Hey all,
I used a borescope to check my cylinders this weekend, and I now have some concerns. Just want to see what yall think. Here are photos of the cylinders:

Cyl 1

Cyl 1

Cyl 2

Cyl 2

Cyl 3

Cyl 4

Cyl 4

Cyl 5

Cyl 5

Cyl 6

Cyl 6

Cyl 7

Cyl 7

Cyl 8

Cyl 8

 

What year, size, miles and how long have you owned? Cross hatch looks good. I've rebuild the 4.6 and 5.4 and both motors had ZERO ridge ring. Doesn't mean anything is wrong.....I'm just saying.
What oil r u using? How does it run?
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It's a 2003 5.4. Got about 184000. I've owned it for a year now. I use Pennzoil Platinum 5w20 and motorcraft filter. I bought it at 179000 and changed it 3 times now. The camshaft looks pretty good. This is the first time I've seen the cylinders. I don't know what is and what is not normal for piston wear, but the truck runs like a top other than a little shaking at idle, a precat tick, and a little startup rattle. It does burn about a quart and a half every 6 months. Just about everything as far as the air intake has been replaced. I even rebuilt the injectors. Some of those cylinders are clean, and that's what concerns me.

 

Oil looks a little thin. I use 5w30 in my 1997 and 2000. Maybe they changed it to 5w20 in 2003.

 

I've been afraid to switch because of how old the engine is, but a lot of people do use the 30 in these with good results. I don't wanna make anything worse. I do use the 30 to top off in between changes though.

 

Wait a minute...... You've had it for 5,000 miles and change the oil 3 times....... But somehow in that time you figured out it also burns a quart and a half of oil every 6 months. It runs good but yet you're going and sticking a boroscope into the cylinders.....

A little unsteadyness at idle can be injectors that are not all balanced anymore... Fouled, etc. rattle on startup means your timing chain Guides are worn... or the tensioner sticking. Could be due to wrong oil filter, wrong oil, lack of oil changes is in the past etc. The rattle is the timing chain slapping the plastic guides which are old and brittle and will break.... It's very important that it doesn't rattle....

 

So what are you actually asking about the cylinders?

 

I can't speak about what was used in it or done to it before I had it. I've been using the right stuff since I've had it. And yes, I change the oil every 6 months because I don't drive it much. All I know is that I changed a valve cover gasket and the cylinder and cam looked good. I'm aware that I have a timing job coming soon, but the rattle at startup is most likely the precat. I was cleaning my plug bores and decided to take a look inside the cylinders while I was at it, and I'm glad I did. I'm just looking for opinions on the condition of my pistons and valves.

 

Mountain Whiskey
I was wondering if it was normal wear and tear or if I may have an imminent problem ahead. If they were all the same, I'd chalk it up as normal wear and tear, but some are super clean.

 

Sometimes when cylinders are super clean that means the head gasket is leaking a little coolant into the cylinder and it's getting steam cleaned. Not saying that is your problem though. But if that is happening you will lose coolant over time.