Burning oil
- Thread starter Joe m
- Start date
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justinp16ex
Full Access Members
What engine? My Ecoboost doesn't burn oil with 125k on it? How many miles on the oil, what kind of driving?
justinp16ex
Full Access Members
Any history of burning oil?
ManUpOrShutUp
Full Access Members
Somewhat. The 5.4L tends to burn a lot of oil. Ford allows for something ridiculous (3+ qts) between oil changes. I've burned 1+ qts for the last 100k miles. I'm up near 2 qts now that I am nearing 200k.
Boostedbus
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What are your oil change intervals (miles), and I assume you are running 5w- 20? Maybe try 5w-30 high mileage oil and see if the consumption decreases.
Motorcity muscle
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Have an '07 & '09 no oil burning between oil changes, running 5w-30 semi synthetic.
ManUpOrShutUp
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Just out of curiosity, how many miles between changes and how much local vs highway driving?
Motorcity muscle
Full Access Members
Change oil at 4000 to 5000 miles, mostly local but drove the '07 to Florida and it lives there now, in a garage. Got good advice here on staying on top of the oil and using Motorcraft filters. Maximum time between changes is six months, figure it's cheap insurance. The '07 has 138,000 and the '09 107,000.
Trainmaster
Old School Member
Lots of threads on 5w30 vs 5w20. Some people make a good argument for the thicker oil. You can spend all night reading about the choice. Never read anything bad about using the 5w30 except that it's contrary to Ford's recommendation.
Vincent Vega
Full Access Members
Yes. I burn 1-2 quarts every 5k or so and my 5.4 otherwise runs great. Just based on what I recall, everyone who has posted on here about oil has said they burn about the same amount. And my oil burning rate does not seem to have anything to do with towing or City vs. Hiway driving. So, you are probably fine.
JExpedition07
That One Member
Mine is coming up on 200,000 and still doesn’t use any in the duration of my 5,000 intervals. I generally check every 2k miles. Have yet to need to add.
Boostedbus
Full Access Members
Changing your oil and filter religiously between 3-5k intervals is great for getting long life with less wear on your engine. But the thing sometimes forgotten is the air filter. Checking it and all air intake connections on regular service intervals is a good habit to get into. Dirt causes wear and wear causes oil consumption.
Western Rider
New Member
This is very common when the integrated/built in pcv valve in the drivers side valve cover malfunctions. These have a tendency to stick open slightly and not properly reseal during combustion strokes leading to your excess oil consumption. Basically sucks the oil vapour in instead of being the check valve it’s supposed to be. The fix is replacing the valve cover with a new Ford cover. Had the same issue, 1.5 litres betwen changes. Changed the cover, now zero consumption and oil stays clear longer. This is also a major contributor to sludging on these motors. I’ve seen consumption as high as 1 litre per 1000kms with this issue. Your cats will thank you for it too when you don’t clog them prematurely from this issue as well.
07 with 210000, MC 5 w 30 and MC oil filter, Change the oil every 5000-6000 miles, whenever it tells me.
Consumes just under 3 quarts every time, if I don’t add any during the interval. Mostly city driving. Been doing it since at least 2018.
Consumes just under 3 quarts every time, if I don’t add any during the interval. Mostly city driving. Been doing it since at least 2018.
I’ve got an ‘04 Eddy Bauer with the 5.4liter motor… it burns oil as well. Though it has approximately 305k. To be expected at this point. Though I can remember it doing it around 165mi… wasn’t burning as much at that point.
I also have an Ecoboost with approximately 152k on it. No noticeable burning of oil. So, I’m sure some oil gets consumed… but I can’t really notice it.
The main evidence I have is my oil change process. In other words when I drain the old oil into a drain bucket. I put the new oil in, and the old oil into the new oil’s container. I have somewhere between 2-2.5qts. I don’t usually wait too long for the oil to drain from the oil filter. As i don’t believe it would make that much of a difference.
In between oil changes I make sure I, or my daughter, check the level on a regular basis. It’s her truck now… gotta teach her how to take care of it.
I also have an Ecoboost with approximately 152k on it. No noticeable burning of oil. So, I’m sure some oil gets consumed… but I can’t really notice it.
The main evidence I have is my oil change process. In other words when I drain the old oil into a drain bucket. I put the new oil in, and the old oil into the new oil’s container. I have somewhere between 2-2.5qts. I don’t usually wait too long for the oil to drain from the oil filter. As i don’t believe it would make that much of a difference.
In between oil changes I make sure I, or my daughter, check the level on a regular basis. It’s her truck now… gotta teach her how to take care of it.
Motorcity muscle
Full Access Members
First I have heard of this. How does replacing the cover and valve change pcv operation?
Western Rider
New Member
It doesn’t alter pcv operation other than making it actually work properly again. The built in pcv valve which is in a permanent baffle of the DS valve cover stops working as intended. When the valve fails to seat its check valve ball it no longer functions as intended and oil consumption will be a product of this. If you have bad or sludged oil control rings you will also eat oil but it’s not very common on 5.4 3v’s. The valve cover swap fixed our vehicles issues completely. 60k since the repair and zero consumption.
Don't change the viscosity on a VVT engine. Too many hydraulic components run on the engine oil and will cause problems at a cold startup. Best is to keep the oil clean. As another posted, check the PCV valve issue.
