Losing oil, losing mind!!!

[35Remmy]

What do you think...99 Ranger 4.0...82,000 miles. Losing oil, about 1/2 a quart every week. I'm also pinging under load, some days worse than others! Idle is OK, and motor runs STRONG.

*Plugs are all dry with normal discoloration EXCEPT I think there were 2 which had oily threads but nothing on insulator/tip...not sure if this means anything?
*Compression test was good and within specs.
*No oil in air filter/box or throttle body
*Exhaust is clean, no soot, no smell, no smoke
*No leaks except some minor sweating here and there

So WHERE is this oil going?!!!

Does this sound like the infamous intake manifold gasket leak? I was told to buy the FORD gasket if I do because it's a TSB that corrects the old paper gasket with a 1 piece METAL gasket.

 

[wood1]

Did you check the lower intake manifold bolts to see if they are loose? I had a similar problem with my engine, injesting the oil was causing the pinging... a retourque of the bolts may fix your problem if the gasket isn't torn. If not I'd be replacing the gasket with the updated version.

Good luck.

 

[35Remmy]

I NEVER thought of the pinging being caused by the ingestion of oil...now I REALLY believe that's what is going on here!!!

I did another compression test...I'm between 160 and 170 on every cylinder at normal operating temperature...and the gauge rises immediately, so I've ruled out bad rings. As far as I'm concerned those compression numbers are excellent!!!

 

[Buffalosports]

Where the oil is going I don't know but I got a feeling that the oil on the plugs has something to do with it. My friend has a Ford ZX2. What does this have to do with a truck, you ask? He has the same, slit oil on and around the plugs. Valve seals was the issue. A small part that only costs a few dollars but the labor can be steap because you need to tear the engine down quite far. Now why you are loosing that much oil, off a possible valve seal, is beyond me. Try leaving the truck in the same spot everynight. See if there is oil on the ground the next morning. Also run it in the same spot for a little while. If it is a slight tear in a hose (and I mean it can be slight), they only leak when they under preasure.

 

[35Remmy]

Yes, I checked the manifold bolts and they seem tight...Buffalo, my 4.0 doesn't drip a DROP of oil on the ground. I thought of valve seals as well, and if they were the case I've done those before so I wasn't concerned.

I just don't know how, or have never heard how, to check the lower intake manifold for leaks. It seems like such a common problem I'd actually just like to replace it with the 1 piece metal Ford design. I can't think of what else it could be (using oil) if my compression tests passed with flying colors.

SO, I KNOW oil isn't getting past the rings. I KNEW it wasn't...I've had bad rings before, and the motors all ran tired...my 4.0 runs STRONG like I stated before.

 

[35Remmy]

I thought somebody quoted the updated FORD 4.0 intake manifold gasket (1-piece metal) at around 60$.

I want to switch to AMSOIL but I won't until i fix this oil consumption problem. AMSOIL is too expensive!!!