Engine oil debris ?!

So after installing the Fumoto valve w/oil change, I noticed these coffee grounds-like grit in the bottom of the collection pan. Want to know if this is serious or just engine sludge.
Brief history before the images;
I am the 4th owner. 1st owner-Hawaii- sat for two years under tarp before being sold to small business. They are the chuckle-heads that put the 1st Gen wheels on it and the wrong blower motor for vac. 3rd. owner, my son while stationed in HI. Performed routine maint. on it.
Shipped to PA.- spent three weeks in a container.
While driving it from MD to PA, he had oil light coming on & off. Pulled over, no leaking, continued home. No further light warning.
Jump a head a about 5 months. Truck is getting painted-sat for three weeks. When I pick it up, it already has an engine valve tap, very loud, oil light comes on. I put two quarts oil in it, noise reduces. Drive to work, on return home, oil light and severe engine knocking. Mechanic cleans out the oil pump sump, very clogged, that was the issue. I plan on getting the oil analyzed after the next change. The particles feel like coffee grounds, but can be crushed. Thanks in advance!!Picks;

 

Any chance of vandalism? I’m not sure OP, hope someone else might chime in. Bump to the top of the list.

 

What type of vandalism?

 

During the shipment or parked while unlocked. Wondering if someone filled your oil reservoir with saw dust, coffee grounds, etc. I’m just thinking outside the box here. Never heard or seen this before. But I’m by no means an expert. I’d get the oil tested at Blackstone labs.

 

OK thanks

 

Take the oil cap off and look at head. Chunky black stuff more than likely sludge.

 

Will do. Is there an effective engine cleaner to get rid of the sludge?

 

Slow and steady. Penzoil conventional with a few short intervals. After that stick to 5K intervals till clean.

 

In my many years as a Mechanic I have seen this before. not knowing the full history of your truck to me this looks like what happens when an engine idles to long, the oil will sludge up on the screen and in the pickup tube. then when at hwy speeds the engine is starved for oil and engine damage can occur. If possible get someone to look at the computer readings and see if the average idle time is excessive if so this is probably the problem. (example private investigator drives around and then stops and idles the engine for long periods of time to keep the A/C going) I also seen this a lot in police vehicles that idle a lot. Fords solution was to put a pickup screen in with larger holes in it to help prevent the buildup. Just my .02

 

Thanks ARB, I use Pennzoil, does that make a difference? No sludge sitting in the top of the engine that I could see.
Thanks for the advice TT!

I was also thinking of going to 10W40 after a couple of oil changes, good idea or no?

 

I’d mix some motorkote in with the next few oil changes it has great properties in coating the surfaces along with the short intervals to flush out the gunk in there i think thats your best bet

 

Sounds like a good idea, just watched a YT video on that stuff, looks like it lives up to its claims.

 

So every 1k do a change or sooner?

 

1500 or so if it’s really bad. You might cut open the filter every time to examine.

 

No synthetic and no water in the oil. The lighting makes it look like there is oil in there.

 

No, as stated above, I just use Pennzoil.

 

I have no idea if it has detergents.

 

That's not good at all. I don't even know where to guess what that might be from. I'd use a quality HDEO like Rotella T6 synthetic for a few short changes. Diesel oils are chocked full of detergents and will clean out a lot of that gunk hopefully. I'd recommend using a higher capacity filter like a Fram Ultra synthetic filter, they hold more grit than regular filters can and filter finer particles. You might want to run the longer

$9 XG3600 with SureGrip (Pack of 1)

XG3600 over the standard shorter version

$10 XG3614 with SureGrip (Pack of 1)

XG3614 though as it will have a slightly larger holding capacity. If you must stick with Pennzoil, upgrade to the Platinum synthetic, it's supposed to be one of the best on the market for cleaning engines up.

 

Yes they do.

 

More great suggestions, thanks!!

TW Rocks...!!