intermittent oil loss - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

jgtiv · 08-13-2007, 07:33

I've got a 98 e350 powerstroke 7.3L diesel engine that is really confusing me. Sometimes it seems to use a ton of oil in just a few hundred miles, and sometimes it doesn't use any. There is a leak at the dipstick tube insert on the oil pan, which i tried to silicone up, but didn't entirely work, but that stll doesn't seem like it would account for 2qts every 300 miles. It's not showing any smoke at all in the exhaust, there is some smoke in the crankcase when you open the cap, but i figured that was somewhat normal. Anybody got any suggestions?

**360ci** · 11-13-2007, 13:12

Smoke in the crankcase when you take the cap off is fine providing the engine was hot. Silicone won't stay on a warm engine very long. Give the engine a degrease with a pressure washer (under body too!) and you should be able to better pin point the leak.

Hubbes · 03-13-2008, 21:12

I suggest you do a pump and sending switch check. Also inspect the oil pressure sending unit and be able have that done. Other auto parts to consider is the sensor and gauges.