Extreme oil usage - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

EMAN250 · 10-02-2003, 06:53

My 03 E250 w/ 5.4 V8 is starting to use a lot of oil, it has now 8000 miles on it, the oil has been changed twice, once at 3K and once at 6K now at 8 ,it has used over 2 quarts since the last change, what may be causing this over usage, their is no leaks that I can see anywhere?

351w · 10-02-2003, 21:12

well aside from the oil that seeps past the valve guides maybe you are loosing some through the pcv valve as well.
it is hard to say without knowing a little more.
does it ever smoke during startup ?
have you taken out any plugs to see if it is being burned and leaving deposits on the plugs ?
are their any visable traces of your oil getting into the anti freeze ?

EMAN250 · 10-03-2003, 06:40

I have only seen it smoke during startup once, I'll check pcv and antifreeze today and report back, is this a common problen for the 5.4? Also does using Motorcraft 5W-20 oil have anything to do with this lose? Should I switch the kind of oil I am using, maybe to 5W-30? thx.

351w · 10-03-2003, 19:17

ahh, another important detail not mentioned!!
using Motorcraft 5W-20 oil
unless you live in alaska i dont recommend using that thin of an oil !
i would say you would be better running 10w-30 but i prefer 15w-40.
low weight oils seep very easily through the valve guides and also is drawn through the pcv valve as vapor.

89F150 · 10-04-2003, 02:15

What does it recommend in the manual? It would be 5w-30, wouldn't it?

351w · 10-04-2003, 22:27

:wgaf: what the manual says 89.
you gotta use what works.
books are for schools and library's and to look up important things in life like how much torque and what order to bolt down a head.
but you cant beleive everything you read cause paper will stand still for anything.

89F150 · 10-05-2003, 00:44

Well i say, if all else fails, go with what the book says. Ive had to use the book quite a bit and it hasn't let me down once.

351w · 10-05-2003, 10:46

if you keep an attitude like that your liable to get slapped.
bwaha ha

EMAN250 · 10-05-2003, 13:06

The book says MotorCraft Synthtic Blend or Full Synthetic 5W-20, not 30, It also says this on the filler neck cap on the motor, So should I go try 5W-30 or 10W-30 on the next change?

351w · 10-05-2003, 15:12

you will be safe using 10-30 so i would say go ahead and try it to see if it helps.
the other fact that you should know is these synthetic motor oils do seep very easily and have been known to cause leaks to show up that never showed using conventional oil.
the only downfall you will get from using a heavier weight oil is a small loss of hp in high rpm conditions.
which you will not even see with your perticular engine.