Ford 5.0/302W oil use.

[machoneman]

Odd that my '88 5.0 Stang had the check oil light come on. Seems that I was a quart down after only about 1,000 miles. Gennie, never apart engine with 72,000 easy miles. No leaks except minor seal seepage and I don't see any tailpipe smoke. Did this the last time too about the same 1,000 miles interval. No lack of power, plugs look great.

I wonder if others have this experience? Maybe hardened valve seals? Never used to use this much oil until the last 2 years.

[Heo]

Sometimes the PCV get plugged with sludge resulting in oilconsumption

[machoneman]

Thanks Heo.  I did check the PCV valve (really, really hard on a Fox body 5.0!) and suspect that was it.

Odd though that although the screen below the plug is clear and PCV looks to be fine, when I first touched the rubber PCV hose it appeared the valve had been dangling off the plastic intake PCV plug for some time. Maybe I did inadvertently unhook same while struggling to pull the PCV out but now I wonder if the valve had been off for some time. Interesting since w/o the valve installed and crankcase vapor exiting to the atmosphere one would think even less oil would be consumed? Pulled 2 spark plugs too and they looked great.

Well, it'll take me until next year to see if this will lessen my oil consumption as with winter approaching, both Stangs are almost ready for a long sleep. Boo!

[shady]

Sometime in the mid 80s Ford went to low tension rings in the 5.0. Some used a lot of oil some didn't. My father in-law had an 88 Bronco that used a quart every 7-800 miles. Ford said it was normal. By the time he had a 100,000 miles on it, it didn't use any. Maybe your rings have turned and the gaps are in line or maybe a little crusty from not enough use. Maybe some Marvel Mystery and a good spanking. In any case, I don't think I would get too concerned.

[machoneman]

Sometime in the mid 80s Ford went to low tension rings in the 5.0. Some used a lot of oil some didn't. My father in-law had an 88 Bronco that used a quart every 7-800 miles. Ford said it was normal. By the time he had a 100,000 miles on it, it didn't use any. Maybe your rings have turned and the gaps are in line or maybe a little crusty from not enough use. Maybe some Marvel Mystery and a good spanking. In any case, I don't think I would get too concerned.

Thanks Shady. Yeah, as a low annual mileage car, I wondered too about the rings. I'm going to add some of my fav additive, Rislone Engine Treatment and see. Oddly, the engine runs great, strong, no visible smoke yet the cats as we know can and do hide pretty much any 1,000 mile oil burning. Yes, I'm not overly concerned but may also pull a valve cover (driver's, as the pass. side requires the upper EFI manifold to come off) pop a few springs and see if the valve seals are shot. 

[Falcon67]

I'd kinda doubt at 72K there's must issues with valve seals.  Possible, but the Ford seals are pretty good.  They didn't use the old style "umbrella" seals in 1988.  As for rings, they turn all the time so the gaps will line up eventually then they will continue to move, they don't line up and "stick".  I'd vote PCV issue before much of anything else.

[machoneman]

Thanks. I'll be doing some highway driving after the PCV  valve check and open her up. I kinda' though the same on the seals as they are far superior to old FE, GM and other makes from earlier years.