Oil usage.
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Oil usage.
My 2015 Lariat with a 5.0 ltr v8 used a quart and a half of oil within 3000 miles since new. I know it's just breaking in but that seems a little excessive. I have never had a new vehicle that used that much oil when bran new. What do you folks think?
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2005
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Definitely excessive. Did you verify the oil level when the truck was new? Stuff happens... there's no guarantee it was properly filled from the factory, although that should have been caught at multiple places before the truck reached you.
Definitely get it to a dealer and document the issue. Paperwork is important.
Definitely get it to a dealer and document the issue. Paperwork is important.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Detroit
Not hopelessly excessive. I would give some more time to the engine to break in and not worry. A quart of oil in 6k miles is fine by my standards; many new car mfrs say that consumption of up to a quart in 1200 miles is "fine", which it is not. My '02 E150 with 4.6 used a quart of oil in 4k miles when it was new, and when I sold it at 129k, it was using far less oil than that (less than a quart between changes at 5-6k miles).
By design, all engines use some oil. Anyone who has never owned a car that used a noticeable amount of oil has not been driving for very long.
Make sure you are checking the oil on a totally level surface, after letting it drain down, and keep a log if consumption continues.
In the 1970's, I considered any car (new or used) that used less than a quart in 1000 miles to be just fine; these days I have upped my own standards to accept a car using less than a quart in about 4k miles as being just fine.
Good luck, and don't worry about it too much yet IMHO.
George
By design, all engines use some oil. Anyone who has never owned a car that used a noticeable amount of oil has not been driving for very long.
Make sure you are checking the oil on a totally level surface, after letting it drain down, and keep a log if consumption continues.
In the 1970's, I considered any car (new or used) that used less than a quart in 1000 miles to be just fine; these days I have upped my own standards to accept a car using less than a quart in about 4k miles as being just fine.
Good luck, and don't worry about it too much yet IMHO.
George
Posting Guru
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1.5qts in 3K on a brand new motor is seriously excessive.
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2010
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From: Seattle area
I think it' side definitely excessive. None of my past 6+ new vehicles have burned any measureable amount of oil, including my Duramax (go figure). I changed the oil on all these vehicles myself, between 5,000 and 8,000 miles (depending upon OEM recommendation). Hopefully I didn't just jinx my new truck...
I have no idea why people seem to think burning that much oil on a new, modern engine is normal. I could see half a quart on a long oil change, but not what the OP is seeing. And I don't see how a new engine is more prone to burning oil. Everything should be sealed tight at that point. If oil is burning now, how can it get better with wear?
Is this a problem that's documented in the 5.0 engine section of this forum? Seems like the forums would be blowing up with similar posts if this was common
I have no idea why people seem to think burning that much oil on a new, modern engine is normal. I could see half a quart on a long oil change, but not what the OP is seeing. And I don't see how a new engine is more prone to burning oil. Everything should be sealed tight at that point. If oil is burning now, how can it get better with wear?
Is this a problem that's documented in the 5.0 engine section of this forum? Seems like the forums would be blowing up with similar posts if this was common
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Detroit
As good as cylinder and valve guide finishes are, there is still a break-in as the cylinder walls get to know their respective rings.
I know that Subaru, Porsche, and Honda had some oil consumption problems in recent years and in the case of Porsche, they were saying a quart of oil in 800(!) miles was fine. I think Subaru was using a quart in 1200 or 1500 miles as a threshold of repairs (which were ring jobs and/or shortblocks). Looks like Ford is definitely tighter. Here is a TSB on a couple mod motors from 2013; they will talk to you if you are burning more than a quart in 3000 miles.
https://umufc.org/uploads/Oil_Consum...L_and_6.8L.pdf
If you have concerns, take your truck to the dealer and have them note the oil level and top it off themselves. My bet is that the engine will tighten up by the first oil change and will use less oil than it does. And a reliable truck that used a quart of oil in 6000 miles would be something I would proudly own and drive with no worries at all.
Take care,
George
I know that Subaru, Porsche, and Honda had some oil consumption problems in recent years and in the case of Porsche, they were saying a quart of oil in 800(!) miles was fine. I think Subaru was using a quart in 1200 or 1500 miles as a threshold of repairs (which were ring jobs and/or shortblocks). Looks like Ford is definitely tighter. Here is a TSB on a couple mod motors from 2013; they will talk to you if you are burning more than a quart in 3000 miles.
https://umufc.org/uploads/Oil_Consum...L_and_6.8L.pdf
If you have concerns, take your truck to the dealer and have them note the oil level and top it off themselves. My bet is that the engine will tighten up by the first oil change and will use less oil than it does. And a reliable truck that used a quart of oil in 6000 miles would be something I would proudly own and drive with no worries at all.
Take care,
George
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2015
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From: Mts. S. of San Francisco
That sounds like a lot to me. Of all the new vehicles we have owned for the last 20 years, none of them used more than 1/2 a quart every 5,000 miles. If that. Most of the time, you could barely see if _any_ oil had been used (which I know is not true, but you get what I mean).
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Posting Guru
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Look at it this way... assuming you aren't towing, the IOLM tends to hit in the 7500-10K mile range. If the oil usage continued at this rate, you'd be 4-4.5 quarts down before the IOLM hits... that would be Not Good for the motor.
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Detroit
Obviously check your oil often and make sure you are on level ground. Like I said in my earlier post, it looks like Ford has used the 1 quart in 3k miles as a benchmark in the past. If your engine uses more oil than this after, say, the first oil change, then act on a claim. In the meantime, if you visit the dealer whenever you need a quart of oil, and have them log it, it can only help your case. If you are traveling, just log the addition of oil.
I am hoping it's just an engine break-in issue.
George
I am hoping it's just an engine break-in issue.
George
Super Moderator
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From: Isanti, MN
Of course if you're rolling 10,000 miles per month that may be insufficient.
Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2014
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From: Hattiesburg, Ms.
I keep a regular check on mine, so far, 1,550 miles, no noticeable usage. The 2014 SD never used a noticeable amount (It made a slight amount before it was deleted), the 2011 F150 with the 6.2L never used a noticeable amount either.
I have to ask, and I mean no offense, but was the oil checked shortly after purchase? I'm not sure what is considered in the "acceptable" range, if I had concerns, I'd do as others suggested and talk to the dealer, if nothing else, it'll be documented.
Good luck and keep us posted.
I have to ask, and I mean no offense, but was the oil checked shortly after purchase? I'm not sure what is considered in the "acceptable" range, if I had concerns, I'd do as others suggested and talk to the dealer, if nothing else, it'll be documented.
Good luck and keep us posted.
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2005
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If 1.5qts in 3K were normal, there would be F150s (and probably 5.0 Mustangs as well) sitting on the side of highways across the country. And a few class-action lawsuits as well.
Senior User
Joined: May 2007
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From: Central Florida
my new 2015 3.5eb hasn't used any oil that I can notice but I'm at 1,550 miles and did my 1st oil change at 1k. Now I will say book calls for 6qts I only drained a heavy 5qts and when I refilled it took a just over 5qts. But I really really hate the dipstick design and its really hard to read it IMO. I would say for sure your usage is excessive and I would be looking for leaks and/or take it back to the dealer
