GUZZLING Oil '03 7.3 - Need Some Insight & Help

[Beastmaster]

So, It's got 192K miles on it . . . .uses about 2-3 qts per oil change. It's been about 3 weeks since I checked it last, and everything was well within operating range. It sat last weekend from Friday noon to Sunday noon, and it was hard to start Sunday. Checked the oil when I got home and it wasn't even on the dipstick. Added about 5-6 qts . . . . drove to work today and ran some errands, probably drove 50-60 miles total. Jumped in the truck to head home from work, and it started, ran rough, and died as I pulled out of the parking lot. Tried to start several times, finally turned over and immediately died. Checked the oil . . . not even on the dipstick. Added another 6 -7 qts, and it looks like it burned almost a qt in about 10-12 miles on the way home. Kind of at a loss. . . . . It's not leaking anywhere I can see it. Looks like its blowing some smoke (bluish, I think) at start up, but doesn't seem to be blowing enough to warrant that kind of oil loss (especially while driving) What do y'all think, turbo? Injectors? Any help or advice would be much appreciated.

[harperc]

Check the fuel filter and see if it is black. could be a few blown o-rings on the injectors and letting oil bad into the fuel. check your coolant also and see if you have any oil in there. I had both problems but mine were not that bad. I have heard that they can really drink the oil if the blow the o-rings badly. Hope this help.

[Beastmaster]

thanks. . . .I'll check the fuel filter in the am. . .any other ideas for mass oil loss without obvious leaks?

[Dietoremain]

i agree injector o rings... oil burns as good as diesel when its warm enough lol.

[Beastmaster]

I didn't have a chance to pull the fuel filter, but I'm a little skeptical of blown injector o-rings because of the amount of oil being used. Seems like a couple of gallons over the course of a day or two is an awful lot to be lost in that manner. What do y'all think?

we'll see, I don't have the time or place to dig into it myself since I'm working out of town. . . . . .took it to Ford's Truck Center (Grande Ford) here in San Antone and let them take a look at it. My buddy followed me to the shop and said it wasn't smoking (that he noticed) but it did smell very strong of burned oil. Maybe I'm pulling into and through the turbo somehow??

I hate taking it to any dealership and just letting them loose without having at least an idea of what the problem is before they start, but I was comforted a little when I dropped it off with their light truck service center and saw every single one of the bays was occupied with 250's and 350's. . . I've heard good things about 'em, so we'll see what they can do for me. I'll be sure to let y'all know what I find. . .Thanks for the input.

[underdog II]

My money's on blown orings, Since no obvious leaks and it doesn't smoke out the exhaust like a fogger where else could it be going if not into the fuel?

[ianstew]

o rings or toasted injector(s)

[444 ci]

does your antifreeze have oil in it i just got my 03 out of the shop it had a bad oil cooler mine was down 2 quarts of oil it dident leak anywhere out side it was leaking internal into the antifreeze.

[Beastmaster]

Nothing in the coolant that I could see. . . . . hope to hear back tomorrow with a final verdict. . . . . .

[Beastmaster]

well, here is the verdict:

when they called me they said they couldn't find anything obvious, but suspected o-rings. I asked if they'd checked the fuel filter . . .they hadn't, but when they did go back and check, they reported that it was black. $1600 to replace all the o-rings. . . . . but since they couldn't be sure it was o-rings until is was put all back together, I told them to go ahead and do the injectors. I've got 192K on the truck, and from everything I've read 200K seems to be the magic number for injectors to start failing. . .. I told them to go ahead and replace all 8 injectors. I figured even if they could figure out which one(s) were bad, it would only be a matter of time until another one or the rest failed. . . . . .8 injectors + a wiring harness and I got out of there for a mere $4300. . . . . I better get another 200K out of it.

I do have one question. . . . are these injector failures due to the ULSD change over? If so, is there anything I can add to the fuel and/or oil to help prevent excessive wear and tear on these injectors?

Thanks again for the input. Much appreciated