truck seems to use a little oil

[Huggyd]

I posted the following on a different forum and got back some good replies but was also told to do some follow up research on "Bob is the guy" so here I am, I have made some edits to the post and I included some of the info that I got from replies but would like some feed back and any ideas, I'm all for learning.
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I have just always kept an eye on the oil level, out of habit. I have noticed for the past few months that I'm adding a little ~250ml and that just a rough guess to bring it back up to the full mark, over a period of 2months, again rough guess.
So I drive about 50km one way to work on 12hour shifts and I can drive about 200km and check the oil level on level ground and don't really notice any drop. I can check it again after 2000km and notice the drop, not by any means a significant drop but still. I don't see anything left on the driveway nor do I see any evidence of oil under the hood, no evidence of it out the tail pipe(blue smoke or other wise) or in the rad, and the truck has no fault codes. So where is going and what can do about it?
I keep up with my oil changes and put in full synthetic, which I have just started doing maybe a full year now before that is was always conventional 5W-20.

2008 Ranger Sport
3.0L V6
Auto
~180,000km

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Some info I got from replies was.
"I would change the PCV and see if it makes a difference"
"....switching vehicles with 75K miles or more that don't burn a drop to full synthetic because it was on sale or something and suddenly they are burning a quart every thousand miles...." "...phenomenon it is a well documented thing"

I am thinking that my next oil change to just use a high mileage blend as one of the replies I had, I just always figured that switching oils to a full synth is a good thing.

 

[danthaman1980]

It is quite normal for vehicles to consume a little oil, especially as they get older.

Once upon a time it was a bad idea to switch older vehicles to synthetics because the synthetics of that time could cause the seals of that time to shrink. This is not the case anymore, as synthetic oils have evolved (and so have conventional oils) so there is no significant impact to seals by switching.
On the other hand, switching to a high quality synthetic may result in cleaning away of sludge and varnish around the seals, that conventional oils might leave behind. This can result in increased oil consumption or minor seepage, but the trade-off would be a cleaner engine.
This may be what you are experiencing, or it may just be normal wear causing a normal increase in oil consumption.
In either case, it doesn't sound significant. I would just keep an eye on the oil level and add oil when you get 16oz/500mL low. Or, if it bothers you, try switching to a high mileage oil to see if that slows down your consumption.

 

[Chris142]

Is there any reason why you cant put a 5w30 or a 10w30 in that engine? No weird variable cam timing or whatever that would goof up with a slightly thicker oil?

 

[Branson304]

Check PCV valve

Switch to Valvoline MaxLife

 

[ARCOgraphite]

I've come to hate and distrust hydraulic VVT. Always seem to break or not work or make horrendous racket after a few thou on the EnGine ...

The Coyote V8 is mechanical non hydraulic?

 

[Toaster_Jer]

What oil and weight have you been using and before the change?

 

[BrocLuno]

Originally Posted By: Branson304
Check PCV valve

Switch to Valvoline MaxLife


+1

Been here done this with the same engine. Switch up to 10W-30 and see how it goes... Will likely be happier and quieter.

 

[Huggyd]

Thanks for the replies.

Originally Posted By: Toaster_Jer
What oil and weight have you been using and before the change?


I was using 10W-20 (that is what the manufacture called for) before switching to the full Synthetic.

 

[TFB1]

10W-20??

If it isn't using a quart in less than 2000 miles, total non issue... All engines will begin to consume once the miles begin to climb, some at maybe 50-75K mi, others at 100-150K mi, but it will happen..