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I just did the first oil change on my 2018 SCREW 3.5 4x4 - 5,500 mikes. I was a little concerned that I only drained 5 quarts out. Is 1 quart of oil consumption considered acceptable for these cars? Back in the day GM said up to 1 quart every 3,000 miles was considered normal, but my GM cars never lost that much, even after 150k miles.
I also discovered that I have a metal oil pan and conventional drain plug, which I was happy about. I watched a couple of videos of plastic pans and goofy plastic plugs with an O ring. I'm perfectly happy with an 'old school' pan and plug.
About half quart or more of your oil gets soaked up in the filter media and caught in the filter canister. The residual amount is still in the engine coating the surfaces, held between bearings, etc. So there’s where you last quart went.
Don't go by how much oil you've drained out. Rely on the dipstick level. As mentioned, quite a bit of oil is in the filter and coating internal engine components. As for normal consumption, I don't think there is such a thing. I had a Chevy Suburban with a 488ci engine that used a quart every 900 miles. GM claimed that it was within normal consumption tolerances. On several cross-country trips I had to carry a case of oil with me. Conversely, I had a Gen1 3.5 EB in an Explorer Sport that I drove fairly aggressively that never used any measurable amount of oil between changes.
Depending on the mill, and I’m moreover likely to believe it’s Fords current standard (mind you I’ve been directly involved in consumption issues), use or loss of a quart or more in 3,000 miles is not acceptable to Ford. If any consumer is experiencing this volume of oil loss in 3,000 miles or less, they should have their servicing dealer perform a consumption test.
To the OP, if you didn't do the oil change or check the level directly after it was done, there's truly no way to tell if there was any loss as you may not know how much oil was in there to start with.
When I was having the dealer change my oil every 5K miles, I'd drive it home, let it sit for an hour and then check the level. I'm a pretty **** guy when it comes to my truck and I want the oil level to be at the top of the hash marks after a change after a fresh change knowing that the filter is full.
I did the same thing on my old '88 which used that massive PH8 size filter and after 3000 miles she was down a quart no matter what.
Found this gem in the manual. Not sure what Ford defines as "high performance vehicle" - assume they mean Raptor but I would be less than pleased burning 1qt in 500 or even 1000 miles. I know this reference if for high-performance use, my driving style does not fall into this category.
Go talk to another dealer's service department or call the Ford consumer hotline.
Been there. Done that. Like I said, I LIVED through a long block replacement by Ford. The guidelines are there in writing (for the 5.0L) in the TSB, not a stiff on the hotline who won’t commit. I tried that 4x before the TSB was issued. Never got an answer. Same with several dealers. It’s the cough cough choke “I’m not sure, we’ll get back to you.
The post below is the first I’ve seen in writing, EXCEPT the statement in my owners manual saying oil consumption should stop after break-in.
Keep in mind, my pursuit for an acceptable oil use was not one and done. It was over 28,000 miles and burning over a dozen quarts of oil. NO ONE would commit to acceptable or unacceptable use before the TSB. I’m sure it’s somewhere, but in a code hidden in a book under the Arc.
You state “One Quart Acceptable in 1,000 miles” and I say “Use of 1 Quart in 3,000 is not acceptable”. Are you saying 3 quarts in 3,000 is acceptable? That does not match Fords written standard for the 5.0L.
You state “One Quart Acceptable in 1,000 miles” and I say “Use of 1 Quart in 3,000 is not acceptable”. Are you saying 3 quarts in 3,000 is acceptable? That does not match Fords written standard for the 5.0L.
I think your use of "not acceptable" is not the same as what Ford means. IMO, their use of "acceptable" means there's nothing wrong with the engine and no repairs are necessary if it's using a quart every 1K miles. Your version of "not acceptable" means you don't want to be adding a quart every 1K miles.
I think your use of "not acceptable" is not the same as what Ford means. IMO, their use of "acceptable" means there's nothing wrong with the engine and no repairs are necessary if it's using a quart every 1K miles. Your version of "not acceptable" means you don't want to be adding a quart every 1K miles.
If my truck drank 1qt every 1000 miles I'd package it up, book it on a military transport, drop it into Iraq, and watch them fail on their next terrorist mission because it seized up.
Yah, got to go with the Ford TSB on this, at least for the 2018+ 5.0. It says to do the consumption test and anything more than 1 quart in 3000 miles is not acceptable.
Found this gem in the manual. Not sure what Ford defines as "high performance vehicle" - assume they mean Raptor but I would be less than pleased burning 1qt in 500 or even 1000 miles. I know this reference if for high-performance use, my driving style does not fall into this category.
I even think 1qt in 3000 miles is nuts.
Nothing in this language states that it's acceptable, "possible".
Nothing in this language states that it's acceptable, "possible".
Fair point Tim - Guessing the lawyers got involved in the wording here....
I still stand firm that 1 quart in 3k miles is ridiculous. Even needing to add that much during a standard OCI - Have been monitoring my levels closely at 3600 miles - appears that I am still using a bit. Will be changing oil at 5k and monitor closely. If I am still using oil, will start the TSB process to get this documented.
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