Oil Consumption (can you say LEMON)

10873 Views 50 Replies 15 Participants Last post by jcarr, 7 d ago

john8228

Discussion Starter · Jul 29, 2011

My fiesta seems to be going through oil on a regular basis and I have been working with ford on this but I'm starting to lose my patience.

This is the 5th attempt at ford doing an oil consumtion test.
The fisrt two times were just bs, they were just scribing the dip stick which to this day has no marks on it.
The next 3 had the following results.
test 3 - 1,000 miles - a little over a half of a quart
test 4 - 1,500 miles - a full quart
test 5 - 1,500 miles - 24 oz
(if I try to go a full oil change (5,000 miles) I have added as much as 2 quarts and still been a little low on the stick.

After the 3rd and 4th test they told me to bring it back after 1500 miles so they could check it. After the 5th test they said thanks we topped it off for you, with no other instruction. I called the next day to talk to the service guy that did the other test and he said he would get back to me as did my customer service manager on the ford side. It has been over a week with no response. What are my next steps?

And yes, my speedo is off (they say it is within standards), the transmission did only move in reverse (fixed with a update to computer), the door seal leaked (fixed after 3 attemps), the stereo speakers were making noises even with the radio off (eventually just went away), and finally the gas gage is messed up (stil not fixed, made many attempts).

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Norm201

· #2 · Jul 29, 2011

john8228 said:
My fiesta seems to be going through oil on a regular basis and I have been working with ford on this but I'm starting to lose my patience.

This is the 5th attempt at ford doing an oil consumtion test.
The fisrt two times were just bs, they were just scribing the dip stick which to this day has no marks on it.
The next 3 had the following results.
test 3 - 1,000 miles - a little over a half of a quart
test 4 - 1,500 miles - a full quart
test 5 - 1,500 miles - 24 oz
(if I try to go a full oil change (5,000 miles) I have added as much as 2 quarts and still been a little low on the stick.

After the 3rd and 4th test they told me to bring it back after 1500 miles so they could check it. After the 5th test they said thanks we topped it off for you, with no other instruction. I called the next day to talk to the service guy that did the other test and he said he would get back to me as did my customer service manager on the ford side. It has been over a week with no response. What are my next steps?

And yes, my speedo is off (they say it is within standards), the transmission did only move in reverse (fixed with a update to computer), the door seal leaked (fixed after 3 attemps), the stereo speakers were making noises even with the radio off (eventually just went away), and finally the gas gage is messed up (stil not fixed, made many attempts).

Check the lemon laws in your state. Keep a record of all conversations (dates, and people). Tell the dealer (in a very nice way0) that it appears your only recourse is legal.

Before you do any of that, contact via this forum Natasha and get her to run interference for you.

Darkbrew

· #3 · Jul 29, 2011

Ford Customer Service (Natasha) is a member of the forum

http://fiestafaction.com/forums/members/fordcustomerservice.html

Send a PM and she will help you sort things out

john8228

Discussion Starter · #4 · Jul 29, 2011

Thanks, I'm waiting to hear back from the Ford Rep. before I take my next action. I have a request in at the dealer and with the Ford Rep for a transcript for my car, the dealer never has paper work ready for me, nor do they send it by mail every time, only when they are charging me.

FORDSVTPARTS

· #5 · Jul 29, 2011

Got another dealer nearby?

FORDSVTPARTS

· #6 · Jul 29, 2011

Directly from the Ford service manual,

A basic description of oil consumption,
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Excessive Engine Oil Consumption

Nearly all engines consume oil, which is essential for normal lubrication of the cylinder bore walls and pistons and rings. Determining the level of oil consumption may require testing by recording how much oil is being added over a given set of miles.

Customer driving habits greatly influence oil consumption. Mileage accumulated during towing or heavy loading generates extra heat. Frequent short trips, stop-and-go type traffic or extensive idling, prevent the engine from reaching normal operating temperature. This prevents component clearances from reaching specified operating ranges.

