GT350 Engine/Oil Usage/Fix thread.

[kairojya]

Any updates on what your usage is at now? Is it stable etc?

I've been without the car this week (rear bumper fitment getting fixed). I've noticed a significant difference in my dip stick reading between cold (sitting overnight) and checking 15~ minutes after the engine's been up to temperature. When I check it cold, I'm seeing my level in the middle between the marks. When I check it warm, it's showing me the exact level I was at when I filled it after the first change.

I've only put 700 miles on it since my first change (on my 2nd engine). I'm keeping an eye on it, but the inconsistent readings isn't helping. I'll post back if/when I can identify anything significant.

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[rfcs550]

Hello not trying to be devil's advocate but these engines have forged pistons with low tension rings and hardly any kind of piston skirt. That and the fact that many of us drive these engines at high rpms with very little load will allow the rings to flutter and allow oil to pass bye. If the engine is under load then the combustion gases will get behind the rings and push them tight against the cylinder walls and piston ring grooves to keep them sealed.

The ring flutter low load situation will certainly cause these engines to use more oil than what is considered normal for most but is actually quite normal. That being said it should not use 1 qt in 80 miles and something is most likely wrong. My 2017 with just under 3k has used only 1 qt in the 2500 miles since changing the oil at 500 miles.

BMW M cars are consider to be normal if if they consume 1 qt in 800 miles just saying using oil in a modern high revving/performance engine is considered normal.

I am more worried about the oil cooler line blowing off than the motor using oil!

You seem to know what you're talking about. Thanks. Mine is using 1qt. every 1000-1200 miles, so far. I haven't reached 4000 miles. BTW, Ferrari's 458 FPC Italia says that expected oil consumption is 1 ltr. every 625 miles.

 

[Voodooo]

I think the amount will vary based on driving style etc one thing to consider is with modern engines they are truly not broken in a 1000 miles. I think everything is seated and polished but I think the cylinder walls etc are so hard that it may take 10000 miles to fully break in as BMW notes in there service bulletin. Yes I realize this is not a BMW but a Ford engine.

To truly know how much oil you are using in a 1000 miles you need to fully drain the engine oil. measure and weigh 10qts of oil and put it in the engine drive the vehicle a thousand miles and drain and capture all of the oil without spilling it and measure and weigh it again and see what was actually consumed.

If there is truly a issue with the engine it would show up during leak-down and compression test and there would also be large clouds of smoke coming out of the exhaust. Catalytic convertors do a good job of eliminating smoke but they cannot prevent a car with a bad piston or cylinder wall from not smoking.

Couldn't agree more. When leak down and compression test pass, I see nothing wrong. I agree with you 100%. This engine is more of a race engine than it is a street engine. People love how it sounds, the power it makes, the high RPM etc etc. But in reality it's a factory production race engine. It's not going to be a gas or oil sipper. It's a high winding small block that craves to be pushed. You wouldn't expect a top fuel engine or a nascar engine to use no oil, expect the same from your voodoo. It's already said that the other high performance cars (lambo, BMW, Ferrari etc use oil) so will ours. It's called "the nature of the beast"
Unless you're using more than say 1qt every 850-1500 miles on an engine with less than 10000 miles I wouldn't worry about it. Look at how many strokes that piston sees at 8250 RPM (137 times per second!!!), not to mention the crank, cams, lifters, chains, etc. that's a lot to ask for.
If this were a drag car, you wouldn't know how much oil it's using because after a few passes you'd change it anyhow. At least I did on my 8 second mustang bad in the day.
Same goes for the track cars, all those GT350's at the track attack they service those cars after every event.
News flash guys.....you're driving a street legal race car!
I don't hear anyone complaining about it only getting 12-15 mpg.

 

[Offboost]

Couldn't agree more. When leak down and compression test pass, I see nothing wrong. I agree with you 100%. This engine is more of a race engine than it is a street engine. People love how it sounds, the power it makes, the high RPM etc etc. But in reality it's a factory production race engine. It's not going to be a gas or oil sipper. It's a high winding small block that craves to be pushed. You wouldn't expect a top fuel engine or a nascar engine to use no oil, expect the same from your voodoo. It's already said that the other high performance cars (lambo, BMW, Ferrari etc use oil) so will ours. It's called "the nature of the beast"
Unless you're using more than say 1qt every 850-1500 miles on an engine with less than 10000 miles I wouldn't worry about it. Look at how many strokes that piston sees at 8250 RPM (137 times per second!!!), not to mention the crank, cams, lifters, chains, etc. that's a lot to ask for.
If this were a drag car, you woul dn't know how much oil it's using because after a few passes you'd change it anyhow. At least I did on my 8 second mustang bad in the day.
Same goes for the track cars, all those GT350's at the track attack they service those cars after every event.
News flash guys.....you're driving a street legal race car!
I don't hear anyone complaining about it only getting 12-15 mpg.

Exactly will require more TLC than the average car but it is well worth the effort and $11.00 additional dollars for a qaurt 5/50 once in awhile.

Just think of this motor as a modern day 2 stroke lol

 

[MCarsFan]

Added 1/3 qt after 500 miles since the last top off which was 1/2 qt. In my opinion, completely normal.

What should happen is Ford giving people oil vouchers. Because for a daily driver for 15,000 miles/year, thats about $200 when all said and done (shipping/tax).

 

[smsgt350]

Added 1/3 qt after 500 miles since the last top off which was 1/2 qt. In my opinion, completely normal.

What should happen is Ford giving people oil vouchers. Because for a daily driver for 15,000 miles/year, thats about $200 when all said and done (shipping/tax).

