I posted this a while back. But I have to ask again. Does anyone have a 2001 4.6L that burns oil? And smokes when started cold? I have a co-worker with a new SCrew that does it. Dealer wants to wait to do something about it. Do any of you have bad engine experiances with the 4.6? Thanks.

 

I posted a while back also about smoking 4.6. I have a 2001 4x4 reg cab 4.6 with auto and now has about 13000 on it. This engine will puff smoke after a dip into the throttle and then let it set for a couple of hours to a couple of days before starting it up again. It smokes enough to fill up half the garage with smoke. If I drive it easy it never smokes! Bad valve seals? 5w20 oil? Piston ring damage? I have been to the dealer for this but they are of no help. The engine runs fine otherwise.

 

I have a 2001 F150SC with a 4.6 that uses about a quart between oil changes (3000 mi.). I don't see any wet spots underneath, so it must be going past the spark plugs. I get a puff of blue on cold starts; kind of reminds me of the Chev 350's after 20K with their brittle valve seals. Have about 12,000 miles now and the truck has since I first noticed it when I had about 500 miles. I'm not too surprised given I am supposed to use 5w20 oil.

However, I'm not filling the garage with smoke - that sounds like the dealer needs to take a more serious look at it.

Does anybody have a 4.6 that isn't using a little oil?

 

Well so far my 2000 doesn't smoke or use any oil between oil changes and it is getting close to having 45,000 miles on it.

 

Well I'll tell you what I have.......99 smoked on start up and used 1-1/2 quarts of oil between religious 3000 mile oil changes (61000 miles to date) and knocks like a SOB on first morning starts (since DAY 1!)...Took it the dealer about 2 months after I got it and they told me that it was normal. SO i said to myself...."Myself you have owned nothing but FORDS since you turned 16 and your whole family has done the same and never once have you been stranded on the side of the road, except when I rolled my 90' model,

So myslef I trust all the FORD engineers and ALL OF THE MACHINISTS THAT HAVE WOKE UP EVERY DAY AND BUILT THAT THE TRUCK THAT IS FORD TOUGH BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HAVE YOU THANKED A MACHINIST LATLEY?????????
You owe your whole lives to them!

 

I've got a 98 4.6 and haven't had any problems with it burning oil or smoking. I currently have 42,000...
Despite the piston slap problems some complain about the 5.4, I do regret not getting the bigger motor since it has much more power with little mileage difference.

 

djr2204 -

I have a 97 4.6, 105,000 miles... uses not a drop between 3000 mi oil changes. Bought 8 months ago with 96,500 mi. Maybe I just got lucky, but just a little engine clatter on startups when outside temp is in the 30's, small puff of smoke on startup once in a blue moon...

 

Thanks for the replies. His 4.6 smokes bad. I hope the dealer does right by him. But..... Anyone else have an oil burner under the hood?

 

I have a 01 4.6. I am not sure if it burns oil but it doesn't run worth a ***** most of the time. I haven't noticed any significant oil loss. It stalls and surges in parking lots and initial acceleration. I will monitor my oil consumption and see if it is related somehow. Truck is in the service department again for another week or so.

 

I too have a 2001 with the 4.6L with 27,000 mi., which sometimes smokes at start-up.

I've been researching the problem by:
1. Viewing this board
2. Talking to the dealer
3. Talking to the Ford customer service people in Detroit
4. Writing letters and talking to the Ford regional rep in Ohio
5. Talking to several friends who are mechanics

My truck does not smoke at every start-up; it might go 3-4 weeks without smoking; blue smoke, smells like oil. Responses from above "research":
1. Possibly valve seals, although nobody can explain why they don't allow oil to pass into the combustion chamber all of the time. One mechanic suggested that it was the position of the valve when the engine stopped?
2. Dealer had to "observe" it. They wouldn't view my video tape. I was not very happy about this...
3. Ford customer service...not much help. Backed-up the dealer about needing to observe the problem.
4. Ford regional rep; nice guy who I think honestly tried to help. He indicated that problem might be residual oil from the PCV system seeping throught the intake system, into the combustion chamber. He indicated that Ford tracks 50-60 complaints per year about the smoke, and that I shouldn't be concerned. All of my info has been documented under the truck VIN number for proper documentation if a warranty claim exists. The rep did not "buy" the valve seal argument.
5. Mechanic friends still say valve seals.

My advice: document the smoke and keep bugging your dealer.

By the way, only use 1/2 quart between 3000 mile changes, which is normal.

Good luck.

 

i see that you have a super chip in your sig...you may wanna take it out and start a cold morning. i notice i had the same prob..i found out it was lose...just a thought.

 

I had a '98 Mustang GT that smoked a little on cold starts, and consumed 1-2 quarts of oil between changes (3000mi). I took it to the dealer one time, and they told me it was "normal". Needless to say, I never went back to that dealer again..lol

Ford replaced my engine in 2000 (piston broke loose and destroyed the cylinder walls..whoops ). Even with the new 4.6 I still lost about 1 quart of oil between oil changes.

Can't really give feedback on the F150 yet, cause I've only got 1000 miles so far.

 

My truck doesn't burn any oil, but I've owned vehicles in the past that do...it's not normally a big deal. But!...it sounds like your buddies truck is smoking way too much, and I would be suspect he's got piston ring problems.

If you're going to drive truck that smokes a little on a regular basis, be aware that eventually your catalytic convertor is going to plug up and fail. You will also foul your O2 sensor.

 

...

 

I guess nobody brought up the fact that the 99-2000 had defective intake gaskets and prone to leaking..there is a TSB for this. Could some of the oil burning be caused by this...