5.4L Burning oil pretty bad!

01Screw17 · #1 10-23-2009, 06:24 PM

I need some advice on what to do, and I trust the members on this site over anyone else.

I have a 2001 5.4L with 109,XXX miles on it. I bought it used at around 80,000 miles and the prevouis owner said he always ran 5W-30 organic motor oil. So I figured I shouldn't change and I ran that as well. I had no oil burning problems at all.

My buddy recommended adding about a half quart of Lucus Oil pure petrolum to my oil at my next service. It sounded like a good idea, so I did. I did this 2 or 3 times with no oil burning problems. Truck seemed to run great.

I was searching the forums about Lucus Oil and found tons of threads about it and how it shouldn't be used with these motors.

So my next oil change I didn't use the Lucus and also switched to Motorcraft 5W-20 synethic blend. Now my truck is burning oil pretty bad. About a half quart in less than 1500 miles. And I always service my truck at 3000 miles.

I know now I should have never used the Lucus and should have used the Motorcraft from the beginning. I just would like to hear from you guys about what I should do. Maybe use the Lucus again, or switch to a heavier oil...

Please Help.

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AZTriton · #2 10-23-2009, 06:42 PM

Finding any oil in your coolant? Might just be a coincidence that when you changed oil that this problem occurred but I have no idea what that Lucas product is you dumped in there. I initially thought Lucas products were good stuff but I stay away from Lucas products anymore. SNAKE OIL!

glc · #3 10-23-2009, 07:17 PM

Quote:

About a half quart in less than 1500 miles.

That is not excessive oil consumption. Continue using the 5W20 Motorcraft with NO additives, and get an accurate reading of exactly how much it's burning.

Note the exact level of the oil on the stick after the oil change - it should be between the 2 marks, NOT all the way to the full mark. When it gets to the ADD line, add 1 quart. When it gets back down to the level you had after the oil change, THAT is the exact miles it took to burn 1 quart. If it's less than 1000 miles, Ford considers that excessive consumption.

jethat · #4 10-23-2009, 07:51 PM

Get a new(ford) PVC and glc is correct that isnt abnormal.

Matts ford · #5 10-23-2009, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jethat

Get a new(ford) PCV and glc is correct that isnt abnormal.

f150fella08 · #6 10-23-2009, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matts ford

X2!

thats about what my 4.6 uses.

01Screw17 · #7 10-23-2009, 09:31 PM

So if it burns a quart up in 1000 miles I should have better reason to worry. The thing thats bothersome to me is the fact that it never burnt any before I started using the Motorcraft synethic blend. I know this because I am always checking my fluid levels, at minimum, once a month. And the oil is defenitly being burned up, and not leaking because I always park in the same spot and there is no oil stains.

Changing the PCV, I hadn't thought of that but I'll give it a try.

Labnerd · #8 10-23-2009, 10:19 PM

If you haven't changed the PCV, that may cure the problem but one issue that you have is the 5w-20. The truck used a 5w-30, according to yer post, for the first part of its life. You'll need to stay with it. As the crankshaft bearings wear in, they will wear according to form a wedge of oil just in front of the highest torque location which as it goes around, changes with every degree. That's called eccentric wear. Because the engine had a long regimen of a 5w-30 and has worn in to that viscosity oil, the bearings will now leak an excessive amount of the thinner 5w-20 oil and the rings are in a starvation environment because of the leakage. If it were my engine, I'd be changing oil tomorrow to a 5w-30 and the oil usage will probably go back to normal. YMMV

jethat · #9 10-23-2009, 10:28 PM

I switched both my high mileage 5.4's from 5-30 to 5-20 and yes they use a little oil but I dont worry about it. Walmart always has the 5-20 in stock and they are useually out of 5-30.
Next time I'll look for the 5-30 but I've ran it for a few years now no real problem. One of my engine has 218k on it and it ran with 5-30 for the first 150k of its life I'm sure.. I dont think its a big deal.

01Screw17 · #10 10-24-2009, 12:39 PM

Labnerd, the 5w-20 I am currently running is motorcrafts synethic blend, will it be okay if I switch back to the organic 5w-30. Because I have heard that it is not wise to run synethic and then switch to organic.

And I am going to the Ford Dealership right now to pick up a PCV valve.

01Screw17 · #11 10-24-2009, 02:34 PM

I went and picked up a PCV valve from ford, and I know that it is located somewhere towards the back of the engine near the valve cover, but I cant seem to find it.

If anyone can provide info regarding where the PCV is located it would be a tremendous help.

Matts ford · #12 10-24-2009, 02:52 PM

its right on the passenger side valve cover

Labnerd · #13 10-24-2009, 03:36 PM

Most of the "synthetics" on the market today are a dino synthetic just like the base oils used in the OTC oils or "organic" oils. There are few PAO or ester based oils anymore. It got way too expensive and the base products to make them are starting to be hard to find. Any oil that wears the Ford specs 929 or 930 are the best you can buy. Look for the API Starburst and the Ford spec on the back of the bottle.

01Screw17 · #14 10-24-2009, 05:44 PM

I found some Motorcraft 5w-30, synthetic blend, so I'm going to do an oil change this weekend and see if that helps.

Thanks again for everyones help.

Bent6 · #15 10-24-2009, 11:48 PM

FWIW my '97 has been burning about a quart every 1000 miles for last 200,000 miles with ZERO I'll effects. Power and milage is same as it has ever been. At 330,000 miles it still has the original cats and 2 of 4 O2 sensors (one got slow, other had a heater fail).