V10 Excursion and oil usage
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,678
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From: Central Tx.
Update: well its been a couple hundred miles since I put the in the new PCV valve and hose. The consumption seems to have slowed down some. Over say 300 miles i've used about 1/4 quart so I'm much happier with that. Why does the Motorcraft PCV valve have little holes around the perimeter and the XXX brand not?
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,678
Likes: 1
From: Central Tx.
At that rate of usage all you need to do is change the filter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,219
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Well once, before I realized this sucker "used" oil, I ended up 4 quarts low and the oil light came on. That freaked me out, so I replaced the oil sender, no difference. Pulled the dipstick and there was no oil on it, that just confused me as I'd never seen that before so I started adding oil. Quart after quart, I think it took 2.5 quarts before I even saw it on the dipstick. Then I got scared. But nothing ever happened and truck still runs great.
Bleed Ford Blue
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 13,578
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From: Anchorage Alaska
Well once, before I realized this sucker "used" oil, I ended up 4 quarts low and the oil light came on. That freaked me out, so I replaced the oil sender, no difference. Pulled the dipstick and there was no oil on it, that just confused me as I'd never seen that before so I started adding oil. Quart after quart, I think it took 2.5 quarts before I even saw it on the dipstick. Then I got scared. But nothing ever happened and truck still runs great.
A friend of mine had me check her oil on her 5.0 Explorer. It has a 5 quart system, After adding 3 quarts it was full again. Never a odd noise or anything out of that engine, it now has 250k miles on it and never had an issue with the engine. You can rest assured it stays topped off now though after I explained she could have been out of transportation. I think she owes a little bit of that luck to the synthetic oil we had in it at the time.
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 949
Likes: 1
From: SoCal
V10 Excursion and oil usage
Just did my first oil check on it since we purchased a few months ago. This thread inspired me to. My husband never checks and I am pretty much the one to worry about maintenance. Looks like it's time to add some oil or get a change.
It's been 2600 miles and 4.5 months since we got it. I would think dealer would change oil before selling a used car but it is not documented. Most of the miles are towing.
It's been 2600 miles and 4.5 months since we got it. I would think dealer would change oil before selling a used car but it is not documented. Most of the miles are towing.
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 949
Likes: 1
From: SoCal
Was there ever a final determination of which oil to use? My cap says 5w 20. Can I mix any one with what's in there?
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Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2011
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From: North Texas
Follow the owners manual and you will be fine. Or study enough to feel comfortable with the choice of a different weight. They mix just fine though so adding a quart of whatever you choose will be fine. Just check it often enough to never let it get low.
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2012
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From: Central Tx.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,219
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Pretty soon here I will be changing the oil and putting in 10w-30. I will also be using a motorcraft filter so we will see if that makes any difference.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,219
Likes: 5
Well maybe you got lucky.
My theory is that Ford machined a batch of engines with either just slightly out of round cylinders OR got a batch of inferior piston rings OR someone on the assembly line had a bad couple of months and lined up the rings on at least one cylinder. There has to be a reason so many of these motors "use" so much oil.
My theory is that Ford machined a batch of engines with either just slightly out of round cylinders OR got a batch of inferior piston rings OR someone on the assembly line had a bad couple of months and lined up the rings on at least one cylinder. There has to be a reason so many of these motors "use" so much oil.
Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,066
Likes: 4
From: North Texas
Interesting theory. I have had a few oil drinkers in the modular Ford world in all the various sizes, 4.6, 5.4 and V10. The worst offender was a 96GT Mustang that drank any weight oil you wanted to feed it without smoking or any other signs. Ran great. I based my decision to use 5w20 over higher weight on researching the oils themselves. A lot of reading on what various oils do under various conditions. (some 30 weight oils shear to 20 weight very fast) I really don't think luck was involved. Ford didn't spec out an oil to be used in super duty engines hoping to get lucky. Too many V10's in fleet service that got exactly what the manual calls for and lived 300+K miles for that to be true. I have learned though that oil can start heated debates on forums and that wasn't my intention here. I just like to see a reason and rationale for a recommendation away from the books before accepting it.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,219
Likes: 5
No worries here. What I meant was maybe you got lucky and got a block that doesn't have a thirst for oil. I bought a brand new 2004 Trailblazer right off the lot. That truck never burned a drop or at least the oil level never moved on the dipstick through 150,000 miles. This has been my first real experience with a vehicle that has such high oil usage.