Oil Consumption
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 5,643
Likes: 8
From: NE Texas
Re: Oil Consumption
Originally posted by X10
Are the V10's notorious for consuming oil, as the 4.6s are known for?
Are the V10's notorious for consuming oil, as the 4.6s are known for?
I haven't heard nor seen one that was an oil guzzler, even though there has to be some that do - law of statistics.
With 88K so far, my oil never moves off the full mark, even when I go 1200 to 1500 over.
The only time my engine used oil was at around 50K when I decided to use synthetic oil. It would use about a quart in 2000 miles.
Go figure? I went back to dino and no problems...should have stayed with it to begin with.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 5,643
Likes: 8
From: NE Texas
Stick with the manual, you can't go wrong.And I think my usage with the synthetic was a combo of the mileage and age to the engine. (see sig). There have been alot of discussion on this type of stuff in the Oil Forum. Some think it was because of the synthetic getting past rings and gaskets, etc. I don't know for sure.
Is your truck new?
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 42,561
Likes: 423
From: Long Island USA
I have had two 4.6L's, a '96 T-bird Sport and a '97 30th Anniversary Cougar. Neither of them ever used oil, even though I beat the heck out of the '96.
My V10 has only 14K miles on it so far, but never used anything, at 3000 mile oil changes. And I mean, really, no change in oil level between oil changes.
I use strictly Castrol GTX 5w30 dino oil.
I have noticed a distrubing trend where most complaints about oil consumption are related to synthetics. I believe it to be the surface tension of synthetics affecting adherence to the cylinder walls, and how easily the rings can wipe it off the wall and put it back in the pan.
There are complaints from people that are NOT using synthetics, but VERY far and few between, and are probably a set of rings put in upside-down or just plain too much bore-to-piston clearance.
I personally feel that I will blow up the motor before the benefits of synthetic are felt, so I use straight dino oil changed at 3K miles usually.
My V10 has only 14K miles on it so far, but never used anything, at 3000 mile oil changes. And I mean, really, no change in oil level between oil changes.
I use strictly Castrol GTX 5w30 dino oil.
I have noticed a distrubing trend where most complaints about oil consumption are related to synthetics. I believe it to be the surface tension of synthetics affecting adherence to the cylinder walls, and how easily the rings can wipe it off the wall and put it back in the pan.
There are complaints from people that are NOT using synthetics, but VERY far and few between, and are probably a set of rings put in upside-down or just plain too much bore-to-piston clearance.
I personally feel that I will blow up the motor before the benefits of synthetic are felt, so I use straight dino oil changed at 3K miles usually.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 5,643
Likes: 8
From: NE Texas
Originally posted by krewat
I use strictly Castrol GTX 5w30 dino oil.
I use strictly Castrol GTX 5w30 dino oil.
Same here krewat. I wonder if this oil is as good as we say it is? 
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Elder User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 920
Likes: 2
From: Colville
I don't use oil as it is to controversial. I only use whale blubber. It was goood enough for the inuets! The Mamals in quesion only used 20wt-500. Depending on ambient temps and their body weight. Pull up a glacier and refresh your self. Multi vis. is a very controversial subject where full snynthetic oil and dinosauers are concerened.
What thread is this?
I think I have lost my way!
Please point me!
What thread is this?
I think I have lost my way!
Please point me!
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 396
Likes: 0
From: Johnson City, TN
Use oil or burn it?
I don't know what you'd call it burn or use, but my 2001 V10 uses about a quart of oil every 2-3k miles. I have seen this topic come up a few times online here and there are many people that their V10's consume about the same. I don't know what percentage of people have this problem but it is more than a few.
I use motorcraft semi synthetic 5w-20 as per the manual.
Tony in Alaska
I use motorcraft semi synthetic 5w-20 as per the manual.
Tony in Alaska
Cross-Country
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 62
Likes: 0
I have 19,000 miles on my V-10 and it uses a quart every 2000 miles with the Motorcraft Semi Synthetic 5W-20. More than I think it should. However, I have had 2 F-250's, one with a 351 and the other with a 460 that burned a quart every 500 miles from the time they were brand new. So, I am making progress!
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 423
Likes: 0
From: Cabot, Arkansas
My 2001 V-10 with 30,000 miles uses anywhere from a half to a full quart every 5,000 miles between changes. It has run the Motorcraft 5W20 since new. The only smoke I get is on initial startup and then it only has one little puff of blue smoke. This occurs when it has been sitting for several days between startups.
The local Ford service manager told me this amount is normal and Ford doesn't consider it excessive until it exceeds 1 quart in 3,000 miles.
OBTW, the manual says my truck holds 6 quarts, but I have found it really needs 6.5 quarts to top it off during an oil change.
Edmo
The local Ford service manager told me this amount is normal and Ford doesn't consider it excessive until it exceeds 1 quart in 3,000 miles.
OBTW, the manual says my truck holds 6 quarts, but I have found it really needs 6.5 quarts to top it off during an oil change.
Edmo
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 755
Likes: 0
From: Meriden Ct
60,000 on mine
I use Mobil 1 and change the oil at 6,000
It is down a quart at oil change time.
210,000 on the work truck 99 5.4
use any oil, oil changes at 3,000
and it is down a quart at oil change time
Note work truck is just starting to smoke a little on cold start ups
not bad for 210K
Steve
I use Mobil 1 and change the oil at 6,000
It is down a quart at oil change time.
210,000 on the work truck 99 5.4
use any oil, oil changes at 3,000
and it is down a quart at oil change time
Note work truck is just starting to smoke a little on cold start ups
not bad for 210K
Steve
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 42,561
Likes: 423
From: Long Island USA
Hmm...
I had the blue-puff-on-startup issue, after starting for a few minutes, leaving it for a day, and then POOF big blue cloud. I had been filling it to the FULL mark, with about 6.5-6.7 qts.
The owner's manual says to put 6 quarts (including filter) in and NOT to fill to the FULL mark, just make sure it's between "low" and "full" on the stick after adding exactly 6 qts.
So, I now only put 6 quarts in, it shows halfway between full and low, and I NEVER get the blue puff anymore.
I wonder if you guys are burning off the "overfill" oil ?
This is a big thing - I had started a thread a while ago on this, and the consensus we got was to just put in 6 qts, and no blue puff on startup. I never used oil, even when filling past 6 qts, but it still could be a problem for you guys.
I had the blue-puff-on-startup issue, after starting for a few minutes, leaving it for a day, and then POOF big blue cloud. I had been filling it to the FULL mark, with about 6.5-6.7 qts.
The owner's manual says to put 6 quarts (including filter) in and NOT to fill to the FULL mark, just make sure it's between "low" and "full" on the stick after adding exactly 6 qts.
So, I now only put 6 quarts in, it shows halfway between full and low, and I NEVER get the blue puff anymore.
I wonder if you guys are burning off the "overfill" oil ?
This is a big thing - I had started a thread a while ago on this, and the consensus we got was to just put in 6 qts, and no blue puff on startup. I never used oil, even when filling past 6 qts, but it still could be a problem for you guys.