Oil Issue

[SN952NV]

Well my 96 gt just rolled 160k and I havent had one major issue yet. The car is well taken care of and I get the oil changed at 3k on the dot. Recently ive been using engine restore additive just for piece of mind but I dont use synthetic of high milage oil's. The car dosnt smoke a bit even when I get on it (rarely) but it does seem to be drinking oil. without failure at about 2k the low oil light will come on. From that point i constantly check the oil till the change, but I just got the oil changed less than 300 miles ago and the low oil light has already come on and it only read a half stick? Ill have to check and see how much was put it.

But my question is- what are signs of oil issues for high milage vehicles?
preventative steps or tips?

 

[justinschmidt1]

hmm...mine is like that.

I swear its just that stupid oil light is crazy

It will use like 1/2 qt a month I believe

 

[AaRoN]

Some of the older 4.6's and even the ones in the Lincoln & Mercury cars are known to use some oil.

 

[justinschmidt1]

yea...Its really nothing to worry about unless you were using like a qt ever 100 miles haha and had a smoke show going on all the time

 

[Bluesn95]

Mine is like that too. Should I not do the pi swap then??

 

[justinschmidt1]

Mine is like that too. Should I not do the pi swap then??

Why wouldnt you?

if anything the pi swap will do ya good with new heads and fresh gaskets everywhere

 

[Bluesn95]

Thats what I was thinking. I just don't want to be dissappointed with the swap. Trying to do all my homework.

 

[Goldmember]

Might sound stupid but were you parked on a slant at the time you checked the oil? That might throw things off.

My '97 uses some oil too, on Mobil 1 it was using a quart roughly ever 1000 miles. With the Quaker State 10W30 hi-mileage oil, that went up to ~1500. Staying with 10W30. I'm only at 103K though.

 

[Bluesn95]

its not really recommended to switch grades of motor oil.

 

[Goldmember]

Ford's service manual, if I'm not mistaken, allows for 10W30. Any thicker than that I wouldn't do but 10W30 is fine in these motors

 

[96gt226410]

Mine is like that too. Should I not do the pi swap then??

Why wouldnt you?

if anything the pi swap will do ya good with new heads and fresh gaskets everywhere

PI swap raises compression and will increase the oil blowby. You may start to smoke after the swap. I've done the PI swap and if I were you I'd just get a whole PI engine. It's a lot easier and you can pick them up relatively cheap with lower mileage. This way your shortblock will have lower mileage, you won't be burning any oil, you won't have to run 93 octane, and it's just an easier swap.

 

[justinschmidt1]

Might sound stupid but were you parked on a slant at the time you checked the oil? That might throw things off.

My '97 uses some oil too, on Mobil 1 it was using a quart roughly ever 1000 miles. With the Quaker State 10W30 hi-mileage oil, that went up to ~1500. Staying with 10W30. I'm only at 103K though.

yea, if I park my car at the slightest angle the oil light comes on

 

[zyzygy]

My 96 does everything you guys describe.

 

[justinschmidt1]

96 gt's have a low oil light but its extremely sensative...

so it will come in if your down 1/2 a quart or park on any kind of angle

your gonna burn a little oil over time...its no big deal