Hello all, thought I’d share my unsatisfactory experience with my new Powerboost. Picked it up new in May and drove it home while checking the oil at every gas stop. Trip was about 1,000 miles with the oil level falling about 1/2 quart into the hash marks. At about 2,000 miles it was down a quart when I added oil for the first time.

Assumption: oil consumption approximately .5 quart per 1,000 miles. Not great but acceptable.

BOY WAS I WRONG!

Hooked up our 5,800 lb travel trailer and hit the road. At approximately 3,000 miles while climbing into the mountains of northern New Mexico we encountered strange noises, power loss (limp mode?), and then MIL with various codes sent to FordPass:
Engine control system detecting erratic signals from timing sensor
PCM detecting engine missfire
Pro Power malfunction

We pulled over to read messages in FordPass. It suggested heading to Ford dealer for service. So we turned around and headed to Albuquerque. As we limped along and turned to accelerate and enter the I-40 on ramp…she died. Oil pressure went to zero and warning came on. We were about 60 miles from the nearest dealer and called for Ford Roadside Assistance. 4 hours later we were at a hotel next door to the dealer on a Sunday evening (Father’s Day).

Pulled the dipstick and it was definitely low. Went to Tractor Supply and got a quart of oil. Added it, no joy. Went back to Tractor Supply and bought the remaining 3 quarts that they had on the shelf. It took a total of 3.5 quarts to bring it up.

THREE AND A HALF QUARTS OF OIL IN 1,000 MILES! WTF!?!!?

Next morning, drove next door to Rich Ford. They were great. Got us back on the road by noon. Diagnosis? “None. Head scratch. If it ain’t broke I can’t fix it. Maybe they forgot to fill it in Dearborn.” Used Ford Pass points to buy 5 more quarts and hit the road.

Fast forward to today. Still on road trip. Current mileage is 4,427 miles. Total consumption since new: 7.5 quarts. Yes, I’m now checking every fill up. Sometimes I even get up in the middle of the night just to recheck it. No leaks. No oil in either coolant tank. No smoking. Exhaust looks dirty but not just dripping oil.

Dilemma: Service backups at 3 of my closest dealers. No loaners available anywhere. New RV trip planned for next month.

Has anyone heard of such crazy oil consumption on Ecoboost or Powerboost engines? I know the 5.0 has some issues, but the ‘Boosts? Any advice, back door numbers or secret handshakes anyone can share? I love this truck but think I may have to trade it in soon if I can’t get it fixed. Problem with a trade is there is nothing available to replace it.

Thanks for any help that I can get. Right now, Ford is not helping.

 

Just keep receipts of your oil purchases and call for an appointment with your hometown dealer so you can get it in the day of your return.

 

I haven't seen oil consumption issues with PBs or EBs, this gen or last. The 5.0L had a consistent run of them for 2018-2020ish, but this is the first I am seeing it otherwise. It obviously sounds like an issue, and if the oil did run low and the dealer can't see anything without a "problem", I would not put any more in once you are back home and drive it until the next time it fails. I understand where the dealer is coming from, without an active issue and with the oil filled, they can't just start tearing the engine apart. Since it's under warranty though, you may need to just drive it until the next failure, have it towed, don't add any oil, and before this happens just try to do what you can to prepare for when it does happen. Like, making sure you and a spouse or family member or whatever knows they may need to come get you, find out if you will get a rental car with service (some dealers offer it), stuff like that.

It sucks, for sure, and I hope they can get you help. I don't think I would take it in unless the oil level is low and like Jus Cruisin' said, keep receipts and dates where possible of every time you added oil, so even if there aren't codes thrown yet, if you are three quarts low when you take it in, you have something to show.

 

I dont see where the powerboost would have anything to do with it, sounds like an ecoboost with an issue burning oil which could be a number of things

 

Highly likely is has nothing to do with the Powerboost specifically, that just happens to be the truck he purchased and it's having an oil issue.

 

Sorry, just can’t seem to bring myself to destroy an engine to prove it is defective. Guess it’s the mechanical engineer in me.

Guess I’ll just continue to fill and log and take my next trip. Will have to bring it in after that and just drop it off. Sucks that I can’t even get a loaner. I’m super pissed about the whole issue.

BTW, spent a week boondocking in CO. The 7.2kw generator works great. The charging algorithm seems to be strange. Run engine for 45 seconds, battery for 8 to 10 minutes-repeat. Must be a hella generator to top off battery in 45 seconds.

 

That sounds like it's short cycling... i've not done any boondocking, but I run power tools, etc and some constant loads. With a 10-12 amp load, it will go 20-30 minutes and then run for 20-30.

 

Between 5k changes my 1st gen 3.5 oil level drop is barely perceptible, call it one tenth quart low. Rarely ever does it tow heavy, but it does tow light often. I figure oil consumption is negligible at about 1ml/50miles.

The new engine in that powerboost has already consumed more than 2x the oil my older ecoboost burned over 160,000 miles of use. That is absolutely unacceptable. Something is very wrong with the engine and Ford needs to fix it.

Edit: This is unusual. Wonder if it could be something simple like a bad turbo bearing seal? Don’t think I’d be in a hurry to trade it off just yet.

 

I would be more worried that the oil going through the cat would cause the cat to burn hotter and wear out sooner. It will be expensive to replace in the future. Maybe it is a good idea to drive it till gets low, then have them take a look at it? Maybe be a PITA to them? You shouldn't be going through that much oil.

 

Dropped off my Powerboost this morning at my local dealer. They had no loaner and a grim outlook for a speedy fix. Hopefully it won’t be there more than a few weeks or so

Just passed 5,000 miles and my 10th quart of oil yesterday 🥺