Idle sticks /oil around gaskets and lower engine

MARKOFGRACE17

MEMBER
FORD BRONCO

85 Bronco II V6 2.8 4WD: A few weeks ago after running for about 8 miles(20 mins) and shutting off and re-start the idle sticks and the engine runs fast( in drive without any pressure on gas petal will coast at about 30-35 mph. Checked engine, oil around gaskets and lower engine. Checked oil it read about a quart low. Put oil in it ran fine about 3 days. Now it starts okay somtimes and sticks after runing, shutting off and re-start, sometimes starts with stuck idle and lets off after driving a few miles. Oil gauge reads normal, but the high idle heats engine and burns oil leaked causing it to smoke. Checked collant it's ok. Gauge reads normal.
Is this an oil pump problem, or maybe the idle speed control soliniod? Where is the idle speed control soliniod and how do I replace it?

1 Reply

MARKOFGRACE17

MEMBER
3 POSTS

1. Oil leaks: That v-6 is notorious for the 5 quarts of oil in the oil pan being pumped through the motor making its last stop up through the push rods from the lifters. There are 4 small drain holes cast through the heads one hole at each end of the head that provide a path for the oil to reach the oil pan and pump. If you remove the valve cover you’ll probably see that the drain holes are stopped up because there is very little if any oil recirculating back through the motor the oil isn’t returning to the bottom of the motor quick enough (to the oil pan and oil pump). If maintance oil changes haven’t been done it can cause a sludge build up in the drain hole trapping the oil in the upper part of the engine saturating the gaskets and the oil starts to leak at these points making it seem as though the valve cover and cover gaskets are leaking. A way to check is go out and check the oil in the motor with the engine cold. Then start it up and let run about 5 minutes, then shut the motor off and check the oil. It will probably be super low if on the dip stick at all, it normally takes 1 minute or less for the oil to drain down. You’ll probably notice it takes yours a lot longer.
2. Fast Idle: sounds like the idle speed control solenoid is sticking. Remove and clean or (better) replace. And clean the throttle body it’s most likely gotten an oil build up. My bet is there’s been smoke coming from the exhaust as well?