hi,

I changed the oil at 12,500 5w-20 mobil one and i just checked the oil dip stick, it read half between low and high mark at 16,200.

is this normal for mobil oil to burn some oil off and it show a bit tan ??

Its 5.4L 2004 F150

Am i parniod for nothing ??

Thanks!
YOMAN!

 

All internal combustion engines will burn some oil. Its in their nature. Go 3000 miles instead of 4000 miles and it won't burn it though, to that noticable an extreme

 

Half between the low and full...so in the crosshatches? Don't worry about it.

 

This is a thought that someone more learned than I may know a correct answer, not opinion to. Is 12k mi enough time for complete break-in (ring sealing) to prevent the oil from sneaking out? Will Moblie One slip by easier than reg. oil. thus causing the loss? Does it matter on this eng. if the oil was checked at diff. times, cold, hot, just shut down, uphill, level, etc? Just asking.
Thanks

 

I've been reading around here that some members have experienced a little more rapid than normal oil consumption when running Mobil 1, but it levels out around 15-20K miles.

 

To Yoman,
Certainly at 5000 miles the oil will start to show contamination in suspension.
That's what the oil does instead of allowing it to form sludge on the internal parts.
My question would be, are you sure you had filled to a level above the cross hatch area and not just reli on the number of bottles of oil, considering the new filter holds some oil?
The motorcraft 5w20 is already a blend so going full syn should not create any additional usage problems.

 

ford says 1 quart per oil change is maximum loss..

 

I normally check it on the level in the morning before I start the engine? Also did you put in 7 qts with the filter change that is what that engine will require to be at the max level on the dip stick, I have the same engine and at 3K on an oill change mine will still be level full but is not being run hard also I am using motorcraft 10w30 synthetic blend with not problems.

 

Shoot for about a third of the way up the crosshatches when you do an oil change...when the valvetrain bleeds down, the oil level will be at mid or close to the top of the crosshatches. Filling it right to the top of the crosshatches after you drain the old stuff and replace the filter will overfill it slightly.

 

Wouldnt that be nice. Ford says there isnt a problem until you lose 1 qt every 900 miles.

 

Ford is notorious for inaccurate oil dipstick readings. On many trucks to show its full is actually over full. Half way between the marks is just right.

 

At your next oil change get a good filter with an anti-drain back valve and do the oil change. Add the exact amount of oil that Ford recommends. Start the engine and let it idle while checking for oil leaks. Then pull the dip stick and look and memorize the oil level. This will be your hot level. Then let the truck sit for an hour and check the level again. This will be your cold level. So here is what might have happened. Some of us check the oil in the morning before firing up the engine. The oil has had time to drain back into the pan so it will read higher than when the engine is hot. When you fill up with gas the engine is hot and the oil has not had a chance to drain back into the pan so it will read lower. So the point is never compare the hot level to the cold level they will always be different. FWIW I keep the oil level at around the ½ mark on the crosshatches. I only add oil if it is at the low mark. Mine seems to burn oil if I over fill it.

JMC

 

If you read your Owner's Manual carefully, I think you'll see that Ford had a better brain fart here. "Full" no longer shows up as the top of the cross-hatched area on your dipstick. For some odd reason, they moved it to midway between the upper and lower marks. Don't ask me why, I'm just a dumb Engineer and it makes absolutely no sense to me either. So, in addition to all of the (correct) information you've seen on "acceptable" levels of oil consumption, you may actually be right on the mark!

 

Yoman

I switched to Mobil one at about 30K. Noticed right away that at the next 3K change, I was almost a quart down. Had the same panic you are experiencing, but stayed with the Mobil one. At my last oil change (199K), I am still about a quart down on the 3K change. I guess there's something to be said for consistancy.......

 

The procedure to check for oil comsomption is a pain in the butt. Switching to a range allows Ford to blow off, read save money, anyone who comes in with a low reading that is between the marks. There is no longer a full mark. The same logic was applied to the oil pressure switch. Too many people don't realize that engines display lower oil pressure when hot as compared to cold engines. Dealers were getting too many complaints of faulty guages. So if you keep the oil between the lines the dealers can say it is normal.

JMC