[auprospector]

I bought a new Ford F350 Crewcab with a 7.3 deisel in 2002.

The current mileage is 26,000 miles.

The Problem? High oil use and low fuel mileage.

Other than occasionally hauling a ton of grain once a month about 10 miles, the truck has just sat for 6 1/2 years as I used an older car to get around town. I've taken two road trips with it. The lastest was 3700 miles. 2000 miles of the last trip was pulling a small Casita travel trailer that I picked up in Dallas (about 3500 lbs, I live in Colorado).

At 22,000 miles, I switched from regular oil to Mobil 1, diesel 5 -40. In the 3700 mile trip, I used 2 1/2 quarts of oil to replace that which was used during the trip.

I was getting up to 17 m/g on fuel, but about 14 when pulling the trailer, sometims less in a headwind.

Is this normal for a diesel truck? This is my first diesel truck of which I've waited for for 60+ years to get.

All scheduled maintaince has been preformed at the correct times.

On the Oil and fuel useage, does this sound about right?

Thank you for any help and/or suggestions.

(I hope I put this question into the correct forum.)

AuProspector

 

[Mr. Jimmy]

The fuel mileage don't sound bad for an F350 but 2.5 qts in 3700 miles seems excessive. I would look at the top of engine in the valley area for a possible oil leak.

 

[tattoocharlie]

is it smoking excessively?white/blue smoke is oil,thatll tell you if its burning it.

 

[auprospector]

No smoking out of the tail pipe.

After driving a short distance and returning home, I placed a clean piece of cardboard on the ground and under the engine. I was thinking that I had a leak. The next morning, the cardboard was still clean.

This really has me puzzled.

 

[techkdb]

How many miles where on the oil prior to the 3700 mile trip?

 

[tattoocharlie]

No smoking out of the tail pipe.

After driving a short distance and returning home, I placed a clean piece of cardboard on the ground and under the engine. I was thinking that I had a leak. The next morning, the cardboard was still clean.

This really has me puzzled.

ok,my next question are you sure the oil was completey full before your trip?or when you checked the oil level after did you allow the oil adequate time to drain back to the pan.these motors hold alot of oil and it can take a few minutes after shutdown for a correct reading.if its not leaking,not burning,it should all be there.

 

[SeaStroke]

I have used between 1 and 2 quarts between oil chenges ever since mine was new. It seems the harder I run it, the more oil it uses. I don't think I would be too concerned about the oil useage. Of course, look around for signs of a leak...especially in the valley of the engine. Also, check the clamps on your intercooler lines to make sure they are not weeping oil.

 

[TooCoolTwo]

We are on our second Casita and the wife and I absolutely love it, as we did our first one!

Check out the Casitaforum.com. Lots of good technical infomation there and great folks!

We usually get 17 plus MPG towing, but our truck is a 2WD and an F-250. We tow about 60-62 MPH and not over 1850 RPMs. Any more and our milage really drops.

We use about one quart between oil changes, which is usually about 5K miles. We use Rotella 15W-40 oil. Also use a fuel additive which seems to help us get better milage.

Our long camping trips usually are about 4k miles, round trip, and we run our rig hard, sometimes 8-10 hour days when traveling.

Try airing up your tires, using a good diesel fuel additive and keeping the speed at 60 MPH and see if it helps.

Good luck!

 

[TooCoolTwo]

Forgot to add, you might also have your front end alignment checked and your fuel filter changed.

Was it using this much oil with conventional 15W-40 diesel rated oil?

Mike

 

[Bill1013]

Other than occasionally hauling a ton of grain once a month about 10 miles, the truck has just sat for 6 1/2 years as I used an older car to get around town. I've taken two road trips with it. The lastest was 3700 miles. 2000 miles of the last trip was pulling a small Casita travel trailer that I picked up in Dallas (about 3500 lbs, I live in Colorado).

That is not good on these diesel engines, traveling only 10 miles, don't hardly get the engine warmed up.

"The current mileage is 26,000 miles"

That engine has not even begun to be broken in. I think the more miles you put on it the better it will get. No leaks and no smoke, to me that means you are burning it. The rings are not even hardly began to seat yet. You might want to change back to Rotella 15W-40 it would be alot less expensive to run it that way. Mobil1 don't do much, you might want to use the mixture of Dino and Synthetic if your set on Synthetic's. There are7.3 engines that still have the honing marks at 100,000 miles.

" I was getting up to 17 m/g on fuel, but about 14 when pulling the trailer, sometims less in a headwind"

That's about right, considering Colorado is anything but level land.

IMHO the more you run that truck, the better it will get. There made to work.

 

[auprospector]

The oil use has been pretty constant.

Tattoo C.... the oil was checked at the beginning of the trip... it was full.

Thanks everyone for the imput.


BTW
I've used the Casita right off of the showroom floor. A great little inexpensive trailer. The only problem (a major one) I had was with the "upgraded" tires for the trailer. At 700 miles, they were ready to throw their treads.... the wheels were retightened at 50 miles and at 200 miles, per the checkout info at the time of purchase.

I had to stop and purchase some 'good tires' in AZ for the trailer. I've heard that Casita has had problems with their tires... it's true.

 

[444-4D]

In the 3700 mile trip, I used 2 1/2 quarts of oil to replace that which was used during the trip.

That isn't a lot more than mine uses. I use about a quart every 2,000 miles. My truck is used opposite of yours. I rarely drive mine less than 200 miles at a time.

 

[Bill1013]

Quote
BTW
I've used the Casita right off of the showroom floor. A great little inexpensive trailer. The only problem (a major one) I had was with the "upgraded" tires for the trailer. At 700 miles, they were ready to throw their treads.... the wheels were retightened at 50 miles and at 200 miles, per the checkout info at the time of purchase.
I had to stop and purchase some 'good tires' in AZ for the trailer. I've heard that Casita has had problems with their tires... it's true.Quote

They were probably those Carlyle tires, nothing but junk is my humble opinion. Bought a 6X12 cargo trailer and blew both tires, on at 75 miles and the other at 130. Was Not overloaded either.

 

[poppie]

Gee,I thought mine sat alot,2002 bought new,73,000 mile's on it now,mine never goes down more than a pint at the most,just off the full mark,Moble delvac 1300-15/40,your not even driving 4000 mile's a year,Do you change the oil at least once a year,if not ,you need too,maybe the ring's are stuck from sitting around soooooo much,change the oil and drive the thing,also check the air filter,hold it up to a bright light and see how much light come's through,diesel's have been known to suck air from the crankcase past the ring's if the airfilter is plugged and the oil goes along for the ride,our 1'st ford diesel was a 1986 F250 6.9 and it had the restrictor plate on the bottom of the air cleaner canister, drilled out the spot weld's that held the plate in and the oil usage went away,I've never had a ford that used ANY oil including the 3 ford diesel tractor's we had when we were farming.

 

[sniper]

2002 7.3

I chang the oil on my 2002 every 5000 miles and it will only use 1/2 quart between changes. Just turned 70,000 miles last week.:ford: