Just checked the oil today 11-29 and it was down about 1/3 of a quart. Amazingly I can still see through the oil. The truck now has 56525 on the clock.

I had the oil changed at the dealer on 6-1-15 and the truck had 50900 miles on it.

The same thing happened towards the end of the last dump cycle. I had to add about 1/3 of a quart as I was nearing the 5000 mile point. Prior to that, the oil had been dumped in November 2014 with about 43500 miles on it.

I'm seeing a pattern of usage. However, this past winter was a tough one and I was in 4wd for about three weeks straight as SE Virginia doesn't do well at removing snow. I pulled lots of stuck vehicles out and I played pretty hard with it.

Since June, I've been through the mountains at my daughter's college a few times, I've pulled some trailers this summer and the heat this summer was stifling hot right throw Sept.

I've seen similar usage patterns in my 2004 Expy 4.6L.

Any reason for concern?

 

which engine?

 

The 2011 truck in my sig line. 3.5L ecoboost.

 

No, I do however think it's time for an oil change, over time, I think the modifiers in the oil that control viscosity break down and caust the oil to become a little thinner, the additive package also degrades and the oil is not doing as good of a job as when it was put into the engine, a coworker is running a couple of tractor trailers and sees no oil consumption up till about 12000 miles, then he says the engines start consuming oil at a regular rate until he changes the oil, about once every 6 weeks. I don't remember if you change your own oil or have it changed, but I do wonder what is in the oil tanks at the oil change places, typically the oil change places charge less than I can buy the supplies for, just a thought. I think that you keep a pretty good track of your maintenance, so I see no real issues.

 

I wouldn't worry about it. 1/3 quart in almost 6,000 miles is perfectly normal in the eyes of virtually any engine manufacturer you may ask.

 

I wasn't overly concerned but thought I'd get some feedback from the people whom I respect.

The truck has only been serviced by my dealer with a 6-7K mile dump cycle. The service people advised me to change the oil every 5K when I bought the truck in 2011. Ford has been adamant about following the OLM or 10K, which ever comes first. I'm going to drop back to a religious 5K dump cycle from now on.

 

If changing it every 5,000 miles makes you feel better it's worth a little added expense Tim. I haven't heard a credible explanation on what exactly causes the timing chain issues, so it's possible more frequent oil changes may prevent the issue altogether. I remember GM had a recall to reprogram their OLM in some models to shorter intervals because of timing chain issues.

I'm planning on 5,000 for my first oil change and probably at around 30% of the OLM thereafter.

 

To me this isn't really about timing chain stretch. It makes sense to me that if at a particular mileage point the oil level is low then a certain amount of oil sheer is happening already. I can't see adding oil just to roll it another 1000-1500 miles which ultimately gets me to my original target dump cycle anyway. I'm good with a 5K change.

 

Are you a 1/3 quart below the hash marks, or 1/3 quart Bellow the top of the full mark?

If the latter, I wouldn't add, I'd just ride it out.

My expedition uses a quart every 4-5k. I usually don't add till it gets to the very bottom of the hash marks, which works out to a full quart to the top.

Sometimes If I've just got a 1,000 to go until a change ill just add a 1/4 or 1/2 quart so it is well in the hash marks.

 

I'm still in the hash marks.