Oil Consumption
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Senior User
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 240
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From: Sevierville USA
Oil Consumption
I need help!! I checked the oil today before I changed it and it didn't even register on the dipstick!! I am just shy of 4000 miles between changes and I haven't seen any smoking at all. I have checked for leaks and have found none. I just passed 50,000 on the odometer. Where is my oil going? I don't like this at all! I average around 750 miles a week and it is all interstate driving at around 80-85 mph. HELP!!!!
Thanks
Thanks
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 4,742
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From: OK
Oil Consumption
Did you fill it up to see how much was "missing"? Could it have just not been "full" after the last change?
Unfortunately, the manufacturers (Ford, GM, etc) consider a qt every few hundred miles to be "normal". Depending on the amount of oil burned at a time, you may not ever see any smoke. As monsta suggested, you'll want to keep a closer eye on it from now on.
Unfortunately, the manufacturers (Ford, GM, etc) consider a qt every few hundred miles to be "normal". Depending on the amount of oil burned at a time, you may not ever see any smoke. As monsta suggested, you'll want to keep a closer eye on it from now on.
Sit. Stay.
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 18,308
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From: Washington State
Oil Consumption
>So your saying that the oil consumption is normal?
Well, what NoMo said.
I would NOW begin to watch it like a proverbial hawk. I used almost a quart when I went to Ohio last month. I drove about 2,500 miles and 90% of it highway at 75+. I use the same amount in 5,000! miles when driving at home in normal 50/50 style driving.
So, is it normal? Might just be given your average speed. But between now and the next 4000 miles will tell you the real deal.
Well, what NoMo said.
I would NOW begin to watch it like a proverbial hawk. I used almost a quart when I went to Ohio last month. I drove about 2,500 miles and 90% of it highway at 75+. I use the same amount in 5,000! miles when driving at home in normal 50/50 style driving.
So, is it normal? Might just be given your average speed. But between now and the next 4000 miles will tell you the real deal.
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2002
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Oil Consumption
>Oil consumption is higher when travelling at high speed. I
>would suggest checking it weekly.
You can use quite a bit more oil when operating at high speeds. The 4.30 gears can add a bit to this phenomenon.I'm not knocking 4.30's,they're great gears for guts.
Also,most people add between 6.5 and 7.0 qts. of oil after an oil and filter change to get a full reading on the dipstick.
>would suggest checking it weekly.
You can use quite a bit more oil when operating at high speeds. The 4.30 gears can add a bit to this phenomenon.I'm not knocking 4.30's,they're great gears for guts.
Also,most people add between 6.5 and 7.0 qts. of oil after an oil and filter change to get a full reading on the dipstick.
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2002
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From: Twin Cities, MN
Oil Consumption
We've seen a few of our buses (with drivers that didn't check and said they did) be close to two gallons low. I'd dump one in and it still didn't read on the stick. We've also see some employee cars really low. The record holder was running on 1/2 quart. Not including the one that ran it with the drain plug out at his house and froze the motor. (He was draining it over night and his kid took it for a ride in the morning.)
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 1999
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Oil Consumption
My Y2K V-10 modular motor drinks a lot and then they do a oil consumption tast and it stays stable. I went through 3 quarts towing the sprint car 400 miles to and from a race. The motor pulls great and 85 or 90 mph is no problem. I can't figure it out but Ford maintains a qt every 600 miles is considered normal. My 97 4.6 V-8 F-150 never needed any added and has over 100,000 miles on it.
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Tuned
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 491
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From: Fort Fun
Oil Consumption
I find it hard to believe that consumption on the order of what I am reading in this thread is normal. My 5.4 drinks a quart every 1800 miles. That, to me, is unacceptable. Unfortunately, I can't swing the cost of getting if fixed right now. I am at 59k on the clock so therefore past the 3/36 drivetrain warranty. I don't beat on my rig, I don't go faster than 75 on the blacktop, I haven't plowed with the truck since the winter before this recent one, I don't do burnouts (mainly cause I can't). I just dont' see why this motor seems to be so thirsty for oil.
As for the v10 that sucked down 3 qt in 400 miles - that is just plain wrong. I don't care if you were doing 100mph, as long as you weren't in the redline, I don't see why that truck should go through that much oil in 400 miles.
Anyway, I guess I will keep adding oil till I can swing what I expect it will take to fix it.
Big
2000 F250 SD SC 5.4L Gasser 4.10s 4x4 L/S rearend Western 7'6" plow (hate it-have to have it)White with parchment cloth
As for the v10 that sucked down 3 qt in 400 miles - that is just plain wrong. I don't care if you were doing 100mph, as long as you weren't in the redline, I don't see why that truck should go through that much oil in 400 miles.
Anyway, I guess I will keep adding oil till I can swing what I expect it will take to fix it.
Big
2000 F250 SD SC 5.4L Gasser 4.10s 4x4 L/S rearend Western 7'6" plow (hate it-have to have it)White with parchment cloth
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,859
Likes: 7
From: USA
Oil Consumption
What weight oil are you running? "Rsjohnsn "
Alright be cool everyone I know ,don't want to get into that issue !
But I would like to know Weight and brand if you don't mind.
Rich
Ford Trucks Built Tough!
not with rocks
Watch out "X" Mayor of Truckville
Alright be cool everyone I know ,don't want to get into that issue !
But I would like to know Weight and brand if you don't mind.
Rich
Ford Trucks Built Tough!
not with rocks
Watch out "X" Mayor of Truckville
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 234
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From: CONNECTICRAP
Oil Consumption
I've heard a faulty PCV valve will cause oil consumption from a mechanic. Is there any validity to this? If so, then I'd say to check that.
My PCV valve, with 20k mi, had the spring stuck open and rattled when I took it out to examine it. The new one I replaced it with didn't do this. For 3 or 4 bucks, I'd say it's something to look into.
My PCV valve, with 20k mi, had the spring stuck open and rattled when I took it out to examine it. The new one I replaced it with didn't do this. For 3 or 4 bucks, I'd say it's something to look into.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 240
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From: Sevierville USA
Oil Consumption
Hi guys, I am running Mobil 1 5W-30 and I put in 6.5 quarts every time I change it. Where exactly is my oil going? If it is being burned then shouldn't I see smoke?
Thanks
Thanks
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,429
Likes: 2
Oil Consumption
If it
>is being burned then shouldn't I see smoke?
Not necessarily.If you are burning oil going down the interstate and it is not an extreme amount you won't see smoke.Also the catalytic converter will eliminate smoke when it's up to operating temperature and the engine isn't burning a lot of oil.
I would keep a close eye on your oil consumption and try to monitor exactly how much your engine is using.I think Ford claims about a qt or less every 800mi.is normal,of course we all know that's high.If it is using a qt.every 2000mi.I wouldn't necessarily be happy but on the other hand it probably isn't enough to justify tearing into the engine.All engines use oil,it's just not always a measurable amount with a dipstick.
>is being burned then shouldn't I see smoke?
Not necessarily.If you are burning oil going down the interstate and it is not an extreme amount you won't see smoke.Also the catalytic converter will eliminate smoke when it's up to operating temperature and the engine isn't burning a lot of oil.
I would keep a close eye on your oil consumption and try to monitor exactly how much your engine is using.I think Ford claims about a qt or less every 800mi.is normal,of course we all know that's high.If it is using a qt.every 2000mi.I wouldn't necessarily be happy but on the other hand it probably isn't enough to justify tearing into the engine.All engines use oil,it's just not always a measurable amount with a dipstick.
