I have a 2001 supercrew 4.6 winzer engine, 55,000 miles. I have a mysterious missing oil. I did an oil change and about 1000 miles later I have at least a quart missing. It has been like this since I owned the truck. I have no visible leaks under the engine. oil filter is on tight and not leaking. When I changed the oil, I put in a full 7 quarts of castrol 5w30. Since I have owned the truck for the past 6 months. I have noticed only 3 times that I had a bunch of smoke come out the pipe at start up only. was gone in less than 30 sec.

Is there any common problems that are associated with missing oil in the 4.6 engine? if there is the fix and a cost?

Thanks for your help

Skip

 

I would check threads about valve guides. Oil smoke at start up is not to be expected ever. Three times in six months is three times to many. Is there oily residue inside the exhaust tip? My '99 4.6L went 220,000 and would only use oil when it was time to change it. It would go 5,000 mi or so and then be about a quart low. Changed the oil and it would not use a drop for another 5K. Why don't you try some of the additives that condition the seals and see if your problem slows down. My '99 also was a 6 quart change. If you are only replacing 5 it might show above the fill line but not be completely full. Be sure that you are putting enough oil in to start with.

 

Red Line makes a product called SI-1 Fuel system cleaner. The stuff lubricates and cleans everything in one application.

 

I am trying the system cleaner right now. I'm hoping maybe I can clean somthing out that is causing the problem. I dumped 3/4 of a can in the crank case and a whole can in the gas tank. I'll give that try and hope for the best

Today i added oil and the sea foam. that brought my level up on the dip stick to 3/4

Any other suggestions, Please let me know

Skip

 

I believe the 4.6 only takes 6 quarts. I am not 100% sure though. It is a little bit above the full line when I put 6 in my 4.6.

Edited to change 5.4 to 4.6. Thought he said 5.4.

 

When you say you saw smoke come out the tail pipe, are you sure it was smoke and not white vapor (water) which is normal? Also it is normal for the inside of the tail pipe to look black. It use to not be normal years ago, but now days it is normal for the inside of the tail pipe to look black.

 

I suggest looking at the underneath side of the motor. Where the heads and block meet. Any sign of oil there. Head is leaking.


tom

 

I have a 98 expedition 5.4 k&n flowmaster system cold air kit.
The way i fixed my missing oil problem was by adding an oil cap
breather on valve cover.This drasticaly reduced oil consumption
thru the tail pipe.Then later on the drivers side valve cover i also added a mini breather & that totaly solved my missing oil problems. You may also want to look at your throttle bodie & give it a good cleaning i also replaced the pcv valve this can also swallow a good amount of oil & it would not be easly found. This also happend to my previous expedition this was also the remedy for it also. This only seemed to happen on long highway trips.With the vale covers breathing correctly your oil will also stay cleaner longer. Orininally i purchased all the necessary parts
from autozone.

good luck TURBOTED