Hey Guys!!!
First of all I am a newbie here. I am not a truck enthusiast. I am a veterinarian who drives a F-250 for work purposes and hunting. I have had 4 ford trucks. The first three were straight 6 cylinders (no problems). This last truck was a 2001 F-250, v8..5.4L. History... I try and change the oil very 3000-5000 miles. The truck has never shown any excessive oil usage. Well, this time the fall season was very busy and the oil was last changed 7000 miles ago. This morning I start the truck up and drive .7 miles and it dies (49,000 miles). The mechanic says it froze up because of low oil. He is very trustful and he drained only 1 quart of oil from the engine. NOW, I AM NOT SAYING IT IS NOT MY FAULT...NEGLECT AND A LESSON LEARNED!!! Question why would this truck all of a sudden use that much oil (no signs of leaks). Question: (MOST IMPORTANT)why didn't the low oil warning light come on OR the oil pressure guage indicate NO pressure. Note: I watch the guages and DO notice if the appear (and they did not appear).
thanks in advance and any input is appreciated.

the dog

 

I try and change the oil very 3000-5000 miles. The truck has never shown any excessive oil usage. Well, this time the fall season was very busy and the oil was last changed 7000 miles ago. This morning I start the truck up and drive .7 miles and it dies (49,000 miles). The mechanic says it froze up because of low oil. He is very trustful and he drained only 1 quart of oil from......

hmm!! how often you check your oil level? once every 7000 miles? who changed your oil last time? jiffy lube? did you check it after the oil change? sounds like someone short changed you a heck of lot of quarts the last oil change. trust no one change your own oil, most can do a better job than they can!!..maybe someone drained your oil one night, you never know what an ticked off consumer might be capable of!!

 

Ditto
I just wonder how "full" it was after the last oil change?

Sorry to hear about your engine failure.

 

>Question: (MOST IMPORTANT)why didn't the low oil warning light come on OR the oil pressure guage indicate NO pressure.


Our trucks do not monitor oil LEVEL. And the pressure gauge just measures pressure. As long as the pickup tube is picking up oil (creating pressure) then the light will not come on. Silly, huh?

 

If there were no obvious signs of oil loss (i.e. oil puddle under your truck, or extremely heavy smoking) it is unlikely you "burned up" 5 quarts of oil in 7000 miles, not impossible, just unlikely.
Who performed the last oil change? Did you or they confirm that it was indeed full at that time? Had the motor exhibited signs of "oil burn" between previous oil changes?
As a vet, do you let your truck idle for long periods of time to keep your vacines (etc) refridgerated using the motor for electrical power? Perhaps your engine rings never seated correctly due to long idles at no load?

As a rule of thumb, I check my oil at every fill-up, and to date (20K miles) it's ALWAYS been full, but I still check it and I bet you will too from now on Sorry about the motor

 

Thanks to all who replied!!!!! I learned somethings today. DON'T RELY ON THOSE GAUGES (LOL)!!!! A hard (expensive)lesson learned!!!

As far as, the oil change goes. I live in a small town (pop. 800)and the local garage changes the oil. He has done so for the last 12 years with no problems. I do realize mistakes happen.

I do idle the truck at times to keep things warm in the vet box. I do a lot of stop and go driving. About 15 stops per day (120 miles/day).

Once more thanks for all your "GREAT" input. I will let you know what happens at the dealership and what thier "view" of the situation is.

the dog