Ford has had me keep track of my oil use since April 2016. It has used a quart every 560 miles since new. At 12400 miles now oil useage has been steady and doesnt seem to be affected by driving style or temperature. I agree with voodoo on this one that since leak down/compression checks ok that this is the nature of this engine.Dealer doesnt seem to think so and has offered to pay for the almost two cases of amsoil i have had to add so far.

 

[unavailableGT350]

Ford has had me keep track of my oil use since April 2016. It has used a quart every 560 miles since new. At 12400 miles now oil useage has been steady and doesnt seem to be affected by driving style or temperature. I agree with voodoo on this one that since leak down/compression checks ok that this is the nature of this engine.Dealer doesnt seem to think so and has offered to pay for the almost two cases of amsoil i have had to add so far.

Yep, I have what you have a, 2016 Tech Pack and using 1 qt per 543 miles. I added the 3 quarts on last Thursday and going to drive for 543 miles just easy 6 gear freeway driving so I can do a bench test and see if it just my hard driving of the car. It makes sense, 11 miles to the gallon, 5000 rpms+ all the time, it just might burn a little more oil.

 

[MCarsFan]

Yep, I have what you have a, 2016 Tech Pack and using 1 qt per 543 miles. I added the 3 quarts on last Thursday and going to drive for 543 miles just easy 6 gear freeway driving so I can do a bench test and see if it just my hard driving of the car. It makes sense, 11 miles to the gallon, 5000 rpms+ all the time, it just might burn a little more oil.

You added 3 qts in one shot? Either you overfilled or you were way low on oil.

 

[unavailableGT350]

You added 3 qts in one shot? Either you overfilled or you were way low on oil.

It was way low. The car has 1630 miles, so I decided to check my oil bcuz of this thread. It did not even register on the dipstick. I bought 3 quarts just in case from the Ford dealer. I added a 1/2 qt at a time. It finally registerd barely after one qt. then i added 1/2 qt at a time, checking the dipstick so I can know exactly what the levels would be. So right now I am exactly half between low and high mark holes.

Soooooooooo, it is either burning that much, or, or, or some dipstick forgot to add more oil when they assembled the car and hooked up the oil cooler, which might take a qt. Just a guess.

I am hoping it was just a diphead that wanted to leave early on Friday. But this could have turned out very bad if I did not check it.

Realize this, I have changed all my own oil my whole life, I have rebuilt a Chevy truck new clutch by myself, no transmission jack, and have only owned new cars since 1980. I have never checked the oil level at 1630 miles. Why would I have to do that, it is new?

I dodged a bullet

 

[MCarsFan]

Yep, I have what you have a, 2016 Tech Pack and using 1 qt per 543 miles. I added the 3 quarts on last Thursday and going to drive for 543 miles just easy 6 gear freeway driving so I can do a bench test and see if it just my hard driving of the car. It makes sense, 11 miles to the gallon, 5000 rpms+ all the time, it just might burn a little more oil.

It was way low. The car has 1630 miles, so I decided to check my oil bcuz of this thread. It did not even register on the dipstick. I bought 3 quarts just in case from the Ford dealer. I added a 1/2 qt at a time. It finally registerd barely after one qt. then i added 1/2 qt at a time, checking the dipstick so I can know exactly what the levels would be. So right now I am exactly half between low and high mark holes.

Soooooooooo, it is either burning that much, or, or, or some dipstick forgot to add more oil when they assembled the car and hooked up the oil cooler, which might take a qt. Just a guess.

I am hoping it was just a diphead that wanted to leave early on Friday. But this could have turned out very bad if I did not check it.

Realize this, I have changed all my own oil my whole life, I have rebuilt a Chevy truck new clutch by myself, no transmission jack, and have only owned new cars since 1980. I have never checked the oil level at 1630 miles. Why would I have to do that, it is new?

I dodged a bullet

Dude I would not have posted that if I were you. You never know, that is 7 quarts of oil!

I dont know what happens in the case of engine failing due to insufficient oil in terms of warranty claims. It is our responsibility to check it but not sure what the actual interval is.

 

[unavailableGT350]

Dude I would not have posted that if I were you. You never know, that is 7 quarts of oil!

I dont know what happens in the case of engine failing due to insufficient oil in terms of warranty claims. It is our responsibility to check it but not sure what the actual interval is.

no, it is only 3 qt

 

[MCarsFan]

no, it is only 3 qt

I meant you were running your car at 7 qts of oil. The engine takes 10 qts total. Thats 30% low.

 

[unavailableGT350]

I meant you were running your car at 7 qts of oil. The engine takes 10 qts total. Thats 30% low.

Ok, got it. I am just going to drive it and watch it from now on. It should be ok. I did not hear any ticking, the oil pressure is the same. If it still burns at the same rate, I will bring it to the dealer. But I dont have much faith in them. I got the first free oil change on the GT Track Pack and they put in the wrong oil. Bunch of DA's.

 

[MCarsFan]

Ok, got it. I am just going to drive it and watch it from now on. It should be ok. I did not hear any ticking, the oil pressure is the same. If it still burns at the same rate, I will bring it to the dealer. But I dont have much faith in them. I got the first free oil change on the GT Track Pack and they put in the wrong oil. Bunch of DA's.

Good luck, keep us posted.

In my opinion, all these engines are fine. This is the characteristics of the motor.

 

[unavailableGT350]

Good luck, keep us posted.

In my opinion, all these engines are fine. This is the characteristics of the motor.

You are probably right, when I had the 2012 BMW M3, when I brought it in for the first time for my "free oil change" with 3000 miles on it. The service rep said I should have come in sooner as these cars use a lot of oil and can get really low in that amount of miles.

I gave him a funny look and said no way. But apparently..... way

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