Jmfalcon1

This morning, I started my truck reaching in the passenger door (which is highly unusual for me) and stepped back and looked over at the exhaust. It looked kinda dirty, kinda smoggy, kinda gross, but it didn't smog up the garage or anything (well, it smelled bad, as exhaust tends to). Does anybody know if this is normal? Some factors: I back into the garage, last night was not especially cool, and this morning, it was about 60 degrees outside (slightly warmer in the garage). I've only got 60k miles.

Johnson06

Mine smokes on start up to. Is yours a 4.6l to? I only have 85,000kms on mine. Mines an 06. People have told me it's valve guides or seats, can't be good.

Jmfalcon1

Mine is a 5.4.

rmp213

I'm interested in this, I haven't noticed any "dirty exhaust" but my chrome tip tends to get a lot of black build up on it.

Also, yesterday when I changed the oil on my truck, I noticed it was about 1.5 - 2 quarts low on oil. It's not leaking anywhere though. I use Mobil 1 5W-20 and a motorcraft filter and I change it every 4,000 miles. Is it typical for these trucks to burn/use oil?

By the way, my truck is a 2006 5.4L with 74,000 miles on it

otto457

During the first minute or so of startup, the PCM is in open loop. This just allows excess fuel to be injected until the O2 sensors warm up enough to control a/f ratios. So the exhaust will be a little "dirty" until it warms up.

If it is warm and is using oil it could be from a couple sources. Oil getting past the rings could indicate a slightly stuck ring. Varnish and sludge can cause a ring to stick. Just because you change the oil regularly doesn't mean there still can't be varnish. Changing to a better detergent add pack oil with low volatility can help. Oil can also get into the system through the PCV system. Making sure the system is clean is the best, and if you're really worried a catch can can be used. Wear or improper break in can also cause consumption. Until it reaches 1 quart per 1000 miles it's not considered excessive enough for a rebuild.

schissler

black fumes/gas smell is carbon - unburnt/excessive fuel (rich mixture) and as said above its in open loop on cold start up and allows more fuel

blueish smoke is oil - rings/valve seals etcs..

pure white - coolant ...headgasket etc.


every vehicle will consume oil but once you get into the multiple quarts per couple thousand miles then you may have an issue.

for example the 07+ 5.3L chevy with active cylinder management (where it shuts down to 4cyl) has major consumption issues where you will use 1-2quarts in less than 2000 miles..and they still consider that within spec.

Jmfalcon1

Great info, both of you. Thanks!

xdrockstar

True. We have had a lot of Chebbys around here die from lack of oil and grenade

rmp213

Thanks for the insight guys! My last F150 used about a quart every 1500-2000 miles, it was an '95 302 and after I started running a quart of lucas in it, it quit using it. These new Triton's are a little more tempermental, though. I'm definitely not adding anything other than what Ford recommends to this one. I'm not over adding about 1/2 to 1 quart of oil every 3,000 miles or so, thats no biggie to me. I just wanted to make sure its normal.