I've noticed my truck is using oil now. I'm using the recommended 5w30 during 3k oil changes and I do them myself so I know it's getting the correct amount. By the time the next 3k rolls around, the oil level is down to the bottom of the cross-hatched area. No leaks, drips, smoke, missing, etc. Driveway stays clean. Ideas on where to start looking? Other tell-tale signs I should watch for?

'98 F150, 5.4l, 2wd, 94k miles.

Thanks,

Mark

 

What brand oil?
What is that like 1/2-3/4 quart?

 

That doesn't really sound excessive or unusual.

 

I've always used Pennzoil. As for the amount, I'd guess about 3/4.

 

I agree it's not that bad.
Try a different oil brand and see if that helps

 

It's not a big deal. The truck has almost 100,000 miles. My truck has gone about 200,000 miles since it started to noticably use oil at about 100,000 miles. In some conditions my truck will use a quart every 1200 miles. Sometimes it's less. It depends on towing, highway, temperature... I've added well over 100 quarts of oil between changes, and the cats are original as are 2 of the original 4 O2's. If it ldles for a long time (3-4 minutes) you can smell some oil in the exhaust and see small puff of smoke when you accelerate. Power and starting are fine. I believe that high milage modulars loose some oil through the valve seals/guides. In any case, I don't believe it's a big problem.

I have found that Castrol Sytech 5w-50 does slow the oil usage a measurable about. I've been using it for about 150,000 miles

 

High mileage V-8 Modular motors are smokers after excessive idling, I know that from personal experience with my 20 Yrs., of driving Police Interceptors.....

 

Signal 8 ? I see lots of Crown Vics that smoke at trafic lights. One puff on acceleration, then it stops. CV's have had the modular for a long time (1993?). I wonder if we'll see F-150's doing this in a few more years. or did Ford make improvement on the truck engine?

 

My 97 E-150 van has 193000 on it and it dont burn a drop. I would try running one of those oil system cleaners before the next oil change and then I would go with at least 10-40. I use synthetic in my Mustang but I've always just used 10-30 regular in my trucks and never had a problem. Maybe you dont beat it enough? I only change the oil in the stang once a year. The trucks get change every 3k. Penzoil isnt my favorite I like quaker state. I think Penzoil leaves the engine dirtier. I've heard it has parifin in it but I dont know. After I was told that years ago I avoided it..

 

10W40 is a thicker oil than what you should use in a modular engine. Thicker oils just take longer to get to important places, promoting excessive wear.

Those flush/cleaners things are bad juju as well. The OP's truck has made it to almost 100,000 miles on what he's using now - why change? The consumption he's seeing is perfectly normal.

 

I have an 01 F-150 usubg 5-20 synthetic abd I loose a quart every 3k or so, its a snack for it, its not dripping its eating it. My Stang did the same. I buddy years ago told me all fords eat that oil....

 

No, all Fords do not "eat" oil - I just took a 7000 mile trip in mine and it used exactly 1/2 quart. 5W20 full synthetic.