When I put 6 quarts in that fills it up to the FULL mark on the dipstick.
Tried Maxlife, now what?
- Thread starter SmrtJustin
- Start date
- Status
I tried MaxLife as a top-off oil when I first got my '96 4.6L. I was using 1qt/500miles and the MaxLife did nothing to stop it. I switched to synthetic with some HDEO pitched in and alot of carbon was cut loose. It now consumes about 1qt/1500-2500miles depending on which oil I use and how I drive.
Previous owners used Chevron 10W-30 conventional, which of course was not good enough for this engine. I consider the Motorcraft 5W-20 to be the minimum quality oil for this engine. The Castrol Syntec 5W-20 is working very nicely in my engine right now in this 90+deg heat. I give it a thumbs up.
You might try running the Castrol GTX 5W-20 with an ARX treatment, then use a quality synthetic for 6000mile OCI's after that.
Previous owners used Chevron 10W-30 conventional, which of course was not good enough for this engine. I consider the Motorcraft 5W-20 to be the minimum quality oil for this engine. The Castrol Syntec 5W-20 is working very nicely in my engine right now in this 90+deg heat. I give it a thumbs up.
You might try running the Castrol GTX 5W-20 with an ARX treatment, then use a quality synthetic for 6000mile OCI's after that.
I second this. ARX helped my oil consumption. Went from 1-2 quarts per OCI to none. I would recommend two Auto-Rx cycles and then use a good dino oil like Castrol GTX at whatever weight is recommended.
FWIW-- My daughter's elderly Camry greatly decreased a seal leak when TropArtic was substituted for ST. Assume that Motorcraft would be similar. They have dropped a quart of Kendall in and it performs similarly.
You really think that a convential motor oil is not enough in a 4.6 with 3k OCIs?!
Rodbuckler
Member
Member # 12180
posted 28 June, 2006 06:05
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I tried MaxLife as a top-off oil when I first got my '96 4.6L. I was using 1qt/500miles and the MaxLife did nothing to stop it. I switched to synthetic with some HDEO pitched in and alot of carbon was cut loose. It now consumes about 1qt/1500-2500miles depending on which oil I use and how I drive.
Previous owners used Chevron 10W-30 conventional, which of course was not good enough for this engine. I consider the Motorcraft 5W-20 to be the minimum quality oil for this engine. The Castrol Syntec 5W-20 is working very nicely in my engine right now in this 90+deg heat. I give it a thumbs up.
You might try running the Castrol GTX 5W-20 with an ARX treatment, then use a quality synthetic for 6000mile OCI's after that.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posts: 243 | From: Fredericksburg, VA | Registered: Mar 2006 | IP: Logged |
LOL did I was wondering if anyone else caught that. How do you figure motorcraft is a higher quality???
Member
Member # 12180
posted 28 June, 2006 06:05
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I tried MaxLife as a top-off oil when I first got my '96 4.6L. I was using 1qt/500miles and the MaxLife did nothing to stop it. I switched to synthetic with some HDEO pitched in and alot of carbon was cut loose. It now consumes about 1qt/1500-2500miles depending on which oil I use and how I drive.
Previous owners used Chevron 10W-30 conventional, which of course was not good enough for this engine. I consider the Motorcraft 5W-20 to be the minimum quality oil for this engine. The Castrol Syntec 5W-20 is working very nicely in my engine right now in this 90+deg heat. I give it a thumbs up.
You might try running the Castrol GTX 5W-20 with an ARX treatment, then use a quality synthetic for 6000mile OCI's after that.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posts: 243 | From: Fredericksburg, VA | Registered: Mar 2006 | IP: Logged |
LOL did I was wondering if anyone else caught that. How do you figure motorcraft is a higher quality???
I also have a 1997 Ford with the 4.6L & 123k miles. It started consuming a lot of oil around 90k miles. A few months ago, I replaced the old pcv valve & rubber grommet with a new Motorcraft pcv valve & rubber grommet. Since then, it has consumed very, very little oil. I recommend changing the pcv valve & grommet before doing anything else. Then, if that doesn't control the oil consumption, try Auto-RX.
Just to let you know, I have a 1996 escort with 120,000 on it and have been using maxlife since 70,000 miles with no oil consumption! Every oil change I check the oil before I drain and it is always full! I would highly recommend you trying the auto-rx treatment! lots of us here have had excellent results! It would really clean the motor up internally. Also check pcv valv, do this first, then think about auto-rx if all else fails!!
