I am having serious engine problems!!! I took my L in to World Ford in Pembroke Pines to get a side mirror fixed because it wasn't working properly and i also told the guy to check out my L because their was black smoke coming out the exhaust everytime i started it up,he said he thought it was normal but would give it a check....it results that my Engine is Burning Oil!!!and its going to be their for a while..My Truck is NEW a 2001 with only 3500 miles,the worst part is Friday i went their to see what was going on because i never hear rom this guy and he tells me they where going to put some dye too se where the problem is coming from and that he would give me the results in the afternoon or Saturday morning well it's Sunday and i still don't know anything and i've called a couple of times but no answer,he also had said that they might have to replace the engine!!!!
Anybody have a similar problem with their L,and what should i do?accept the new engine if thats the case?
Thanks

 

Black smoke means it's running rich, to much fuel fairly common on our trucks.

White/brownish smoke means burning oil.

Sounds like your dealer mechanic isn't too bright. Sad to say that's pretty common also.

 

I have a 01 and get Blue smoke at startups sometimes, have had it since about 2000 miles. I think I went to Synthetic oil to soon. I took that oil out and went back to regular oil. I still get it though. I am not to sure if it is due to the blowby problem or valve seals in the heads. Its not alot of oil consumption, but enuff to make me check it more than id like to. Anyone else had this??

 

This is a pic of my 01L with 3500 miles, been doing this since new, really is bad if you let the truck idle a minute or two before shutting it off. Been told it was vale guides / seals and am awaiting a new motor.

 

you are wrong

white/bluish smoke indicates burning oil. look at the pic above

 

Kerrdogg,that is exactly what how my truck looks when started up!! Do you have your truck or is it in the shop and you have a rental? and how long do you have to wait for a new engine? sorry for all the questions but i'm having the exact same problems as you.

 

KERRDOG?

They are giving you a new motor for that??

 

You truck shouldn't be doing that.

Probably is bad rings or valves.

 

i believe this has been discussed numberous times, but I experienced it first hand. Oil residue in the intake boot and into the throttle and upper intake system. Oil some how(breather??)gets up there. If it's up there, it's definetely being ingested into the combustion chambers. Maybe small oil amounts "pool" and that's where the puff of smoke upon start up comes from. It has also been debated that this oil ingestion is a direct cause of detonation......still yet to be settle. .........Just what I've heard.

 

Let me try to answer all the questions asked.

First of all the truck is 100% stock and has done this from day one if you were to let the engine idle before truck is shut off, only takes a minute or two.

I am still driving the truck because I am waiting for a Ford Rep to speak to me in person regarding this issue (should be this week). The truck also consumes approx one quart of oil per 600 miles driven which is not a good thing and not normal. Replacement long block is in stock at AER (L engines are new not remans though) and could be shipped to my local in about a week.

My truck has been disassembled at the dealer and results discussed with engine techs with Ford Mtr Co. Leakdown and compression tests were normal, no oil found in intake boot and minute amount of oil found in lower intake in small valley that PCV system connects to. The only logical thing I can come up with is that a few of the guides or valve seals are damaged or missing. What I think happens is as the truck idles oil is able to puddle up in the valve cover area and then enters the combustion chamber as the motor cools through the guides and is then burned off upon restart.

Three spark plugs were completely covered in soot and looked very fouled, they were replaced and I was instructed to drive the truck to see if problem still existed, it did.

Ford approved a new longblock but I want a complete drop in motor as this problem has been with the truck since day one and is not up to SVT Quality #1 standards in my opinion. This is why I am currently waiting to meet with the Rep from Ford. Luckly I work at the dealer so ducking me isn't an option.

The picture I posted is actually mild compared to some of the smoke clouds that have rolled by my truck. On one restart for example a few friends that park in a different area at work thought I was doing a burnout to impress them, embarass me maybe but not impressing them.

ICULOKN- Fords policy is motor exchange if vehicle is under 12 months or 12,000 miles. This is not a problem if the vehicle is currently in production but as I have a 01 and 02's are being built now they want me to settle for a new longblock vs a complete drop in, this is why I am speaking with the Rep.

Oil contamination can cause detonation in a couple of ways, first by diluting the fuel air mixture being burned in the cylinder and second by coating the surface of the intercooler and lowering the efficency of the core. Oil in oil pan = GOOD, oil in intake = BAD .

 

Mine also did this for about the first 2500 miles at every startup. If it had sat for a few days, the cloud was really big!! It doesnt do it any more that I have noticed. Just turned over 4000 miles. I also went to a 5w-30 motor oil instead of the 5w-20.

 

One thing that puzzles me about these engines: I remember in the '80's, every turbocharged or supercharged engine I can think of called for thicker oil. Now with the L's they say to use 5W20? Somebody correct me if I'm wrong but the tolerances on these engines cant be THAT much tighter. I think this is a too thin of an oil problem more than anything. I think these engines should be running at least 10W30 in summer and 5W30 in winter.

 

Kerrdogg thanks alot for the reply. I think the info you gave me will help alot. Can y'all believe i still havnt heard from the service guy even after i left 2 messages and called like a whole bunch of times and been put on hold..i'm going to go their personally. You're defintely right about not expecting this from SVT. Anyways hopefully everything will go well. By the way mine has been having this problem since i bought it too...must be a S.Florida L problem !!!

Any other info that can help with this topic is appreciated.

 

Tallimeca: You should get the breather kit from metco. I just installed mine and I'm very happy with the results. No more of that nasty oil up in my blower and intercooler and no chip reburn required also. Its a nice and clean kit and takes few mintues to install. I've had mine on my truck for about 500 miles now with lots of WOT blast (thats was causes the oil to come up in there) and I have no more oil since it has no way of getting up there.
Later.
Oh yeah, I think they charge about $50 bucks for it with the CNC machined adapter, filter, and plugs. Little pricey but its works.

 

My stock '01 L is eating oil at 1qt/600 miles and smells like fuel.

It still runs like stink, but this is not a good thing.

I took it to the SVT dealer. They contacted SVT and were instructed to do an oil consumption test. I paid for the oil change, they marked the dip stick, and ran a compression test. Everything looked fine. They documented the fuel smell.

Took it back 700 miles later. The service manager, the engine specialist, and myself checked the oil. Down 1.25 qts and smells like fuel. They documented the oil consumption and both agreed that it smelled of fuel. The engine specialist said that it will probably require a new engine.

One more visit with the same result and they said this will complete their oil consumption test at which point SVT will have to advise them of the approved correction.

Dang......