Burning oil - HELP!!!!
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New User
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 14
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From: Oconee, IL
Burning oil - HELP!!!!
Gentlemen, I am constantly coming to your site and looking for information for my Ford F350. I would like to ask for some help today concerning the amount of oil that my truck apparently burned in the last 3,000 miles. When I changed the oil this past Saturday, I was a strong three quarts shy. 3qts in 3000 miles... what gives. I have no leaks and no smoke. Please help!!!!
1999 Ford F350 4x4 V10.
1999 Ford F350 4x4 V10.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 5,643
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From: NE Texas
Burning oil - HELP!!!!
Gotta '99 myself that uses oil (see my sig) when I changed from dino to synthetic. It will use a quart of Mobil 1 in 2000 miles. However, when I changed back to dino (Castrol 5W30) it never uses a drop. Are you using synthetic? If so, did you change recently? Why this happens is a mystery to me and others.
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New User
Joined: Nov 2002
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From: Oconee, IL
Burning oil - HELP!!!!
I have used Valvoline Durablend 10w-30 since I bought the truck at 58,000 miles. I haven't had any trouble till now at 115,000. With this oil change I switched to the Valvoline Max Life Synthetic 10w-30 hoping it may help the problem.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 5,643
Likes: 8
From: NE Texas
Burning oil - HELP!!!!
Did you have knocks, rattling, tapping? Why change from 5W30 to 10W30? Could be the vis that made it start using oil. If your engine is still pretty tight you might want to go back to the specified oil (5W30) and see what happens.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 5,643
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From: NE Texas
Burning oil - HELP!!!!
I'm not tech-voiced, so bear with me: Imagine a journal and a rod/main bearing. The tolerances are within .0003 to .0008" (just for argument's sake). With those tolerances oil would have to be fairly thin to get in there on initial startup and the first few minutes of running. Now, imagine that journal/bearing getting hot without oil and heating up the 10W30 enough to get in there and do its job. The engine is "burning" oil whether you see it puffing out of the tailpipe or not.
Like I said, I'm probably not stating this in the technical since that it warrants, but the idea is there. Hopefully someone can explain it better.
Like I said, I'm probably not stating this in the technical since that it warrants, but the idea is there. Hopefully someone can explain it better.
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Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 3,496
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From: Calgary Canada
Burning oil - HELP!!!!
Any oil in the coolant?
Are you sure there's no leaks?
3 quarts is A LOT of oil (1/2 of capacity!) in 3000 miles. You would think that you would notice that kinda oil consumption.
Also, this may start a lot of debate, but the manufacturer states what type of oil to use for a reason. IMHO, I'd follow directions on that one.
Waxy
Are you sure there's no leaks?
3 quarts is A LOT of oil (1/2 of capacity!) in 3000 miles. You would think that you would notice that kinda oil consumption.
Also, this may start a lot of debate, but the manufacturer states what type of oil to use for a reason. IMHO, I'd follow directions on that one.
Waxy
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Joined: Oct 2000
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From: Western NC
Burning oil - HELP!!!!
I remember reading a report about oil types in the modular engine when it first came out in the T-Birds (mid 90's?). The report claimed crank breakage when using the 10w-30 and that they started recommending the lighter oil. Not sure how this applies here, but I tend to agree with Waxy:
Seems to me that would be the best way to go, especially if you might ever have to use your warranty to get some oil-related problem fixed.........
the manufacturer states what type of oil to use for a reason
Seems to me that would be the best way to go, especially if you might ever have to use your warranty to get some oil-related problem fixed.........
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New User
Joined: Nov 2002
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From: Oconee, IL
Burning oil - HELP!!!!
It sounds as if I should switch back to the 5W-30. I appreciate the fact that they recommend the 5W-30, although I remember when they first started putting that recommendation on cars back in the mid-80's and everyone thought it was a joke. I will give it a try and see what results I get. As far as the leaks are concerned, for a motor with 115,000 miles the block is clean. I have never noticed so much as a drop under the truck either. Thanks again for all of the input!
Brian
Brian
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 621
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From: S.W. Oregon
Burning oil - HELP!!!!
My 01 with 19,000 miles uses 1 to 1-1/2 quarts in a 3,000 mile oil change, using Ford's recommended oil. Always has since new. Dealer says it is normal of course, but it's not normal to me. My 89 uses no oil between changes!
Other than the very occasional puff of blue smoke on start up, there is no indication of where it might be going.
Other than the very occasional puff of blue smoke on start up, there is no indication of where it might be going.
