97 sable duratec 3.0 oil consumption

[wenz]

Motor consuming oil, 2 or more qts. between every 3000 mile oil change. No oil leaks or loss of power. Anyone with similar probs or answers helpful!!

[kolton]

Originally Posted by wenz

Motor consuming oil, 2 or more qts. between every 3000 mile oil change. No oil leaks or loss of power. Anyone with similar probs or answers helpful!!

Have you gotten any answers on your oil consumption problem?

[vicv]

If you are adding oil and it isn't leaking out you could be burning it. My 97 was using oil, no leaks, no power loss, I assumed it was burning it. Not a lot but enough to make me wonder. When it was low about a half quart I added an oil treatment for 4 cylinder engines and have done that every oil change. No more oil loss! Runs fine. I have 119k on the engine, how 'bout you? High miles?

[MikeD2]

Originally Posted by wenz

Motor consuming oil, 2 or more qts. between every 3000 mile oil change. No oil leaks or loss of power. Anyone with similar probs or answers helpful!!

I have the same problem. Bought car new in 96, change oil & filter every 3000 miles (now has 80,000). Car runs perfectly, but 1 quart every 1000 miles. No leaks, no smoke, etc. What part(s) could be worn?
I normally don't use additives, although I may try that 4 cylinder treatment. Some say, just suck it up & add the quart. I really like the car & plan on keeping it for a while. Any further thoughts? Thanks.

[drdisque]

if you're burning oil its probably the piston rings

[vicv]

I have the Duratec 3.0 DOHC and I swear I read somewhere that the 24 valve engine goes thru oil just because. As long as the car runs, rides, and looks good I'm gonna suck it up. The choice becomes a coupla quarts between oil changes or a can of additive. If you change the oil regularly the additive really won't hurt.

[MikeD2]

Vic, was the 4 cyl oil treatment called "Restore"?

[vicv]

Mike, I used an off-brand treatment from Walmart. I think it was called Tech. There's many different brands out there. This stuff is really thick like honey and I it coats the engine parts and stays put. I suppose you could just use a higher viscosity oil too. I haven't gone thru a NJ winter with it in the oil yet, I hope it won't be a problem when it gets cold. I can't remember what Restore comes in, a yellow quart can or a plastic bottle. One of those is supposed to fill in scratches in the cylinder walls and reduce oil burning and increase compression. I think it's the one in the plastic bottle. The yellow can is more of a cleaning-type additive. You run it for a short time and do an oil change. But I've never used either one, whatever they come in. A quick story about engine cleaning additives. I had an old Chevy with alot of miles and wanted to drive to FL so I bought STP oil for the oil change. It cleaned all the crud out of the engine and I burned about six quarts of oil on that trip down and back! Had to clean the plugs every time we stopped for the day, the car ran like crap it was so bad! When I got home I changed the oil and filter and the problem was fixed. STP must have been high detergent. I mention that only because we don't want to cause more problems trying to fix an annoyance. Hope this helps...

[MikeD2]

Thanks for your help, Vic. The yellow quart can or bottle is Rislone. It has been around for years & is great for tapping lifters. The Restore I bought poured very easily, maybe like a straight 40W. I didn't want to use a higher viscosity oil, partly because of the suburban Philly winters & also because the owners manual says not to use even 10W40 oil. I also heard 24 valve engines use oil "just because" & the shop manual says adding a quart of oil every 900 miles can be normal.
I shouldn't let it bother me, but it was once 2000 miles before I added a quart. I just don't want it to get worse. I'll keep you posted......Thanks.

[tcguertin]

Originally Posted by MikeD2

Thanks for your help, Vic. The yellow quart can or bottle is Rislone. It has been around for years & is great for tapping lifters. The Restore I bought poured very easily, maybe like a straight 40W. I didn't want to use a higher viscosity oil, partly because of the suburban Philly winters & also because the owners manual says not to use even 10W40 oil. I also heard 24 valve engines use oil "just because" & the shop manual says adding a quart of oil every 900 miles can be normal.
I shouldn't let it bother me, but it was once 2000 miles before I added a quart. I just don't want it to get worse. I'll keep you posted......Thanks.

According to Ford (1) quart every 900 miles is considered normal. The oil problems appears to me to be in the heads. The four valve system means twice as much is comsumed in the cylinder. Ford has have problems with oil comsumption with the Duratec that while they now say 900 mile to a quart.

Tom
HardCore Ford