Hope somebodey out there can explain this. Thanks for any help up front. Have a 99 F150 4x4 w/138000 miles on a 4.6. Change the oil around every 4000 miles pretty religously and use between 1 and 2 quarts between every oil change since the odom turned 100000 miles. Have always used Penzoil 5W20. No leaks, does not burn any oil at all, it just seams to disappear. Any ideas?? Thanks again

 

You are losing some oil through your PCV valve and some through rings and valve guides and maybe a small amount through gasket seepage. One qt. or slightly more loss in 4,000 miles is not a problem. The engine is ready for an oil change anyway, just change it and don't worry about it. Mine has used a quart between oil changes since new and has never smoked or leaked, probably PCV valve letting small amounts of oil mist to travel into the engine air intake system. As oil gets hot some small amount vaporizes and that is a cause of more loss through the PCV valve

 

Thanks Bubba..friend mentioned PCV valve might slow it down, but a FORD always uses oil. He's an obvious Chevy fan.

 

Normal, modern, properly put together engines should not use that kind of oil. Only Ford. I have had ten other cars that used no oil between changes. Just another example of Quality 1....Sorry, just another thing on the list of pet peaves....

 

Just for the record, my daughter has a 97 Taurus 3.0 & has never used a drop of oil. Splain that!

 

You may have leaks and just not know it cause they never leave drops on the driveway. First place to check in your head gaskets. Towards the back of the motor have a looksy on both sides. that year and that motor are famous for head gasket leaks. Also, I'm not sure if you have oil cooler lines, you can check those. My 98 4six just pisses out oil cause of the combination of bad head gaskets and bad oil lines

 

Thanks..I'll take a look at that.

 

what ever dude. I have had nothing but fords and none has used oil between 5k oil changes. At least none enough to have to add any. My 1985 ranger with 280,000 miles doesn't even use oil between changes.

 

Just for the record, my daughter has a 97 Taurus 3.0 & has never used a drop of oil. Splain that!
Yesterday 09:54 AM

Just to prove a point take the hose off her PCV valve and I guarantee you there will be an oil film inside of that hose. That oil film was once new oil at the last oil change. No matter the make of vehicle they all consume some oil. Next oil change measure the oil removed, bet it was less than you put in.

 

Every engine uses oil to some extent. People that say that their car/truck uses "not a drop of oil" are either total brand fanboys or just ignorant.

To prove this to yourself, next time you change the oil, measure how much oil comes out. I bet it's less than 5 quarts(or however many the motor takes).

 

to add to this excelent post... if your not using a drop of oil... then your engine will be wearing out sooner than later. Some oil loss is normal and needed to keep things like valve guides lubricated.

 

I always use 5-w30 and never seem to have an issue give it a try the thicker oil my prevent the blow by a bit also you could ad a oil seperator to the pcv line it is a simple midification to perform.

 

switch to a 10w30 sythetic i had a problem with bad blow by from mobile 1 being so thin. im using quaker state now its inexpensive and holds up better no more ticking on cold starts and no more blow by.

 

This isnt what I wanted to hear, I thought I was alone on this matter and it was just a Ford problem. My 5.4 uses or loses oil between changes by about 2 quarts. I've got some maintenance issues now, so stuff is getting replaced, but those head gaskets I hope not, totally forgot the PCV valve tho. My engine has lost oil from about 75K, I've 117K on it now.

 

I guess "not a drop" wasn't the right thing to say, but in 4000 miles I don't have to add any oil and the Taurus has 120000 on it. I looked all over on my truck and no wet spots anyplace. The oil just seems to disappears. Thanks for all the posts..this is a great site. Mike