The following diagnostic procedure may be utilized to determine internal oil consumption. Make sure that the concern is related to internal oil consumption, and not external leakage, which also consumes oil. Verify there are no leaks before carrying out the test. Once verified, the rate of internal oil consumption can be tested.

A new engine may require extra oil in the early stages of operation. Internal piston-to-bore clearances and sealing characteristics improve as the engine breaks in. Engines are designed for close tolerances and do not require break-in oils or additives. Use the oil specified in the Owner's Literature. Ambient temperatures may determine the oil viscosity specification. Verify that the correct oil is being used for the vehicle in the geographic region in which it is driven.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

And the procedure for performing an oil consumption test.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Oil Consumption Test

Once all of the previous conditions are met, carry out an oil consumption test.

Drain the engine oil and remove the oil filter. Install a new manufacturer-specified oil filter. Make sure the vehicle is positioned on a level surface. Refill the oil pan to a level one liter (quart) less than the specified fill level, using manufacturer-specified oil.

Run the engine for 3 minutes (if hot) or 10 minutes (if cold). Allow for a minimum 5-minute drainback period and then record the oil level shown on the oil level indicator. Place a mark on the backside of the oil level indicator noting the oil level location.

Add the final one liter (quart) to complete the normal oil fill. Restart the engine and allow it to idle for 2 minutes. Shut the engine down.

After a 5-minute drainback period, record the location of the oil level again. Mark the oil level indicator with the new oil level location. (Note: Both marks should be very close to the MIN-MAX upper and lower limits or the upper and lower holes on the oil level indicator. These marks will exactly measure the engine's use of oil, with a one quart differential between the new marks.) Demonstrate to the customer that the factory-calibrated marks on the oil level indicator are where the oil should fall after an oil change with the specified fill amount. Explain however, that this may vary slightly between MIN-MAX or the upper and lower holes on the oil level indicator.
Record the vehicle mileage.

Advise the customer that oil level indicator readings must be taken every 320 km (200 mi) or weekly, using the revised marks as drawn. Remind the customer that the engine needs a minimum 5-minute drainback for an accurate reading and that the oil level indicator must be firmly seated in the tube prior to taking the reading.

When the subsequent indicator readings demonstrate a full liter (quart) has been used, record the vehicle mileage. The mileage driven should not be less than 2,414 km (1,500 mi). The drive cycle the vehicle has been operated under must be considered when making this calculation. It may be necessary to have the customer bring the vehicle in for a periodic oil level indicator reading to closely monitor oil usage.

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Corvair

· #7 · Jul 29, 2011

Something is wrong. The catalitic converter will take care of the blue smoke, so everything will look fine.

Lemon laws vary by state. Most are related to just safety.

Call the Ford number in your owners manual or the Ford rep on our forum. Ford doen't want you to have a bad car. They do want you to have a worthless speedometer. (Like mine)

Does spelling count?

Pennut

· #8 · Jul 30, 2011

Yeah that's bad. I traded my 2006 Dodge Magnum (3.5L) in with 107k and it used maybe 1 qt between my 4000 mile oil changes.

meanmud

· #9 · Jul 30, 2011

john8228 said:
My fiesta seems to be going through oil on a regular basis and I have been working with ford on this but I'm starting to lose my patience.

Document, document and document!!!

grafxman

· #10 · Jul 31, 2011

FORDSVTPARTS said:
When the subsequent indicator readings demonstrate a full liter (quart) has been used, record the vehicle mileage. The mileage driven should not be less than 2,414 km (1,500 mi). The drive cycle the vehicle has been operated under must be considered when making this calculation. It may be necessary to have the customer bring the vehicle in for a periodic oil level indicator reading to closely monitor oil usage.

Is this actually claiming that Ford believes it is permissible and acceptable for a new car to burn a quart every 1,500 miles? That seems unbelievable to me.

Iceracer

· #11 · Jul 31, 2011

Industry standard says that anything less than I qt in 1500 miles is acceptable.

