My 2000 5.4 used a qt every 2500 miles until 80k and then would go 5k miles and still be almost full. I used 5w30 Havoline the first 10k miles (3 oil changes) and switched to Mobil 1 5w30 and changed every 5k miles. Sold it at 105k miles in Aug 05. Missed it so bad, I bought a 2002 this year with 69k miles.

 

Did she stop burning a quart every 2500 miles when you switched to the Mobile 1?

 

No, I switched at 10,000 miles. It stopped burning oil at 80,000 miles. Sometimes Fords take a long time to completely seat the rings.

 

I have 2008 F150 with 23000 miles. Between 18000 and 22000 my truck began to show some blue smoke, mostly on start up and is intermittent. It used 1 quart during that time. I have oil changed at an agency for the dealer and I use exactly what they call for in the manual 5w20. I have it changed between 4,000 and 5,000 miles. Took it to the dealer today. They could not duplicate the blue smoke but did some compression tests etc. and could not find any problems. Did say that there was a small leak at the filter. I have parked at the same spot in my driveway since 2008 and have never seen a speck of oil. The dealer contacted the factory and was told by Chris that the workshop manual section 303-00 engine system general information states the one quart of oil in 1500 miles is normal. Normal to who? I told them that was good information, I will keep it in mind when I buy my next truck.

 

Id throw a new motorcraft PVC on there just to see if that fixed it.. I had a bad PVC in my van and getting a new one pretty much ended oil consumption.

 

If you are that concerned about it do a compression test and leakage test to verify your concerns.

 

A quart in 1500 miles is not excessive to ANY manufacturer. It's not just a Ford thing.

 

I don't know where this idea comes from that 1 qt for 1500 miles is normal or acceptable. I am 67 and have owned a few cars and trucks and a motorhome. I do not recall putting over 3 ro 4 quarts of oil between changes with the exception of a 1971 F150 and it had 85000 before it used any oil. Had a motorhome with a Chevy 454 that I put 65000 + miles on and never uses any oil. A couple of trips from Washington State to the East Coast towing a Honda. Never used any oil. This is totally BS to me. Does any one think that oil is combustable in the cylinder? Does some oil in ther cylinder make for perfect combustion? When a 5.4 engine starts using approximately one quart in 1500 miles does anyone think that will not get worse over time? I happen to think it will.

To follow up-- The ford dealer did a compression test and other test as well and their words were "none of these test revealed a problem." I am having it in for another problem (nothing major) this week and while there I will get a PVC valve and change it out.

 

Like I said, NONE of the manufacturers consider 1500 miles per quart to be excessive.

 

In April of 2009, I bought my current 02 5.4 with 69kmiles. It burned a qt of oil in about 2500 miles at first and quit. Now, I run it 5k miles without adding unless I get **** and add 1/2 qt when it drops that much. So, it took a while to seat the rings completely too. It just turned 98k yesterday on the trip back to FL where I am currently working from NC. No problems with it except the AC compressor makes a little noise and I added one can of freon last summer.

I'm also 66 yrs old and I was stuck on Chevys in my younger days. I never had a Chevy that would go more than 2k miles without needing oil. My brand new 327 1965 Chevelle used a qt of oil every 1500 miles. I bought a new 302 Mustang in 1970 and couldn't believe it didn't burn oil.

 

2.5 qts every 2500 miles. Owned 3 of these 5.4 jobs with much higher mileage. Changed every vacuum line imagineable. Run 5w 20 down here in Louisiana. Changed the PCV valve. No smoke, no leaks, oil just disappears. Pulled the plugs and read them twice within 5000 miles...no oil deposits. If anything, the joker is running lean.

By the way, off the subject, I recommend anybody with a 5.4 to call Summit and order some E3 spark plugs, if you want instant throttle response and improved gas mileage.

Anyway, back to the problem. I've searched this forum all the way back to 2004, and other sites, and found I'm not the only one concerned about the oil "disappearance". I can tell you, I think I'm on the brink of figuring it out; I just need some feedback from other 5.4 owners. I bought my 99 van from an auction; it's one of those bi-fuel jobs. I tracked it down to Kansas City, KS, from a military base. It was used as some sort of transport, and had probably a high idle time, since the door hinge pins were worn out, the ignition and automatic shift lever had excessive play for a truck with 68k. The alternative fuel that this truck ran on, besides gasoline once every blue moon (if that), was CNG (compressed natural gas), which burns at 130 octane and heats up the engine compartment really quick, despite the high octane. The vacuum lines were unusually brittle for this low of a mileage vehicle, especially since I've owned three others with higher mileage and some older years.

I suspect these engines have a drain back or drain down issue. In laymen's terms, at the slightest hint of sludge, the oil gets trapped in the head and sucked through the PCV valve, regardless of whether the valve is good or bad. And I suspect that 99% of the oil is being sucked up through the valve when the engine is at an idle. That's the advantages of having a van, where you can remove the doghouse and perform various tests with the engine running. Most of the posts that I've noticed that list their oil consumption concerns, change their oil at a higher mileage, which may coincide with my suspicion of the sludge issue preventing drainback. And most of you guys had compression checks and all that jazz.

So before I go douching up my engine with a Marvel mystery oil or Seafoam, I'd like some feedback about whether or not you guys noticed any oil deposits or fresh oil rather in the plastic intake boot that runs to the air filter where the other valve cover adjacent to the pcv valve hooks up to complete the circulation. Or fresh oil after an idle in the pcv plastic hose (between the intake and the valve).

Any feedback would be helpful, thanks.

 

Pull a valve cover and take a look. If it's sludged, you will sure see it. The best way to clean it without tearing the engine apart is AutoRX.

 

I'm a tech at toyota. Our spec is and I'm in canada 1litre in 1500kms is acceptable. Every engine USES oil. Next time you drain your oil put in a measuring container and tell me if you get what you out what you last put in it. No vehicle will

 

I'd love to pull the valve cover. I haven't tried but I don't think it can happen on an E350 Superduty Van with a 5.4 and all aluminum intake with 2 sets of fuel rails, one for natural gas and one for gasoline. Just changing the plugs and packs are all bloody knuckles and needle nose. I wouldn't attempt damaging a valve cover gasket trying. I'd have to take off the intake and everything that goes with it first and break the yellow seal marks from the Canadian installed CNG bi-fuel kit. If I had a truck, I'd post the results in an hour. However, you did give me an idea with pulling a rubber grommet out of the valve cover and gently taking myself a sample with a screwdriver or other safe blunt object.

Thanks.

 

So my 99 expedition 5.4 was burning 2 quarts every 1500 miles. Has been for over a year. The other day I was doing some maintenance had engine running and decided to add some oil. When I pulled the cap off the engine ran like **** almost died. Put it back it was fine. Took it off again same ****. I could put my hand over the oil fill hole run fine pull hand away run like ****. I changed my pcv valve it was stuck wide open no rattle. When I would remove my oil cap I was essentially creating a big vacuum leak. Now that the pcv is changed my mileage has gone from 11.9 to 14.5 and my oil consumption is virtually gone. My truck is a 99 expedition 4x4 5.4 3.73 gears 17 inch alloys and only 115k miles. I've never seen a pcv make such a drastic difference besides on this engine. I signed up to share this info with you guys.