and insolubles). Stick with these shorter oil changes and check back to monitor.
94 LIGHTNING
EQUIPMENT MAKE: Ford
EQUIPMENT MODEL: 5.8L 351 CI V-8
FUEL TYPE: Gasoline (Unleaded)
- Joined
- Sep 28, 2002
- Messages
- 39,793
Get a Dyson kit from Terry for the next one.
Are you using fuel additives or miracle octane boosters?
How many miles on this motor? Lead seems like it starts climbing a little bit on some higher mileage engines such as over 100K. Most engine wear is from cold starts hence I would be tempted to try a good 5w 30 in it to improve cold oil flow.
no additives in anything. 109,200 miles, and I have had it for 33,000. I did change to Castrol 5w30 on this OCI.
I second that.
Black Thunder, why do you reccoment a 40 weight? I switched to 5w30 on this OCI thinking the thinner oil would flow faster on cold startup, reducing bearing wear.
i guess what i meant was 5w40 synthetic
Notice anything different in terms of coolant temperature? Perhaps prior to testings which indicate high lead levels, did you do anything with the air intake - change a filter, etc. Perhaps come dirt found it's way through a bearing or two and scored before it was finally filtered or drained out at when the oil was changed. This situation would leave elivated lead levels for a little while as the raised edges of the lead faced bearings wear down, while presence of elevated silcon goes unnoticed.
I can't think that the oil sheared and thickened back-up over such a short OCI.???
Just a thought or two mind you.
What kind of use does this truck see - some past towing or other "severe" service situations that might lead to bearing wear, which might back member's suggestions for using a higher at-temp weight oil (Xw-40, etc.)?
Good luck.
I can't think that the oil sheared and thickened back-up over such a short OCI.???
Just a thought or two mind you.
What kind of use does this truck see - some past towing or other "severe" service situations that might lead to bearing wear, which might back member's suggestions for using a higher at-temp weight oil (Xw-40, etc.)?
Good luck.
Isn't the "lightning" series supercharged?
According to Wikipedia, a 1994 Ford Lightning is not supercharged, it has a "351 in³ (5.8 L) Windsor V8 producing 240 hp (179 kW) and 340 ft·lb (461 N·m) of torque."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Lightning
It wasn't until 1999 that the Eaton supercharged 5.4 L Triton engine appeared in the Lighting.
5.8L only pushing out 240HP?!??
thats... low.
thats... low.
- Status