Iceracer

· #12 · Jul 31, 2011 (Edited)

Industry standard is anything less than1 qt in 1500 mile is acceptable.
So 2 qts in 5000 miles is considered good.

sorry, didn't mean to double post

grafxman

· #13 · Jul 31, 2011

If I ever had a car that consumed that much oil I would get rid of it ASAP. That was acceptable, to me at least, on old cars that had 90,000 miles on them like an old Lincoln MK IV I once owned. However my new '72 Mercury Lynx, new '95 Escort GT and the Fiesta burn no oil whatsoever. That's what I've come to expect and indeed demand.

Iceracer

· #14 · Aug 1, 2011

The fact that most of todays car do not use oil after break in and yours seems to be using some can be frustrating.
Unfortunately, you do not have much recourse unless it proves to be excessive.
Keep up with the checks at the dealer and maybe Ford can be convinced to do something about it.

Years ago I new a man that had a similar condition. He got frustrated and decide he was going to blow the engine. So he drove the ==== out of it.
It didn't blow but it stopped using oil.
Now I am not suggesting that you should do anything like that.

grafxman

· #15 · Aug 1, 2011

According to page 335 of the manual the oil should be checked monthly and changed annually or at 10,000 miles. So if one quart per 1,500 miles is acceptable and I drive 4,500 miles in a month I will, more likely than not, destroy the engine since it holds 4 quarts of oil.

I will still be well within Ford's maintenance tolerance level. Of course that's assuming I'm ignoring any warning lights that may appear. Frankly this one quart per 1,500 miles being acceptable is just crazy to me.

4,500 miles of driving can be easily achieved in less than a week of steady driving.

john8228

Discussion Starter · #16 · Aug 1, 2011

Thanks for the info, next is another dealer. The current dealer has done 3 successful comsumption test. See my oringinal post for the results.

john8228

Discussion Starter · #17 · Aug 1, 2011

I agree that it just doesn't seem right. I have at the 4500 (give or take a hundred) had to add 2 quarts of oil for my wife to get to work, then take it to the dealer when i get a chance to explain to them on the stick it is below the fill line (needing 1qt +) and I just added 2 quarts. They respond that it's within the 1qt per 1500.

I have many cars and my 1965 mustang with a 18 year old jaspar race engine doesn't use that much oil. My 05 Taurus with 125,000 miles doesn't even use a quart per oil change.

FORDSVTPARTS

· #18 · Aug 2, 2011

See what happens when the engine is fully broken in.

New engines use oil, it's a fact.

.

FORDSVTPARTS

· #19 · Aug 2, 2011

grafxman said:
According to page 335 of the manual the oil should be checked monthly and changed annually or at 10,000 miles. So if one quart per 1,500 miles is acceptable and I drive 4,500 miles in a month I will, more likely than not, destroy the engine since it holds 4 quarts of oil. I will still be well within Ford's maintenance tolerance level. Of course that's assuming I'm ignoring any warning lights that may appear. Frankly this one quart per 1,500 miles being acceptable is just crazy to me. 4,500 miles of driving can be easily achieved in less than a week of steady driving.

Right but 4500 miles in a week (or even a month)does NOT in any way fall into anyones definition of normal use and some level of common sense needs to come in to play here.

And as my last post stated, wait and see what happens as the engine breaks in.

If there's actually a serious issue causing the oil consuption it's going to get worse, not stay the same so in that case it should work it's way into the unacceptable oil consumption levels and then you get a new engine under warranty.

.

FORDSVTPARTS

· #20 · Aug 2, 2011

john8228 said:
I agree that it just doesn't seem right. I have at the 4500 (give or take a hundred) had to add 2 quarts of oil for my wife to get to work, then take it to the dealer when i get a chance to explain to them on the stick it is below the fill line (needing 1qt +) and I just added 2 quarts. They respond that it's within the 1qt per 1500.

I have many cars and my 1965 mustang with a 18 year old jaspar race engine doesn't use that much oil. My 05 Taurus with 125,000 miles doesn't even use a quart per oil change.

I don't recall seeing you post how many miles are currently on the car, what is your current mileage?

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