[dchilders]

Title pretty much says it all. I think I've had my car about 6-7 weeks now. It spent 1 week parked while I was on vacation. I thought I'd check the oil last night with a little over 2k miles. I know some of you insist on checking every time you fill up, but that's just not going to happen. Even the manual says to only check it monthly.

Anyway, no oil even registered on the stick. It took 3 quarts to get up to within the normal range.

Seams like I saw posts about this last year, and remember hearing about at least one guy who had to get an engine replaced. Anyone know if this is just due to break in or are these engines burning that much oil consistently and long term?

FWIW, I did check it the day it came home from the dealer after having read the story about the guy who had to replace the engine. It was fine then and there are no drops or leaks that I have seen so I can only guess that its burning it.

 

[Guest]

Today's cars don't have a real "break-in" period and there is no acceptable amount of oil consumption beyond about 1 quart over 10,000 mile service intervals. Some of these cars were being delivered with low oil. There are about 20 threads on this very subject.

 

[Ltngdrvr]

How long did you leave it sit before checking the oil?

There is a lot of oil up in the heads and it takes a little time for it to drain back down into the pan.

 

[Snake Pliskin]

Don't sweat it this early. If you do take it in for warranty tweaks in the near future do make the complaint so that a case history is started. If it continues to be an issue say after 10k, you have a case started.

 

[FC31964]

Mine used about 1 1/2 quarts first 3k.
Changed at 3k(synthetic 5w30,this will start an avalanche)
I;m at 7k and haven't burnt any to speak of.
Catch can is lower also.

 

[BrickSlayer]

Mine burned some too, never three quarts though...was probably low on delivery. At around 15k miles it has pretty much stopped burning any.

 

[Signal9]

I burned 4+ quarts within the first 6800 miles, changed oil and so far so good, I checked it after 1000 miles and its just a "smig" low. I think mine was low when I got it as I added a quart in the first 500 miles.

 

[oldncrusty]

How high was the oil on the dipstick 6-7 weeks ago?

 

[jimmbbo]

Some cars are sensitive to being level when checking the oil. Don't know how the oil pan is designed in the 'Stang, or how sensitive it might be with an 8 qt pan, and three quarts is a bunch of oil, but it's something to put in the hopper, along with making consistent oil level checks (after sitting overnight in the same place would be best to minimize the variables).

 

[Wblv17]

i check mine before starting every Sunday.

 

[dchilders]

How long did you leave it sit before checking the oil?

Maybe an hour.

How high was the oil on the dipstick 6-7 weeks ago?

You know I don't specifically remember where it was. I think it was a little on the low side but definitely on the stick. I want to say it was near the lower hole. Adding 3 quarts put it dead in the middle.

Some cars are sensitive to being level when checking the oil.

Yeah, I always check it in the garage which is the flatest place I'm aware of. I'm sure its not perfectly flat either but pretty close.

Definitely something to mention to the dealer. I've got a list now, mostly minor things. I need to give them a call. Glad to hear that some people have seen similar and it sounds like it goes away after the first couple of thousand miles.

 

[Crazy001]

Today's cars don't have a real "break-in" period and there is no acceptable amount of oil consumption beyond about 1 quart over 10,000 mile service intervals. Some of these cars were being delivered with low oil. There are about 20 threads on this very subject.

Ford would disagree with you.

Don't have the service manual for the 2011 yet, but my 2000 Contour with the Duratec V6 can lose up to 1 quart every 920 miles and still be considered "normal". It's no 5.0, but it is a modern 4-valve V6.

Now of course I don't think that's normal, but you will not get a warranty repair before that point simply because Ford will say that it's operating "as designed".

 

[Stergry302]

Mine burned 2.5 qts. during the first 4200 miles. It hasn't used any during the last 1500. I drove the car really easy during the first 2-3 thousand miles. Then I drove the snot out of it for a while, lots of 0-100 bursts at WOT.

Hasn't burned any since! My 6spd M also shifts much smoother now after a lot of flogging.

So IMO these cars do have a break in period. Hopefully my car won't be using any more oil, it's getting close to 6,000 miles now.

 

[412horses]

I know the gauge is oil pressure but what about the idiot lights, seems like 3 quarts would cause something to light up?

 

[dchilders]

Just posting a followup. Finally took it to the dealer yesterday to tell them about this and a few other things. I wanted it "documented". It was another quart low and the guy added a quart there on the spot. I screwed up though and ended up leaving with out having him document that I was there. We had got to talking about the issue with my glass roof and I forgot. I'll update that thread as well.

 

[12blackgt]

Maybe an hour.


You know I don't specifically remember where it was. I think it was a little on the low side but definitely on the stick. I want to say it was near the lower hole. Adding 3 quarts put it dead in the middle.


Yeah, I always check it in the garage which is the flatest place I'm aware of. I'm sure its not perfectly flat either but pretty close.

Definitely something to mention to the dealer. I've got a list now, mostly minor things. I need to give them a call. Glad to hear that some people have seen similar and it sounds like it goes away after the first couple of thousand miles.

Adding three quarts when it was near the lower hole should have way over filled it! When mine was near the lower hole I added .5 quart and it filled it half way up the cross hatched area.

 

[Allentown]

Mine has used a tad over a qt in 5500 miles ( i dont fill it all the way to the top of the dip stick-pressure gets plenty high enough in this heat) and i have added 2/3qt and it has been sitting a little under half way between add and full for the last 600 miles)


If its below the lower hole you are supposedly able to add 1 full qt. If it is above the lower hole your not supposed to add any. (mine was just above the hole and i added about 1/2 a qt and then about a month later, another 1/4 a qt.

No clue what would happen if you added 3qts when it was just below the lower hole....assuming the stick was bone dry then you might have needed more than a qt but i would think your oil light would have come on way before you got 3qts low. I always keep an eye on my oil pressure gauge also...what was it reading?

 

[dchilders]

The pressure gauge was always normal. When it was 3 quarts low I could hear an engine tick. I know I've seen engine tick threads here so it didn't bother me too much. When I checked the oil the stick was dry. I kept thinking I was doing something wrong because I couldn't see the oil line on the stick. I went to the store and bought 2 quarts. Went back home and added it. The 2 quarts got it on the stick. I went the next morning and bought another quart and added it in the parking lot. That got it in the middle between the two holes.

That was all around 2k miles. A little over 3.3k miles now and the dealer added a quart yesterday.

 

[Allentown]

My only guess here is.....

The extra 2 qts that sit in the sump for cooling purposes may actually be able to be burned (and then some) before the oil pressure and dummy lights start to go off. Knowing this..you may have to do your oil change early. I am doin mine at 7500 but knowing that you were recycling the oil at normal pressure but without benifit of cooling in the sump, i wouldnt go over 4,500 miles on your first change.