Hello, from a very new forum user. Mostly my enthusisam for FORD is purely of a practical nature - getting from place to place with as little difficulty as possible. I do have a 1968 250 I play with, but right now I have a newer, less basic engine about which I know little more than the number of cylinders and the fact that it is using oil. Oh yeah, it's a van (1998 E -150). Power plant is a 4.6 V-8. I hope y'all allow vans.

I've read several posts about oil issues, and many point to the PCV. Is it possible that PCV systems is this new technology can cause significant oil usage, and if so, HOW? The inside of the tailpipe is blacker than the one on my Dodge Diesel horse puller. When warmed up, I can hit the gas and blow black out the pipe (Not blue like the old days). When I was young enough crawl under one of these without ramps (Lot skinnier then) black smoke meant I was running rich. But I've been told it could be oil soot (new to me).

I've heard about the potential of valve guide failure, and if it isn't the PVC, or some other relatively simple fix, I suppose this unit will be recycled (167,xxx mi.).

Hope someone out there has some good news.

Thanks

 

PCV is a vent system that connects the valve cover to the intake manifold vacuum. THE idea is to pull a constant small vacuum on the valve cover (motor inside) and suck all the "bad" fumes out of the motor. This is suppose to be a "controlled vacuum". If the PCV valve is bad or eliiminated and just the hose installed, you can suck way too much and pull oil into the intake. I would think it would be more blue than black smoke... But if your using oil and there is smoke.... look at the PCV first.