Well I just gave my baby her scheduled oil change and found that I was low a quart. I put six quarts in 3000 miles ago, but only 5 came out. Is this normal for these engines or do I have a serious problem on my hands? I just got the truck about 3 months ago and I love it, but this seems a little odd to me. Any help?

-Craig

 

IMO, unless it's leaving drips or marks on the ground where it's sat overnight, then it can be considered "normal".

Mine has used just about a qt every 3000 miles since I got the truck with 62k miles on it. It's got 127k miles now and still the same. I park in the garage and not a drop on the ground.

I use Mobil 1, so at 3000 miles, I check (several times inbetween too... ) and usually add another qt at that time. By the time another 3000 rolls around, it's time for an oil change anyway.

I think most manufactures won't do anything with an engine unless it uses more then a qt in something like 1000 miles.... That's a little much for me, and at that point, I'm sure you are just burning it and you'll probably be able to see blue smoke from the exhaust......

Good luck!

Mitch

 

Did you take into consideration the oil filter holds 1 quart?

 

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by jpdadeo
Did you take into consideration the oil filter holds 1 quart?
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https://www.f150online.com/galleries....cfm?gnum=4362

 

Damn...the filter holds a quart?

I would say its normal. My mom's expedition uses oil like no tomorow. You can put in 6 qts and then a little and when it comes time for the oil change again, the dipstick will be dry. Anyway, needless to say, we keep the oil level checked because of this. I have heard other Ford owners say the same thing, so i would consider it just part of the design. That is, IF its not going somewhere else, like the driveway.

 

You accurately measured all the old oil including what was in the filter? Wow....that's dedication.

 

The wet filter media alone holds almost 1/2 a qt or so. Plus ALL engines burn a little so getting 5 out after 3k is really good.

Dodge 4x4 if your mom's expy is dry at 3k something is wrong. And most of all it has nothing to do with Ford. No manufacturer builds an engine to be dry at 3k. So something is wrong. If the PCV system (not just the valve) is clogged or a line is collapsed your engine will suck oil through the intake big time and you won't see much if any smoke (Like in the old days) because the cats are so good at cleaning up the exhaust.

 

Wouldn’t that set off the Check Engine Light?

 

nope it wont set a CEL.

 

Well, the DIPSTICK said it was dry, there was a some in the oil pan, cause we just ended up changing the oil ourselves since no one else would do it. I guess its a liability. Apparantly it had enough oil to run ok. It didnt over heat, and you sure can't depend on the oil 'gauge'. Anyway, it has 140,000 miles with no problems, so we just keep an eye on it and top it off when it needs it. It was just that one time, so i suspect there was more to the story. It still burns way more oil than i feel is normal, but so far so good. Everyone here and elsewhere seems to feel the few qts it burns in 5k miles is 'normal'. So.....

 

theantiriced

Since you just change your oil park it somewhere perfectly level and let it sit for 5 or 10 min to completely drain back to the pan, note the oil level, and accurately mark the stick with a razor blade, now drive your truck 1,000 miles and check your level (on the level) add to your truck from a new full bottle of oil until it is back up to where the mark you made is. (Allow time for the oil to drain) and be sure to check it with the engine at the same temp, ice cold or hot. What is missing from the bottle is what you burned in 1,000 miles. The Manufacturers say 1,000 miles per quart is acceptable; I know I'd like to see a lot less than that gone. Good Luck!

Just as an FYI, if you physically see smoke coming out of the tailpipe, all the time not just on start-up, you are talking a quart every 100 – 300 miles.

 

I actually had a pretty accurate way of measuring. After the oil change, I poured the used oil, including that from the filter, back into the empty quarts I had just poured into the engine. I only had 5 full quarts of used oil. By the sounds of things, it seems that this is not unusual. FYI, my truck has 45k miles on it. Thanks for the imput fellas.

-Craig

 

I think the best way to measure would be to check your dipstick just before you drain the oil.

 

I've owned Ford Trucks for 15+ years. I haven't done a "scientific" study. But I think they burn or lose the FIRST quart of oil quickly. I never had oil stains in my driveway but I always seemed to be "down a quart". This seems to be the case whether I checked it at 1,500 or 3,000 or 5,000 miles. With my curreent '98 I change the oil @ 5,000 mile intevals. Even if add a quart @ 1,500 and again @ 3,000 miles I'm still "down a quart" @ 5,000 miles. If I don't add any oil, between changes, I'm "down a quart" @ 5,000 miles. My Ford trucks always seem to "use" a quart and stop. Anyone else noticed this?

Bill

 

Two things about the Expedition using oil.

1. Just because the dipstick doesn't have a mark on it doesn't mean it is "out of oil". It will usually go off the stick at around 2 quarts low. Many of my customers have pulled their dipsticks and found no oil on the sticks. They panic, run to auto store and buy 4 quarts of oil. Because the man behind the counter tells them that's how much the car holds. Go home and dump all four quarts in without checking between quarts.

Now they end up with an engine that is 2 quarts overfilled. Happens all the time.

2. If the engine has 140,000 miles on it some oil usage is normal. It is probably leaking by the valve quide seals, which are aged, hard, etc.