Hi guys,

My 1997 Expedition XLT 4x4 has 109,000 and the factory tow package (has the external oil cooler) on it. I bought it at 107,000 and did an oil change to give me a fresh start. I used normal 10w-30. Everything has been fine so far. No smell of oil burning or leaking. Vehicle has driven great - especially after I put new plugs and fuel injectors in. Anyway, I thought read somewhere on FTE that it is normal for the 5.4L to burn a little oil and so I went home to check the dipstick level. Sure enough, the level was down half-way between Full and Add. So without thinking too much about it, other than being slightly pi**ed that oil consumption is occurring, I added a half-quart. Waited a few minutes, rechecked the level and the dip stick read the same. Dumped the other half quart in (for 1 quart total added). I let all the oil drain down over night and re-checked it today. Believe it or not, the oil level read the same: half-way between Add and Full. I was suprised so I started the truck and let it run for 15 seconds and then shut it off. Gave it a few minutes and re-checked. SAME THING AGAIN! I know there are no leaks because my driveway concrete is practically white and would reveal any drips/leaks. My question is: was my oil been down to begin with or is it sitting in the external cooler or lines where its not in the crank case (which is giving me the inaccurate reading)? Anyone else experience anything similar? I know for a fact that when I changed the oil I added 6 qts (as noted in manual by previous owner) and the dipstick read dead-on full. This is why I am confused.

Edit: Second thought: Will excessive starting and stopping the motor cause it to burn off? I just did a coolant change not more than 2 weeks ago and in that time I turned the motor on and off a dozen times or so as I drained coolant. Or could it be from the motor getting hotter from it running with little coolant in it as I was changing it?

 

You probably will not get a definitive answer on here as to whether or not it's normal for your 5.4 to burn some oil. From past posts on this same subject there will be as many people telling you that their engine doesn't use any oil between changes as those saying that theirs' is using 1 to 2 qts. between changes. I am confused as to why your dipstick level wouldn't change after you added a full quart of oil. Are you sure that the dipstick was going all the way in the tube when you rechecked it?

 

I'll help get this started on you question of oil usage. My 01 5.4 doesn't show any noticable oil usage on the dipstick at 4000 mile oil change intervals. The engine has 76000 miles on it.

 

my 01 5.4L has burned .5-1 qt per OCI since about 30k give or take 5k. dealer said it was normal.

 

In short, yes it is normal. Also 10W30 is too heavy an oil in the modulars. 5W20 is recommended but 5W30 is alright. I am actually surprised 6qts got you to the full mark, especially if you have the remote filter. 6.5qts is what the earlier 5.4L's with the remote filter take.

 

The 5.4 in my '01 uses about a quart every oil change using 5W20 at 4-4500 mile intervals.

 

I am positive that I pushed the dipstick all the way down. I want to go and drive the vehicle and recheck the level again. I'm serious when I say the level did not change on the dipstick. It's weird.

I looked in the owners manual and the previous owner actually wrote down the type of oil used in every change since purchase. He ran various weights of oil through the motor. In winter he ran 5w-20, spring and fall was 10w-30, while summer months brought 20w-50. I have been reading some posts on the 5w/10w oil debate and I am not taking sides on the issue, so I will not say whether I can believe it or not. Although, I don't have a problem running a different grade if oil - it's not a big deal to switch back.

 

Just wanted to add this, I got home and re-checked the oil level. This time the level is up 3/4 of the way to Full instead of half way as it has been. This is odd. The dipstick I'm assuming is factory: "T" handle top attached to a metal cable that has a metal tip on it about 2" long.

A post here from 10 yrs ago is similar: http://f150online.com/forums/v8-engi...-capacity.html

So far though, the oil has been in operating range so I'm assuming there isn't too much to worry about. But as always, I will watch it.

 

At the shop I work at we have several 5.4 econolines and f150s with 150000+ miles. They're part of a pretty decent size fleet. I can't think of one that burns/consumes even a 1/2 quart of oil at the customers VERY strict 3mo/3000 mi oil change intervals. These trucks have seen 5w-20 since day one, as most of them have been with us since day one. I use 6.5qts of 5w20 and they go straight to full. As I recall, ShopKeys spec is 6.5 of 5w-20, as is the oil cap. The way I see it, if Ford could have found a way to make the vehicle any cheaper to build and then maintain, they would have.

On a side note, we did have an 02 Expy come in (first time to us after being a dealer serviced truck) that had nearly 11,000 mi on one oil change. The vehicle only has roughly 100k on it. There was about a 1/2 qt of oil in it. That's it. We called the kids dad and notified him and told him what precautions/directions to follow. They are now very strict 3000mi/3mo customers. Even in the dads 08 Lexus LS460, which has an oil change interval of waaaaaay longer. 3 month 3000 miles is the way to go on anything but full synthetic. That truck burns 1/2 to 1 quart now between intervals.

 

I got underneath the truck and took a look. I believe there is a small oil leak occurring. I took a few photos and will post them in a new thread. Thanks guys for your help.

 

My advise is to get underneath your truck at nightime in the darkness, with a bright LED Flashlight, & look around the drivetrain componets, a leak will show up easily under these conditions!............

 

remove that clip on cooler hose to oil filter and use radiator clamp.

Our F250 would burn 3 qts in 1000 miles but oil filter alway cover oil we keep tighter it still leak when you drive.

Found that hose are leak oil when it drive.