I have been noticing something the last few oil changes...when I check my oil levels around the 3,000 mile mark I have been repeatedly showing that I'm missing about 3/4 to 1 full quart of oil. 6 quarts go in, and an oil change later 5 come out.

With only 78,000 miles on my truck (it's an 01 screw) should I be worried about this missing oil? I am not dripping it anywhere, because as much of a stickler about that as I am I would have definately noticed that on my nice garage floor, and I don't see any blue puffing at all.

Just seeing if this could be a point of concern.
--KingJR

 

My 04 5.4 doesn't use any at 3k still level full but it takes 7 qts I am using MC 5w30 syn. blend ford recommends 5w20 but it isn't cold where I live and I like just a little heavier oil if you are using a full syn.. that might be your problem I have seen many posts of oil consumping with full syn. what visc. are you using?? Just a thought.

 

That is typical consumption for a ford. My 98 does the same at 90000 miles.

 

Officially, a quart in 900 miles is looked at as 'normal' consumption per Ford specs.

And the motors take 6 quarts with the filter. 7 is over full and not the proper volume of oil. Unless you know something the engineers that designed the engine don't, 6 quarts is the full level.

-Joe

 

They are both 5W when cold. I use 0W 30 up here in Cow Hampshire which helps with cold starts.

 

Replace your pcv valve and make sure the replacement is plastic like the original. The metal aftermarket ones make a irritating noise. :santa:

 

Should not a good engine not consume ANY oil?

My truck does not consumes oil between changes, but of course I change it at 2000 miles so I don't know if at the 3000 miles mark it has consumed any.

 

In my opinion, yes. I agree with you. But, Ford's official spec calls for a quart in 900 miles being OK. 3 quarts between oil changes is OK in their book. My 97 with the 4.6 lost two quarts every oil change when I drove it hard (i.e. most of the time). My '00 with the 5.4 only loses oil if I run it hard. In the off season it doesn't lose squat.

I wouldn't believe the spec if I hadn't seen it direct from Ford with my own eyes.

-Joe

 

My 04 5.4 3V calls for 7 qts with filter per ford specs in the owners manual which brings it deadlevel at the top of the x hatches and if these engines are built to such close tolerances as ford would lead you to beleive they shouldn't use any oil between changes!!

 

Interesting posts...I always got some crap from the dealer that I bought this truck from (we know him personally) and he keeps telling me that I'm going to blow up my motor with a K&N FIPK on there. In part he does have factual data to back this up because 9 out of 10 motors they replace on trucks "had" K&N setups on them...5 out of the 10 were diesel engines too.

So part of me is glad that nobody mentioned that a K&N can maybe in some way lead to this consuming of oil.

I personally would expect any engine to be eating some oil around 150,000 but not 78,000.

To answer the question about what oil I use, I have always used Havoline 5w20. I bought this truck with 14,000 miles on it, and I don't like the way the local oil change shops "handle" my truck, so I change it myself. I go with a 4,000 mile change interval myself because I do about 50/50 miles (highway/city) so at 3,000 mark the oil looks pretty clean and at 4000 it gets somewhat dirty.

Is there any real benefit in your opinions of changing to the advertised "high mileage" engine oils that are supposed to give new life to your seals and stuff like that? Personally I think they charge too much for it but I may consider changing oil brands since I plan to keep this truck for as long as possible.

--KingJR

 

In my 5.4 with 76k miles i add 1/2 quart at the 3k mile mark then i change it at around 5k. Every engine use oil.
KingJR
I would say its normal what you are using.
:santa:

 

3 points here.

1) It is in the nature of an internal combustion engine to consume at least some oil. Seals have to heat a little to expand and fully seal the gaps. If they were large enough to fully seal all the time, cold or not, heat expansion could cause premature wearing.

2) The newest Fords do begin requiring 7 quarts.

3) I have never heard of a K&N blowing a motor. I'd bet thats more on people who add K&N's run it harder.

 

The 5w30 you are using actually shears down to a 5w20 after a few miles anyway. Most of the 5w20 oils on the market today are very shear stable and offer better additive packages than thicker weights.

 

Yeah I didn't figure that just installing the K&N kit could do it, sure I have taken off my filter and wiped my hand down the intake tube...the fingers had a little dust on them, but I bet it you had a blower...picked up a pebble and sucked it through the filter and into the engine...that would be another story.

I don't know a whole lot about engines but I did find it rather interesting to see that I finally (I guess finally??) started consuming oil.

--KingJR

 

GM also has a TSB on their 5.3 V8 consuming about a quart between oil changes (3000miles). My wife's suburban has been doing this for two years,it's annoying but my buddy that's a head tech at the chevy dealership says it's normal. He mentioned Ford had a similar TSB concerning consuming oil due to lighter oil weights (5W20)etc.