Just my 2 cents! Good luck though!!
Just my 2 cents! Good luck though!!
I consider a conventional oil to be a poor choice in the 4.6L regardless of the OCI. But are any of the 5W-20's that pass the Ford wear test actually a conventional oil? I doubt it.
An oil that is run hot in an engine should always successfully go longer than 3K mile OCI's except for a few extreme operating conditions like dust. If it doesn't then you need to go to a better oil. Short trips on cold oil might need less than a 3K OCI to keep the varnish out of the engine.
It has got to be better than the conventional garbage from the quicky-lube they ran in my engine before I bought it. Cleaniness of the engine is most important for long life, and the previous oil was taking the engine to an early death. I think I saved the engine, but the oil consumption is probably irreversible because of the damage to the rings and bore caused by the failure of the conventional 10W-30 oil used in this engine.
For your interest, I also have a '92 Escort that has 156K miles on it. It uses no oil between changes regardless of the OCI. I don't think that it feeds much oil to the cylinders or the valves. My engine has lots of sludge from the previous owners' short trips on cold oil. The conventional oil at 3K OCI did not get the job done. I pull the PCV valve and there is lots of blowby at idle. This is a good engine for ARX maintenance dosage.
Also, I broke the exhaust upstream of the flex-pipe (downstream of the two cats), and the mileage went from a best ever of 38mpg to 44mpg instantaneously. Power was the same, so backpressure was not the issue. I am going to move the expansion chamber upstream to replicate the wave action that gives the 44mpg.
I took the PCV valve out and jiggled it and I heard the part inside move freely, so I would think its good, correct?
Not necessarily. The pcv can still rattle, but not be creating a good seal when closed. You should replace it, since they are cheap. I got my new pcv & rubber grommet from Ford for $6.
They are $2.xx on my '00 Grand Am GT V6. Since it's such a cheap and easy replacement, I'd go ahead and buy a new one.
I was starting to lean towards using Motorcraft oil in both, but the only two places that carry it around here is Murray's and Walmart, and neither have much more than 7 or 8 quarts of 5w-30 on the shelf at one time and I've never seen it on sale.
I was checking my Sunday ads today, and I noticed Murray's is carrying Pennzoil Platinum for $32.94 a case regular price, and currently its on sale. So I'm thinking of using it w/ 5k OCIs (yeah, I know I could probably go longer, but my 3k OCI habit dies hard) in the F-150, and using the OLM in the Tahoe.
My one concern is, will using a synthetic in your guy's honest opinion help consumption or hurt consumption in the 4.6? If someone thinks MC would be a better choice, please chime in.
Thanks Guys.
[ July 02, 2006, 10:21 PM: Message edited by: SmrtJustin ]
I was checking my Sunday ads today, and I noticed Murray's is carrying Pennzoil Platinum for $32.94 a case regular price, and currently its on sale. So I'm thinking of using it w/ 5k OCIs (yeah, I know I could probably go longer, but my 3k OCI habit dies hard) in the F-150, and using the OLM in the Tahoe.
My one concern is, will using a synthetic in your guy's honest opinion help consumption or hurt consumption in the 4.6? If someone thinks MC would be a better choice, please chime in.
Thanks Guys.
[ July 02, 2006, 10:21 PM: Message edited by: SmrtJustin ]
I misread the ad, I was thinking it was a case of 12, its a case of 6. Still probably isn't bad for a 5k OCI, but I think I'd probably feel a bit more comfortable doing a 3k OCI w/ MC.
I'd go with Havoline
i've been using it in my Dad's 98 F-150 with the 4.6 ever since he bought it with 62,000 miles, it now has 112,000 miles and consumes maybe a little bit of oil, but usually just when it pulls for a long period of time.
right after he bought it, it consumed about a quart every 1500 miles but mostly when pulling, did this for a few oil changes and then just stopped all of a sudden.
i check it from time to time and it seems to be up there, but the oil filter lines are leaking just a bit so that may be where some of the oil is going.
i've been using it in my Dad's 98 F-150 with the 4.6 ever since he bought it with 62,000 miles, it now has 112,000 miles and consumes maybe a little bit of oil, but usually just when it pulls for a long period of time.
right after he bought it, it consumed about a quart every 1500 miles but mostly when pulling, did this for a few oil changes and then just stopped all of a sudden.
i check it from time to time and it seems to be up there, but the oil filter lines are leaking just a bit so that may be where some of the oil is going.
