Hello, I've noticed my engine oil 'disappearing' between oil changes over the past few years. It's getting progressively worse. The truck has 75,000 miles on it and I change the oil myself as well as the filter at around 4k miles. I checked it yesterday with about 3k miles on the oil change and it was two quarts low. No leaks that I can see and no smoke out of exhaust.


I use the Motorcraft 5w-20 synthetic blend (as recommended) every oil change.


I have never checked the PCV valve but I thought I'd run it by you guys for advice. I do have mechanic skills so if I need to test or troubleshoot something let me know.

 

How many miles were on the truck when you bought it? Some people lease vehicles and don't bother to change the oil for the period of the lease. It happens a lot.

 

I bought it new and been using the same oil ever since.

 

I would replace the PCV valve with a Motorcraft. A quart in 1500 miles is within specs but not normal with only 75k on the engine.

You can safely use a 5W30 oil in a 4.6.

If you get a puff of smoke out the exhaust on startup, that's indicative of leaky valve guide seals.

 

Thanks, are you recommending I try 5W30?


Also, when I gently hold my hand over the tail pipe and release - a puff of white smoke comes out. Otherwise no white smoke is noticeable.

 

It wouldn't hurt to try 5W30, but I'd replace the PCV valve first. Use only a Motorcraft part.

EV269 without heated PCV
EV279 with electrically heated PCV

 

I bought a new 2000 F150 with a 5.4. It burned a quart of oil every 2500 miles until it had about 80,000 miles on it. I had an employee who worked at an oil change shop tell me that the Ford V8s used oil. After 80k miles, it would go 5,000 miles before it was a quart low. I presume it took that long for the rings to fully seat?!

I bought my current 2002 F150 with a 5.4 when it had 69,000 miles on it. I bought it to use on a job in Wisconsin. I serviced it and drove it 1,250 miles to the job and it used a half quart of oil on the trip and ever since would go 5,000 miles before it's a quart low. Same sort of thing I suppose as the 2000.

The only advice I can give is what glc said, change the PCV with a Motorcraft.

I bought a new 65 Chevelle with a 327 engine that burned a qt every 1500 miles which was typical for a Chevy back then. I thought all cars burned oil like a Chevy until I bought a new 70 Mustang with a 302 v8. It would go 6k miles the recommended oil change interval without needing oil.