I have an '01 with 37K on it. Stock except for exhaust. Got it used in Nov. Been in 4 times for oil leak. (2 for me, 2 for last owner.) I'm now using the extended powertrain warranty up to 100K.

When I picked it up last time from getting the oil leak fixed they replaced the oil pan gasket and the cap bolts that go through the block. I checked the oil when I picked it up, but it was dark. I could see that it was in the okay range so I left. That was Friday night.

Over the weekend I checked it again and I was half a quart down from full. The invoice listed 6 qts of oil.

Does 6 quarts put the oil to the top of the full?

I just checked my oil (it's been 360 miles since I picked it up) and I am low 3/4 qt.

Do these trucks use oil like this normally? It's not smoking (except slight puff on start occasionally) or dripping. I know about the oil in the intake.

 

Head gasket leaking possibly? But I'm not sure if a head gasket leak would be losing that much oil. Maybe others have some better input.

 

Oil pan gasket AGAIN?

Time for thumb screws and more investigative measures.

Bob

 

I belive that 6 qts will put the oil level in the middle of the add and full range. So it may look like it is a little low! Jim

 

Responded to your PM.




Before I dropped it off, I put dye in and told them where it was coming from. They still tried to say it was the oil pan gasket again until I reminded them that the dye indicated the bolts above the oil pan gasket.

Second attempt, previous owner - all gaskets replaced.

This fix - engine was pulled (according to invoice) and I assume they would look for dye from head. When I looked before I dropped it off, it didn't look like it (but I didn't pull the engine!)

 

I thought you needed to use a black light for seeing the dye?

Sounds like they are avoiding the expensive extensive fix. Don't know why? I thought that stuf was covered by the factory warranty. They should make money on it.

 

I used a blue led pen light. Works better if you have the yellow glasses. 2-3 tools trucks stop by my work every week. I can get the black light, but I would only use it on my truck. Not something I would use at work, so I didn't spend the money on it.


I don't know why Ford/dealer didn't put dye in the first time, cost me $7.00 on the Mac truck. It has cost Ford $1090.84 just for my 2 fixes and a rental car. I think Ford pays less than a customer for the same work.

 

6 quarts will not show up as full on my dipstick. A little over halfway between the two lines on the dipstick.
My 2001 burns about 1/2 quart every 600 to 700 miles, allways
has. A little bit of that is still getting sucked into the intake, even
after I put a oil seperator on it over a year ago. I have a LOT less
oil in the intake however since adding the seperator.

I traded in a 99 lightning that did not burn any oil!!

Mine used to smoke on start up most days, but when I had my charger off for porting I took the intercooler out and cleaned it
up good and so far no smoke.

 

Yup, ditto here. 6 qts isn't all the way full on my '01.

Even with my "recycling" of the PCV oil that I catch with an oil separator, I still use almost 1 quart ever 3500 miles. Must be burning it since it doesn't drip. Mine has 41K miles, about the same as you, basically stock.

Randy