JK: I am starting to think about going with the Havoline over the MC because its easier to obtain around here.
Rodbuckler has started to scare me a little with using dino in the 4.6, but I can't imagine its that bad.
I'm interested in the Pennzoil Platinum, but I'm thinking it'll make my consumption go up even more, and now it'll be burning even more expensive oil.
Does anyone have a problem with me running Havoline in the Tahoe's 5.3 also?
[ July 05, 2006, 01:30 AM: Message edited by: SmrtJustin ]
Rodbuckler has started to scare me a little with using dino in the 4.6, but I can't imagine its that bad.
I'm interested in the Pennzoil Platinum, but I'm thinking it'll make my consumption go up even more, and now it'll be burning even more expensive oil.
Does anyone have a problem with me running Havoline in the Tahoe's 5.3 also?
[ July 05, 2006, 01:30 AM: Message edited by: SmrtJustin ]
Rodbuckler
Member
Member # 12180
posted 30 June, 2006 09:33
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by dave1251:
How do you figure motorcraft is a higher quality?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It has got to be better than the conventional garbage from the quicky-lube they ran in my engine before I bought it. Cleaniness of the engine is most important for long life, and the previous oil was taking the engine to an early death. I think I saved the engine, but the oil consumption is probably irreversible because of the damage to the rings and bore caused by the failure of the conventional 10W-30 oil used in this engine.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posts: 253 | From: Fredericksburg, VA | Registered: Mar 2006 | IP: Logged |
FYI my brother in-law has an 4.6 in his 2004 F-150 and it has nothing but MEXICAN quaker state 10W-30 dino SL GF-3 and after 90,000 miles it runs like a top. So I think your ill-informed about dino quality. Motor-craft is a good oil but its not greater than anything else.
Member
Member # 12180
posted 30 June, 2006 09:33
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by dave1251:
How do you figure motorcraft is a higher quality?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It has got to be better than the conventional garbage from the quicky-lube they ran in my engine before I bought it. Cleaniness of the engine is most important for long life, and the previous oil was taking the engine to an early death. I think I saved the engine, but the oil consumption is probably irreversible because of the damage to the rings and bore caused by the failure of the conventional 10W-30 oil used in this engine.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posts: 253 | From: Fredericksburg, VA | Registered: Mar 2006 | IP: Logged |
FYI my brother in-law has an 4.6 in his 2004 F-150 and it has nothing but MEXICAN quaker state 10W-30 dino SL GF-3 and after 90,000 miles it runs like a top. So I think your ill-informed about dino quality. Motor-craft is a good oil but its not greater than anything else.
SmrtJustin
Junior Member
Member # 12957
posted 04 July, 2006 11:19
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
JK: I am starting to think about going with the Havoline over the MC because its easier to obtain around here.
Rodbuckler has started to scare me a little with using dino in the 4.6, but I can't imagine its that bad.
I'm interested in the Pennzoil Platinum, but I'm thinking it'll make my consumption go up even more, and now it'll be burning even more expensive oil.
Does anyone have a problem with me running Havoline in the Tahoe's 5.3 also?
[ July 05, 2006, 01:30 AM: Message edited by: SmrtJustin ]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posts: 12 | From: Toledo, OH | Registered: Jun 2006 | IP: Logged |
Smrt Justin Havoline will do great in both applications it's a group II+ motor oil with a robust additive pack.
Junior Member
Member # 12957
posted 04 July, 2006 11:19
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
JK: I am starting to think about going with the Havoline over the MC because its easier to obtain around here.
Rodbuckler has started to scare me a little with using dino in the 4.6, but I can't imagine its that bad.
I'm interested in the Pennzoil Platinum, but I'm thinking it'll make my consumption go up even more, and now it'll be burning even more expensive oil.
Does anyone have a problem with me running Havoline in the Tahoe's 5.3 also?
[ July 05, 2006, 01:30 AM: Message edited by: SmrtJustin ]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posts: 12 | From: Toledo, OH | Registered: Jun 2006 | IP: Logged |
Smrt Justin Havoline will do great in both applications it's a group II+ motor oil with a robust additive pack.
- Status
Similar threads
