I noticed the smell of burning oil so when I was getting gas I popped the hood and noticed some grey smoke coming from the passenger side above the manifolds. I couldn't see much of anything because it was 3 in the morning and honestly I was headed to Kansas city for a doctor's appointment so I had to drive it. I checked the oil which was fine and the coolant that was also fine. I unfortunately haven't had the chance to crawl under it and try to fnd the problem but will in the next day or two.The truck has never over heated and the oil oressure is good. I have checked the oil daily and i cant notice much of a change, maybe a 1/4 of a quart (after 500 miles). The oil is a good consistency with no coolant in it or best i can tell. The coolant is at the exact same level and is clean. Im hoping tomorrow i find a valve cover leaking and not the head gasket problem everyone has described. I guess my concern and question would be did the guys who found it to be the head gasket have a major loss of oil and notice any difference in coolant???

 

Outlaw - I moved your post to a new thread in the 1997-2003 F150 section. You might get better responses here than you would have tacked on to an ancient thread in the Lightning forum. Welcome to F150online!

- Jack

 

The head gasket leak that these engines seem to have are strictly external. No break between the oil passages and coolant passages or combustion chambers. It can look just like a valve cover leak.