After taking my 2000 HD to the dealership for the 3rd time, and again being told that using a qt of oil in 2000 miles is not only normal, but desirable... and the smoke on startup is "normal" for the high performance engine in my truck (what Hi-Po engine??)... I need some info:

1) How many others with 5.4s (non supercharged) are experiencing noticeable oil consumption?

2) How many are experiencing exhaust smoke on startup?

3) I remember reading in 2000 or 2001 that a couple people had some oil consumptions issues and that they had the problems fixed by their dealerships - anyone remember who? Or are you still on here??

The service manager basically told me not to bring my truck back and that he called ford motor company and that they would no longer authorize any diagnostics or repair on my vehicle for these issues at ANY dealership.. and that this problem had never been reported or fixed on any other 5.4 vehicle at any other dealership... Nice huh??

Thanks in advance..

Lanna

 

Just going to ask......

Have you ever changed....
Air filter?
Fuel filter?

What grade of gas do you use? What brand?

I had an 01 SCREW w/ the 5.4 It was a dog. I never used oil but it did have a power problem.

I see this type of thing all the time with KOHLER engines. These guys buy the machine and never change the air filter, then they can't figure out why the thing uses oil.......hum??....maybe because the air filter was so dirty that you sucked dirt into the engine and wiped the cylinders out?

Please don't take this post the wrong way, I don't mean to flame on you. Please understand.

 

Hi,

The truck has 24500 miles on it.. The air filter is checked regularly, and it has been changed. Right now I only use the disposable type because I want to switch to the "air raid" setup so I don't want to purchase the K&N replacement until I get the new setup.

The fuel filter has not been changed. I use Chevron gas, usually mid grade, sometimes super.

The oil has been changed at the dealership every time but once.. and it didn't start using oil until last april/may at about 14000 miles.


Lanna

 

I'm not sure......But that fuel filter may have a bit to do with it. If your fuel filter is blocked you will run lean, causing the cylinder walls to wear due to lack of lube.

I have an 02 HD and had the fuel filter changed at 6000 miles. I saved the filter and cut it open, you wouldn't believe how much it was clogged.

 

! How hard is to change the fuel filter in the 02 HD? How much $ is the filter? I don't want to go lean with my 6# pulley

 

The filter was like 9.95 from the dealer. Its the same on all the trucks. I had the dealer change mine for the first time just to prove that it was changed. I don't want any problems!!!!

 

HD4,

Do a "fuel filter" search and you should come up with something. I am going to do my oil (synthetic) and fuel filter this weekend, but i won't be able to post about it until Thursday (if I ever catch up on reading all the posts)

This forum is really starting to pick up I am going to have to get a second job just so I can serf the net while working there too!

 

i just did a quick search and here's a quote i found that i posted in the past with a link with a how-to

 

Hi all! On the topic of oil consumption, here's some input. I took my 02 in yesterday for it's first (3000) service. I got there after work, and there was one guy looking under the hood really hard, the next thing I knew, there was another guy looking under the hood, really hard, and then another. Of course I'm standing there watching all this, a little concerned. Since I used to wrench on everything from motorcylcles, to 747's, I was naturally curious. So I asked the service manager what was up. He showed me that they found some oil in the intake, running up to the throttle body, and even stated that there was a little bit of a "puddle" in the snorkel. Well, I didn't think much about it, and I even noticed my truck more or less "breaking in" after I first started driving it. The tranny used to shift like there was a shift kit in it (enough to make you spill your coffee), and that mellowed out (thank God because it was actually starting to annoy me), and once or twice, after my baby sat for a couple of days, I noticed a puff of oil after I started her. The service guys said it was about a 1/4 of a quart low, for 3K miles. He then showed me a service article in Fords data base, only listed under the Lightning, that stated sometimes you would see this. If the truck passed a compression test, and a few other basic mechanical checks, it was to be considered normal. Oh, the other thing I guess they've found is that sometimes the baffles in the valve covers either aren't installed, or improperly installed, and that would definately cause oil to build up in the intake, since that's what the system is supposed to do. I've seen some responses here that indicate one quart every 2K miles, which does seem excessive. Lanna, take your truck in and ask them for a compression check, and get the results. After that, check your oil half way inbetween every change and record that. Then, if you go in again, have em check it one more time (you might have to watch), if there is a significant drop in compression, it's probably a ring issue. If there isn't, then it's probably normal blow by. I'm going to bike week in March, so I'll put in over 2K miles while towing about 3000 lbs. I'll be watching the oil, and listening for rods knocking. I'll check back here when I'm done and let everyone know what comes of the "road trip" test. Peace!

 

Hi,

Thanks for the info... You didn't happen to notice the bulletin number did you? The former dealership gave me a bunch of bulletins but they all say oil consumption is normal, as is the smoke but nothing about doing a compression check. If I could show that to the dealership I'm going to take it to next.. it might help.

thanks,

lanna