Using alot of oil

Strider590

You want to be using Ford/Motorcraft fully synthetic oil, not only is it cheap but it's also some of the best oil on the market.

Really cheap non-brand stuff is made from recycled engine oils, it has a habit of vaporising at normal operating temperatures, this vapour gets directed into the intake to be burned up in the combustion process and on the way it sticks to parts (like the throttle valve) and gums them up too.

Now in truth all engine oils contain some recycled oil, but the really cheap stuff contains a much higher percentage.

EdGasket

5W30 is really thin for an old engine and you don't want fully synth either; too thin. try 10W40 semi-synth (£15 for 5litres in Wilcos) and watch your oil consumption reduce.

Stigy

EdGasket wrote: »

5W30 is really thin for an old engine and you don't want fully synth either; too thin. try 10W40 semi-synth (£15 for 5litres in Wilcos) and watch your oil consumption reduce.

Ford recommended such a thin oil as the Zetec engine didn't cope well with anything thicker whereas most other engines were far more resilient to varying viscosities. However, that was on 'new' engines as they were in the nineties, and I do agree that given the age of the engine and higher mileage, thicker oil is probably better.

Paradigm

Strider590 wrote: »

Really cheap non-brand stuff is made from recycled engine oils, it has a habit of vaporising at normal operating temperatures, this vapour gets directed into the intake to be burned up in the combustion process and on the way it sticks to parts (like the throttle valve) and gums them up too.

Now in truth all engine oils contain some recycled oil, but the really cheap stuff contains a much higher percentage.

Recycled v Re-refined! Recycled engine oil is only used as fuel oil, whereas re-refined used oil has all the impurities & contaminants removed leaving a "base stock" as good as virgin oil... what counts are the additives. Cheap oils may skimp on these.

bigjl

I would have a look into replacing the PCV valve, I am sure I read somewhere that the mk3 Mondeo petrol engines had two, but I read that on TalkFord years ago and never paid much attention as mine was diesel.

If you popped off the pipe leading to the PCV (redirect it into a small container) then drive it to see if the consumption gets less would be an idea.

Never having done that on your car or engine I couldn't advise on specifics.

I remember years ago some people used to junk their PCV and replace it with a catch can.

dizzybuff

i popped into the garage and he said it sounded like the rocket gasket cover. Ill up the viscosity, im off to get some oil ltoday , so its recommended 5w40 then . Sorry Im a bit confused and dont want to mess the car up using a thicker oil.

dizzybuff

ps my car is only just coming upto 100k . I dont do many miles now.

AdrianC

EdGasket wrote: »

5W30 is really thin for an old engine and you don't want fully synth either; too thin. try 10W40 semi-synth (£15 for 5litres in Wilcos) and watch your oil consumption reduce.

NO NO NO NO NO...

When Ford say 5w30, they mean 5w30.

dizzybuff

Thanks Ill pick some up today I thought that .

wgl2014

dizzybuff wrote: »

i popped into the garage and he said it sounded like the rocket gasket cover. Ill up the viscosity, im off to get some oil ltoday , so its recommended 5w40 then . Sorry Im a bit confused and dont want to mess the car up using a thicker oil.

If its the gasket there you would expect to see some sign of oil around the base of the rocker cover. Did the mechanic actually look at the car or just guess based on your description of he issue?

Try logging on over at talkford.com where you will get some advice from owners who may well have experienced the same problem.

Also if you are going to get rid soon it could be cheaper overall to change now before you spend money on repairs that won't reall add any resale value.:money: