Hey guys so I have an 88 '250 with a 460 in it. Been running great did a partial valve train rebuild a bit ago on one side. However, it seems like I am losing incredibly large amounts of oil. No leaking on the ground or anything can't find any leaks out the valve covers or anywhere. I can never get an accurate reading from my dipstick for some reason but i keep having to add oil because the lifters start ticking like crazy. Yesterday they did that after I'd added almost a QUART of oil two days before. I stopped, opened the fill cap to add oil just so I could get home and there was a slight smoke coming up out of it. Didn't smell like burning metal at all so is that exhaust or oil I don't know but it must be related. I have also observed speckled oil all over the hood which makes no sense to me and some streaking of oil on the driver side fender. It was oil. The lifter tick is also sporratic. It will be happening and then I hit a stop light, get going again and its gone. So am I really losing all that oil or is this a supply problem and I'm adding tons of oil. Also, good to note I have NO smoke out the tailpipe from oil. So I am kind of at a loss. My few guesses are head gasket or main oil seals or piston rings or something but I really am at a loss. Don't think I should be driving it like this though so I'd like to find the problem asap if anyone can help. Thanks.

 

I would first pull all the plugs and inspect them, then do a cylinder psi check on every cylinder.

 

Check your PCV system. Change to a different brand of oil. Valvoline VR1 is easy to find. You didn't say how many miles on the engine it could be it's just worn out.