The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop The ole diesel fuel overfill trick.

I have put a new to me 216 on an engine run stand made from the front end of '52 truck frame on big caster wheels. I had no idea of the history of the engine or if there was anything wrong with it.
The run stand has a radiator support, radiator, exhaust pipe/muffler, and a factory gauge for checking oil pressure and temperature.
I have been able to get it to run well enough to get it up to temperature so that I could set the idle/mixture, adjust the valves, and set the timing. I let it run long enough to be sure that it wasn't going to overheat.
Two of the valves were too tight, causing a miss, and some were too loose causing a lot of clacking. Once I dialed everything in, it runs very smooth and quiet. I had oil make it to all of the rocker arm weep holes right from the very beginning which was a big relief.
I am going to install a working generator to the engine, and regulator to the run stand.
Some regulators have rubber grommets on the screw holes. Is this for electrical insulation or protection from vibration damage?

After I am done with the generator test, I am going to put the engine on a stand and remove the oil pan to check the bearings, oil pan spray nozzles and replace the rear main seal and the timing cover seals.
Before I take it off of the run stand, I am thinking about adding 2 quarts of diesel fuel on top of the 5 quarts of new oil already in there, run it for a half an hour at high idle to clean up the sludge likely to be in there to a certain degree.

Is this a good idea or should I just skip it and get covered in black goo when I take off the oil pan?

The regulator shock mounts are there for vibration isolation. Run a ground wire from the generator housing to the regulator base- - - -it's important for good regulator operation. I really like the diesel or mineral spirits flush- - - -that spinning crankshaft will do a much better job of cleaning the crankcase and the underside of the pistons, etc. than you'll ever be able to do with a brush. It's like an agitator in a washing machine. Drain the oil pan while the engine is still hot and a lot of the sludge will go with it.
Jerry

Thanks Jerry!