Ford 5.4L on M1....is oil consumption typical?

[NewGuy]

After finding BITOG and learning of the benefits of synthetic oils, I bought M1 for my wife's Expedition in January. The weather was much colder at that time and the 5.4L seemed to run well using the M1 5w30 (GF-4/AM). I did notice that the M1 was really cleaning some varnish out of the engine as it got dirty quickly and began removing build-up from the dipstick (see previous post).

In my previous post I discussed the cleaning aspect and received some good advice. Now with approximately 3K on the M1....I changed the filter and plan to add Auto-Rx for the next 1500 miles.

My wife took the Expedition on a trip to Baltimore this past weekend (~800 miles round trip). I noticed this morning that it had used almost 1 quart of oil over the past 3K miles. This engine has never used oil in the past on dino. It runs great, so I don't know what is going on. I changed the filter and added one quart of M1, but I am still at the "Min" marker on the dipstick. My Auto-Rx should arrive tomorrow, so I plan to add the ARx and then top-off with some Havoline 10W-30 for the next 1500 miles.

Has anyone else noticed oil consumption when switching to M1 for the first time? 1 quart over 3K miles seems excessive, especially for an engine that never used any dino over 5K OCIs. I have some MC 5w30 for use during the rinse phase, but I am thinking about staying away from M1 in this engine if such oil consumption is typical for this engine.

I tried to search using "M1" and "5.4L" or "consumption", but there are way too many M1 containing threads on BITOG. Any thoughts or suggestions? I am not sure what to do after the ARx....M1 or Dino (MC or Havoline).

 

[TomJones76]

Perhaps the detergents in M1 cleaned some false seals out of the engine, and now it's leaking slowly?
Certainly M1 wouldn't be any more likely to combust than your average dyno oil.
Oh, and by the way, it COULD just be the trip your wife trip.
I took my wife horseback riding last year. That was a 700 mile round trip in 80 degree weather.
My old Chevy used 1 qt of oil on that trip, whereas it normally actually lost only about one quart per 6000 miles.
Many other posters have remarked about similar experiences that they have had.

[ March 07, 2005, 05:01 PM: Message edited by: TomJones76 ]

 

[Schmoe]

I got a 01 5.4 in my 4x4 F150. Using M1 at about 12W-38 (use 10W-30 but threw in some 15W-50 to thicken it up). Since I went to the 10W-30, oil consumption has gone down to the point where I don't have to add anything to about 4K miles. It was drinking a little more with the 5w30. However, don't stress, these modular motors are known to drink a quart now and then. It's just in their nature. Some do, some don't. Could also be your wifes driving style. Everybody is different.

 

[wander2039]

I have a 2000 5.4 and it drinks 5w30 M1 at about the same rate as yours did. Also the same with 10w-30 M1 and Castrol Syntec. If I go beyond 3-4k it starts to drink the 5w30 twice the rate as 10w-30. I've recently switched back to Motorcraft 5w30 just to see what it does, but I'm switching back to M1 due to the power loss. If you go to fordtrucks.com or fordtruckworld.com they cover alot on this subject and alot of it is caused by the pcv valve and only the Motorcraft brand seems to stop it, I can actually hear mine rattling. I've switched many brands and it hasn't stopped on mine yet and some time shortly i'll be picking up a Motorcraft pcv valve. My festiva stopped the 1/2 quart M1 burn every 3k with a new pcv valve non-motorcraft though so I'm crossing my fingers. Good luck.

 

[BlazerLT]

Yea, I would change the PCV valve.

They should be changed every year anyways.

 

[boxcartommie22]

i have 2 4.6's one is dohc and 5.4 expy all 98's...none of my engines use any oil no matter how hard i drive them which is very seldom...

 

[robbobster]

I've got a 5.4L Expedition.
1/2 quart of dino over 3K miles back in the day.

After switching to M1 @ 88K miles, still went thru 1/2 quart over 3K miles.

Added a supercharger, still uses about 1/2 quart over 3K miles.

I'd keep an eye on it. As stated, it could have been that trip. If there was lots of stop & go driving in htere, that could affect it also.

But 1 quart over 3K miles is not considered "excessive" by car companies, though some folks may disagree.

These modular engines do suck up a little oil via the PCV system. Some of the blown ones suck a lot up. No cure for it at this point...

