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Oil consumption

  • Thread starter Thread starter bhuff30
  • Start date Start date Jul 1, 2008
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bhuff30

Founding Member
Dec 11, 2001
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Olathe KS
Jul 1, 2008
#1
  • Jul 1, 2008
  • #1
My 97GT seems to use about a quart of oil every 1500 miles, but I've never figured out where it goes. That's quite a bit of oil consumption for having no idea where it goes.
The car has 151k miles, but has consumed a bit of oil since my dad bought it with with 50k miles. I give it 10w-30 Mobil 1 full synthetic. I've never seen any smoke and it doesn't leak a drop. I never even smell oil smoke.
The engine runs very smooth and has good if not abnormal power (see sig). I know that's well within service limits, but it just bothers me that it drinks that much. Normally, such consumption would be very noticible.
So any idea why these engines, or mnie engine in particular consume oil?
 

Stark77

Member
Jun 11, 2008
501
0
16
Tallahassee, FL
Jul 1, 2008
#2
  • Jul 1, 2008
  • #2
Hmmmm - that's a LOT of oil to disappear from the crank case. I would be moderately alarmed. If you're using synthetic - that's 3 quarts of oil missing for every 5000 mile change. When you fill it back up after emptying, does it take the full ammount after checking it on the dipstick to make sure it is TOTALLY empty?
 

98COBRA281

10 Year Member
Nov 24, 2007
1,348
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59
Port St. Lucie, Florida
Jul 1, 2008
#3
  • Jul 1, 2008
  • #3
have you ever changed the PCV, mine was sucking oil like crazy, its only 3-4 bucks at autozone
 

Stark77

Member
Jun 11, 2008
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Tallahassee, FL
Jul 1, 2008
#4
  • Jul 1, 2008
  • #4
9 bucks for the motorcraft! switched mine out last week before seafoam
 

bhuff30

Founding Member
Dec 11, 2001
6,037
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129
Olathe KS
Jul 1, 2008
#5
  • Jul 1, 2008
  • #5
When I refill it after an oil change, 6 quarts brings it to the normal level after starting the engine.
The oil really does disappear to somewhere. I usually add 3-4 quarts between oil changes, but I don't mind going 6000 miles on the synthetic. Especially since it gets a continual oil change.
I'm not alarmed because I've never seen smoke or signs of anything wrong with the engine. No smoke on start up, no smoke when I leave a light from prolong idle, and no smoke on accel or decel. It just seems strange to use that much oil and not see any sign of it disappearing.
I guess I'll try switching the PCV valve, but I am pretty sure we did that when the car was much younger and it made no difference.

Stark77 said:
Hmmmm - that's a LOT of oil to disappear from the crank case. I would be moderately alarmed. If you're using synthetic - that's 3 quarts of oil missing for every 5000 mile change. When you fill it back up after emptying, does it take the full ammount after checking it on the dipstick to make sure it is TOTALLY empty?
Click to expand...
 

Stark77

Member
Jun 11, 2008
501
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Jul 1, 2008
#6
  • Jul 1, 2008
  • #6
Well - I would just keep driving then...until it DOES start smoking
 

Killa

Active Member
Jul 9, 2007
1,006
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49
Jul 1, 2008
#7
  • Jul 1, 2008
  • #7
my car smoke and I just flush my engine and change to mobil 1 15w/50 now, still waiting for old oil to get out. I post a result later on.
 

rabidscoobie

10 Year Member
Jun 21, 2007
616
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48
College Station,TX
Jul 1, 2008
#8
  • Jul 1, 2008
  • #8
A week or so back I was on the Mach Registry for almost the same reason...not as much oil tho,they told me that what I needed to do was replace the pcv and install an air/oil seperator.If you dunno what it is just google on air/oil seperator and it will tell you the parts needed.You should be able to get all the parts from Lowes for $20 or less....its very simple thing.
 

Killa

Active Member
Jul 9, 2007
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Jul 1, 2008
#9
  • Jul 1, 2008
  • #9
rabidscoobie said:
A week or so back I was on the Mach Registry for almost the same reason...not as much oil tho,they told me that what I needed to do was replace the pcv and install an air/oil seperator.If you dunno what it is just google on air/oil seperator and it will tell you the parts needed.You should be able to get all the parts from Lowes for $20 or less....its very simple thing.
Click to expand...

if any one done this, please post a pix of it.
 

rabidscoobie

10 Year Member
Jun 21, 2007
616
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College Station,TX
Jul 1, 2008
#10
  • Jul 1, 2008
  • #10
KillaGT said:
if any one done this, please post a pix of it.
Click to expand...

Hey I found this link,has parts list and pics.....
http://www.svtperformance.com/forums/showthread.php?t=173161
 

40th GT

New Member
Apr 7, 2004
916
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Lawrenceville, GA
Jul 1, 2008
#11
  • Jul 1, 2008
  • #11
So how much consumption is considered normal?
 

