Econoline E150 1/2 Ton V8-5.4L CNG VIN M (1998)
SERVICE PROCEDURE
Different actions are required according to the cause and severity of the conditions exhibited. The actions to correct an insufficient oil situation are
different than the actions to correct an excessive oil situation.
Customers reporting the conditions listed above may determine their situation by some quick checks on the vehicle.
EVIDENCE OF INSUFFICIENT OIL INCLUDES:
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No oil film on fill station nozzle outlet or vehicle fill receptacle.
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No liquid oil found in the bottom of the high-pressure coalescing filter bowl.
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A dry coalescing filter element.
EVIDENCE OF EXCESSIVE OIL INCLUDES:
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Heavy oil film on station nozzle outlet and vehicle fill receptacle.
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Liquid oil in the high-pressure coalescing filter bowl over the level of the white spacer under the element.
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Fully oil-soaked coalescing element.
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Liquid oil found in fuel tanks or lines opened for other service.
Fill stations that derive compressed natural gas from liquefied natural gas should have an oil injection system. The extremely cold temperature of
liquefied natural gas literally "freezes out" lubricants and these lubricants need to be replaced after the gas returns to its vapor phase.
Customers operating their own fill stations (usually fleet customers) should routinely check that all installed equipment is operating properly and is
serviced at the intervals recommended by the component supplier. This includes gas dryers, compressors, oil and odorant injectors, particulate filters,
and coalescing filters. A fill station may have many filters at different points in the flow stream, such as at the compressor inlet and outlet, dryer inlet and
outlet, the storage tank outlet, and the dispenser. A particulate filter that becomes clogged will indicate its condition by high differential pressures or
reduced total flow. A coalescing filter that is not drained often enough can fill up with liquids (oil and/or water) and then act as a source of oil
contamination for downstream components with no obvious indication at the filter. A fill station technician draining a pressurized coalescing filter too
rapidly can rupture the internal element with no obvious indication of trouble, again allowing oil to pass downstream. A compressor that needs to be
rebuilt can use more oil than normal due to poor sealing at the piston rings. A fill station maintenance routine should include recording the oil volume
drained from downstream filters. This record can be used to compare the oil volume added to the compressor. This will reveal compressor wear and the
associated maintenance requirements due to this wear.
Customers who maintain their own vehicles should consider measuring and recording the oil level found in the coalescent filter bowl during routine
maintenance. An increase in the oil level found in several vehicles in a short period of time may indicate that a fueling station used by those vehicles
requires service to reduce its compressor oil carryover.
Fleet customers should inquire about the maintenance practices of the fill stations they use.
For vehicles known to have excessive oil in their fuel, Ford recommends using the Severe Duty Maintenance Interval of 15,000 miles (25,000
kilometers) to inspect and drain the coalescent filter bowl. Vehicles maintained at this interval and still found to repeatedly have one inch or more of oil
in the coalescent filter bowl may require a more frequent maintenance interval. The amount of oil in the fuel does not affect the filter element life, so the
element should be replaced at the normal 30,000 miles (50,000 kilometers) interval even if the fuel is known to have excessive oil.
It may also be necessary to clean the CNG fuel injectors using Motorcraft PM- 5 Power Flush Injector Fluid. Refer to TSB # 03-18-03 for this service
procedure. This cleaning will allow the fuel injectors to return to their normal function. In some fuel environments it may be necessary to perform this
cleaning on a regular basis.
NOTE
IT MAY ALSO BE NECESSARY TO CLEAN OR REPLACE THE FUEL INJECTORS IF THE APPROPRIATE MAINTENANCE INTERVAL
IS NOT ADHERED TO. REFER TO TSB # 03-18-3 FOR THE INJECTOR CLEANING SERVICE PROCEDURE.
OTHER APPLICABLE ARTICLES: 03-18-3
WARRANTY STATUS: INFORMATION ONLY
