oil loss, but not leaking

[brayburks]

I have a 93 XLT with a 4.0L. It has just over 100,000 miles on it and it uses about 1 quart of oil to 1,000 miles. It does not leave oil marks on the pavement and seem like it uses it more on long trips(highway). Is this a common characteristic of the Explorer, or do I have a problem. If it is a problem, is it easily fixed?

By the way. thanks for the "Mass Air Flow Sensor" tip. I'm going to clean mine next time I get some time.

 

[Jason_25]

Maybe just blow-by?

Do you lose coolant as well?

 

[ajevenson]

Check your #5 cylinder(the one on the drivers side middle) for deposits. If it has more than usual or compared to your other spark plugs then its your intake manifold gasket that needs to be replaced. Do you get a big puff of blue smoke when you start your truck up?

 

[Ross-N-Chicago]

91 with 200K and yes, big puff that disappears after statup. It will puff anytime the truck has been run and then sits for 1 hour or so. I just retorqued it a few months ago but am still losing oil by the quart every ten days. I suspect rings but Im no mechanic.

 

[ajevenson]

rossneag,
A puff of blue smoke on start up is either burnt valves or rings. Sorry to have to tell ya that. A compression test should be able to tell you where its coming from, whether its just one cylinder or all of them. You can buy a compression tester yourself and reference your haynes manual or get it done at a shop.

 

[dazsherm]

i have 1998 xlt and i was having the same problem...... the ford place looked it over and decided i need a new engine because it was burning oil.... so the warranty took care of it.....

 

[GenerationX]

I had deposits on my #5 and #2 spark plugs. I can't tell if it's oil or coolant getting into my cylinders. All I can think of is its either the intake or head gasket going bad, or valve guides worn out. I've never been deep into an engine before so I just hope its the intake gasket.

I'm the only one who starts my X so I don't know if blue smoke comes out the back on startup. I'm not losing any oil but my oil does smell like gas which sucks.

Garrett

 

[brayburks]

oil loss...still not leaking

I am losing coolant, but very slowly. I'll check the plugs for deposits.

 

[brayburks]

oil loss....still not leaking(cont.)

....oh, and there is no smoke when i start it or after it's been running.

 

[ajevenson]

sounds like your intake manifold gasket, slow loss of oil and coolant and deposits on #5 sparkplug are pretty unique.