Killa

Active Member
Jul 9, 2007
1,006
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Jul 1, 2008
#12
  • Jul 1, 2008
  • #12
rabidscoobie said:
Hey I found this link,has parts list and pics.....
http://www.svtperformance.com/forums/showthread.php?t=173161
Click to expand...

When I still own a Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX AwD turbo, I use fram g3 fuel filter to catch oils, and I change every time I change oils. I dont know if this will work the same for the stang. but its work wonderful on my eclipse.

I might give it a try.
 
B

bdcardinal

tree hugger
Jun 10, 2003
3,612
16
69
santa barbara, CA
Jul 2, 2008
#13
  • Jul 2, 2008
  • #13
40th GT said:
So how much consumption is considered normal?
Click to expand...

1 quart every 1000-1200 miles is considered normal.
 

Killa

Active Member
Jul 9, 2007
1,006
56
49
Jul 2, 2008
#14
  • Jul 2, 2008
  • #14
bdcardinal said:
1 quart every 1000-1200 miles is considered normal.
Click to expand...

For this type of engine or any other engine ?
 
J

JrzyBullitt

New Member
Apr 17, 2008
0
0
0
NJ - Exit 145
Jul 2, 2008
#15
  • Jul 2, 2008
  • #15
bdcardinal said:
1 quart every 1000-1200 miles is considered normal.
Click to expand...

Yup. Sounds crazy but it's true. I had an '87 GT that drank a quart every 800 miles from when it was new and at that time the dealership said they wouldn't do anything unless it did a quart in 750 miles. And then the hassle comes in. They record the mileage, mark the dipstick, then tell you to come back after 750 miles.

I just kept adding oil. I put 88000 miles on that car with no engine problems!
 
B

bdcardinal

tree hugger
Jun 10, 2003
3,612
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santa barbara, CA
Jul 2, 2008
#16
  • Jul 2, 2008
  • #16
thats ford's blanket statement regarding oil consumption. the above mentioned test is in the FSM. we have a few customers that we are doing it on now.
 

rabidscoobie

10 Year Member
Jun 21, 2007
616
12
48
College Station,TX
Jul 2, 2008
#17
  • Jul 2, 2008
  • #17
bdcardinal said:
thats ford's blanket statement regarding oil consumption. the above mentioned test is in the FSM. we have a few customers that we are doing it on now.
Click to expand...

So is this something I should take mine into ford over.Im using almost a quart between oil changes...btw i do oil changes about every 5000 miles.I never had this issue non what so ever on my 01 GT.

Also to the one using the G3 filter...that looks more factory than what the one in the link does.Just curious...what size hoses did you use to connect the G3 filter?To my understanding the filter doesnt matter too much as long as it will do the job,I have been researching this some before I do this.Something about that oil going elsewhere doesnt set well with me,not only that everyone says to just replace the PCV more often....well I wouldnt have a prob with this but not when the PCV for the Mach is $30ea.Something about some damn heater thing in it.
Well this has me wondering?The only difference that I can see between the one for the mach and the one for the Cobra is a wireing connector....Would there be any harm in using the Cobra PCV and not using the heater part?I mean I live in central texas,we dont get snow...it might dip into the upper 20's a couple times but thats it.
 
B

bdcardinal

tree hugger
Jun 10, 2003
3,612
16
69
santa barbara, CA
Jul 2, 2008
#18
  • Jul 2, 2008
  • #18
rabidscoobie said:
So is this something I should take mine into ford over.Im using almost a quart between oil changes...btw i do oil changes about every 5000 miles.I never had this issue non what so ever on my 01 GT.

Also to the one using the G3 filter...that looks more factory than what the one in the link does.Just curious...what size hoses did you use to connect the G3 filter?To my understanding the filter doesnt matter too much as long as it will do the job,I have been researching this some before I do this.Something about that oil going elsewhere doesnt set well with me,not only that everyone says to just replace the PCV more often....well I wouldnt have a prob with this but not when the PCV for the Mach is $30ea.Something about some damn heater thing in it.
Well this has me wondering?The only difference that I can see between the one for the mach and the one for the Cobra is a wireing connector....Would there be any harm in using the Cobra PCV and not using the heater part?I mean I live in central texas,we dont get snow...it might dip into the upper 20's a couple times but thats it.
Click to expand...

no its completely normal.
 

Stark77

Member
Jun 11, 2008
501
0
16
Tallahassee, FL
Jul 2, 2008
#19
  • Jul 2, 2008
  • #19
that filter - according to the link - is mainly used for supercharged cars. What is the benefit of using it in a n/a car?
 

streethorse

15 Year Member
Oct 8, 2005
1,042
6
58
Dallas Texas
Jul 2, 2008
#20
  • Jul 2, 2008
  • #20
bdcardinal said:
1 quart every 1000-1200 miles is considered normal.
Click to expand...

Wow , that seems a bit much. I only add about a half quart every 3k.
 
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