4cyl '02 Ranger Excess Oil Loss- no smoke

mitch_c · #1 (**permalink**) 10-17-2009, 12:41 PM

We have a 2003 Ford Ranger, 4cylinder, automatic with 83,000 miles. It is consuming 1 qt of oil about every 100 miles of road driving... We find no leaks, can't see any smoking, compression is within 10 pounds of each other per cylinder and at 175 PSI... Can't figure out where the oil is going...

Only see 1 cylinder with any electrode ware on the spark plugs.... Engine runs smooth....

We are baffled... Any suggestions? Any similar experiences?

HELP!!!

g_k50 · #2 (**permalink**) 10-17-2009, 04:14 PM

No leaks, unbelievable.

Is this leak check done with pressure in the oil system? Or with the driveway check?

mitch_c · #3 (**permalink**) 10-18-2009, 01:39 AM

Leak check not done... no spots in the driveway and engine is dry on the bottom side... It's baffling us....

tomw · #4 (**permalink**) 10-18-2009, 03:03 AM

Is it overfilled perhaps? If the dipstick is wrong, you can be at "full" and the engine will eat what it wants before stopping if overfull.
Is the PCV system working? Plugged can cause over pressure in the crankcase and feed the valve guides.
Is the oil of the specified viscosity? Too lignt an oil may consume more.

Is it driven regularly to boil off any condensation? Condensation will fall to the bottom of the crankcase, and give you a false oil level reading which will drop quickly the first time you take any sort of a trip. Been there, done that.

tom

03 Maz B23 · #5 (**permalink**) 10-18-2009, 06:52 AM

The valve cover on the Duratech 2.3 has two valve cover gaskets (inner and outer). The inner one on mine leaks and allows oil to get on spark plug threads and probably in combustion chamber. It's a pain to replace gasket as the entire intake and surrounding hardware has to be removed to get to it. That might account for some of your oil loss.

coolcamo · #6 (**permalink**) 10-20-2009, 12:49 PM

when i changed my spark plugs on my ranger. One of the electrolites was burned and there was nothing on the spark plug.

mitch_c · #7 (**permalink**) 10-20-2009, 12:59 PM

Folks... I posted this problem for CoolCamo before he had and ID on the site.. Please post any info that might be of assistance to him and I'll let him supply the responses..

coolcamo · #8 (**permalink**) 10-21-2009, 09:41 AM

thanks mitch_c

dorman68 · #9 (**permalink**) 10-28-2009, 07:49 AM

Check the pcv hoses, pcv valve and oil separator on side of block. My buddy with a 2.3L 05 Escape had a similar issue and it ended up being a collapsed pcv hose.