Recent Oil Change - Found Something

[FJ4013]

Rig: 1978 FJ40 - 2F Engine

Just changed the oil and replaced the spark plugs yesterday. The old oil only had around 3K miles on it and it was pretty dark. Not black but a very dark brown. I always stick my hand in and feel around just in case and the first picture shows what I think are hard carbon pieces. Pieces from what or of what I have no idea. These were the largest pieces I could fish out of the oil but as I hypnotically swirled my hand around in the oil I could feel a lot of smaller pieces about the size of grains of sand. I could only feel them by dragging my hand along the bottom of the oil drain pan. Anyone know what these pieces are from?

The second photo shows the condition of my spark plugs in the order there were pulled from the block. From left to right they number 6,5,4,3,2,1 and I listed a corresponding chart to show which plug matches to the dizzy configuration. As you can see from the picture plugs 2 and 1 are both more white in their appearance where plugs 6-3 are jet black.

My oil did not smell like gas nor did it look like gas was in the drained oil. Anyone know what the spark plugs are telling me because I don't. The dark colored plugs were not oily so I'm wondering if its carbon fouling which I know could be a few different things. Anyone know why the 4 plugs from left to right would be so black with carbon and the 2 and 1 plug is white?

About 2 years ago I had the cylinder walls honed and replaced the piston rings because the PO had installed the incorrect sizes and we had an issue of burning a lot of oil. My truck does not burn any oil now. The oil level stays pretty much the same level until I change it. Any ideas on both the carbon pieces and the plugs would be appreciated in chasing down anything that might be happening. Thanks.

Carbon Pieces.PNG

• FJ4013
• Jul 27, 2019

Spark Plugs.PNG

• FJ4013
• Jul 27, 2019
• 1

Spark Plug Firing Order.png

• FJ4013
• Jul 27, 2019

 

[middlecalf]

Is this the first oil change since you replaced the rings? If so, and since you’re not burning oil now, I’d guess those black things are leftover deposits in pan from PO’s burning oil situation, assuming the bits aren’t magnetic. What’s the status on the valve adjustment, esp. for cylinders 3-6?

 

[FJ4013]

Is this the first oil change since you replaced the rings? If so, and since you’re not burning oil now, I’d guess those black things are leftover deposits in pan from PO’s burning oil situation, assuming the bits aren’t magnetic. What’s the status on the valve adjustment, esp. for cylinders 3-6?

Yes it is the first oil change since replacing the rings. I did test the debris and they are not magnetic. They actually crumble apart and to me it looks like carbon deposits. As far as your valve adjustment question....I do not know.

 

[Steamer]

When I first got my rig, I had the removed oil pan in a parts washer to clean. While scraping and brushing loose a significant build up of crusty sludge with one hand, the other hand moved around the washers brush/nozzle to flush the loose debris down and out of the drain hole. I had the pan tilted at about the same angle it would sit when installed and took particular notice that the loose debris seemed to have trouble making it to the hole. So I experimented by plugging the drain hole and let the pan fill to about normal capacity with the parts washers fluid. Then I would pull the plug to observe and was surprised at how poorly the loose sludge made it to the drain hole. I did this numerous times and found the debris moved better as the angle of the pan increased.

Since then, I drain my oil with the front wheels of the rig up on my sprung over vehicle trailer. With the steep angle, the oil come out with a “Whoosh”. I replace the plug, let the rig roll off the trailer on it’s own and then finish the oil change.

My point is, after this long babble, is that the debris you drained could have been in there for some time and just now happened to make it to the drain hole.

 

[1911]

Plugs #1 and #2 are what they should ideally all look like; white-tan. But the others do not look horrible in the photo, maybe just running a little bit more rich than ideal. In a long block like an in-line six with a single carburetor, it is nearly impossible to get the same mixture (air/fuel density) to all six cylinders. Too much variation in temperature for one thing.

If you're not burning oil and the plugs are not otherwise fouling, I would not worry about those.

 

[FJ4013]

Plugs #1 and #2 are what they should ideally all look like; white-tan. But the others do not look horrible in the photo, maybe just running a little bit more rich than ideal. In a long block like an in-line six with a single carburetor, it is nearly impossible to get the same mixture (air/fuel density) to all six cylinders. Too much variation in temperature for one thing.

If you're not burning oil and the plugs are not otherwise fouling, I would not worry about those.

I failed to mention that I do have a small amount of white smoke at idle after the engine has warmed up to temperature. Very faint but becomes noticeable if you rev the engine.

 

[pigmony]

I believe that white smoke is typically coolant.

 

[Steamer]

Vaporized coolant (white smoke) tends to dissipate rapidly into the air whereas, oil or fuel smoke tends to linger until carried away by air movement. Also, coolant in the exhaust has its own distinct smell. Kind of sweet.
Are you loosing coolant?
Coolant out the exhaust would indicate a failed head gasket.
A proper leak down test would reveal a blown head gasket.