 

[65hoss]

When I bought my F150 new in 1998, I ran mobil 1 10w-30. It used oil quickly. A friend of mine is one of the best mechanics in Memphis. He told me since it was synthetic to go thicker because the 10w-30 would run thru those motors worse. I changed to 15w-50 and it stopped using any oil. At about 75,000 miles I changed all motors to Rotella 15w40 and none of them uses oil with that oil either.

 

[Mike_dup1]

Sounds like the additives in the oil are being used up. Whats likely happening is that the engine is not buring the oil past the rings but boiling off the addtives. You should change the oil and filter.

I don't see the need for any RX in the engine once you went to the Mobil 1, that should have come first.

 

[wander2039]

65Hoss -- What's your gas mileage like with the 15w40? When I went from M1 16-17mpg to motorcraft 14-15. I'm going to go with M1 0w-40 or M1 5w-40 depending on if I get jugs of 5w-40 at wally world.

 

[NewGuy]

Thanks for all of the responses. The PCV valve was change last Fall, but I will change it tomorrow. I have a spare I bought at AZ, but might try to get a Motorcraft. I hope that is the answer.

My wife uses the Expy mostly for short trips with the baby with a few long trips every OCI. It is the "Grocery-Getter" vehicle, but I keep it well tuned and maintained. We have been using it this way for several years, but it has not burned oil until I began using M1. I have 6 quarts of M1 5W30 and 6 M1 10W30 waiting to be used, so I hope the consumption issues goes away. If not I will go to a thicker synthetic or back to dino.

I am going to add another quart of oil, plus the Auto-Rx and then run MC 5W30 for the rinse phase. I should have done this before M1, but did not know about ARx at that time. I will try M1 again after the engine is cleaned out. Thanks for your help!

 

[rshaw125]

I had a 99 Expedition with the 5.4. It always burned some oil, MC, Mobil 1,Havoline.Usually a quart between 3,000 mile oil changes. At one point I was going to switch to a heavier oil from the 5W30 but it was such a gas guzzler I never did. Sold it at 88,000 miles.

 

[tmorris1]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Eric Smith:
I have a 2000 5.4 and it drinks 5w30 M1 at about the same rate as yours did. Also the same with 10w-30 M1 and Castrol Syntec. If I go beyond 3-4k it starts to drink the 5w30 twice the rate as 10w-30. I've recently switched back to Motorcraft 5w30 just to see what it does, but I'm switching back to M1 due to the power loss. If you go to fordtrucks.com or fordtruckworld.com they cover alot on this subject and alot of it is caused by the pcv valve and only the Motorcraft brand seems to stop it, I can actually hear mine rattling. I've switched many brands and it hasn't stopped on mine yet and some time shortly i'll be picking up a Motorcraft pcv valve. My festiva stopped the 1/2 quart M1 burn every 3k with a new pcv valve non-motorcraft though so I'm crossing my fingers. Good luck.

---

I had the same thing happen. I replaced my PCV with a Napa one and about a week later there was some terrible noises coming from under the hood. I thought something was knocking, and I traced it down to the PCV rattling. It was very loud. I replaced with a Motorcraft and everything was normal again. I guess there is something to be said about OEM parts somethimes.

 

[NewGuy]

This is very strange....I checked the PCV valve this morning and it was full of oil and not working at all. I had a spare that I bought at AZ, so I intalled it. I am going buy the Ford Dealership on the way home for a new MC PCV valve.

Thanks for all the help with the issue. It is hard to believe that an aftermarket PCV valve just doesn't work as well and might make such a big difference. I will let my wife run the AZ PCV, check it and maybe install the MC part.

 

[NewGuy]

The engine also made a knocking noise that I thought was associated with an internal issue....but now I am thinking it was the PCV.

 

[wtd]

When I used to run Mobil 1 in my 98 chevy truck with the 5.7L, it used to use a quart or more in 3,000 miles. I switched to Chevron Supreme and oil consumption is down to about 1/2 to 3/4 a quart in the same mileage.

Wayne

 

[65hoss]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Eric Smith:
65Hoss -- What's your gas mileage like with the 15w40? When I went from M1 16-17mpg to motorcraft 14-15. I'm going to go with M1 0w-40 or M1 5w-40 depending on if I get jugs of 5w-40 at wally world.

---

My gas mileage went up switching to Rotella 15w40. All vehicles run smoother now, and mileage went up on my F150 and F250. Stayed about the same in my wife's expedition.