So I've got my 2001 F150 in the shop and it has 68k miles on it. I just got word back from the mechanic who was checking out my smoke coming from exhaust and oil consumption. Bad news... he said I have blow by from tired rings and need a rebuilt or a new crate engine. Does this make sense to anyone?? My truck has less then 70k miles and has been taken extremely good care of its whole life owned by me. Never driven hard, never towed, oil every 3k, all the filters and coolant. This does not makes sense how my engine could fail at 68k miles. Any advice, tips, or encouragement appreciated..

 

Do a compression test on it yourself. That will tell you if the rings are shot. I've had these motors last over 300K miles. Sounds fishy.

 

It's an engine. Metal parts and friction. It's a gamble. There is no guarantee on age or mileage.

At 68k in 13 years, did it sit for long periods where things rings would get dry and/or rust?

I have a friend driving a Lumina that sat for 9 months without running. She has broken 2 valve springs (thankfully under the front valve cover). Breaking 1 is rare but breaking 2 within a couple weeks is extremely rare. Happens from sitting.

 

Might have sat for a month at the longest w/o running. Is that considered a long time for an engine?

 

Nope. If you can't do the compression test find a 2nd source to do it. Its the only way to verify you have internal issues.

 

Thanks for the advice. Do you know what could cause this w/ low miles. Given that It did not sit for more then 1 month, oil changed every 3k, and not driven hard ever.

 

Hard to say. All things mechanical are prone to premature failure. Perhaps you didn't drive it hard enough and too much carbon built up on the cylinder wall and broke a ring. I'm reaching here. You won't know until you pull it apart. Or maybe there's nothing wrong internally and your problem is a clogged PCV or something. That's why I reiterate getting a compression test by someone other than the original mechanic. Only way to be sure.

 

Could hardened valve stem seals cause the oil consumption / burning he's experiencing? If the compression test turns out good, this would be my next guess.

 

The mechanic I took it to did a compression test and told me that 5 and 7 had blow-by. I'll get a 2nd opinion but wouldn't a compression test rule out valve seals. I had hoped that it would be valve seals since that is a relatively easy repair. Also can anyone comment on if I actually need a new engine if it is in fact the rings. Seems a little excessive.. I understand the engine would have to be disassembled but can't the rings be replaced for less cost?

 

Who knows it could has 70,000 driving miles and idled for 250,000 miles. If you got it used that could be the issue. My moms boss had a 06 with the 5.4 and it has 44,000 miles on it. But he let it run all day everyday watching people work 8-12 hours a day.