Reporting Fuel In The Oil issues And Other Issues To The NHTSA

[Delirious]

I have filed a complaint with the NHTSA about the fuel in the oil issue. I have mentioned this website and that there are a number of owners that also have this issue. I think anyone who experienced this issue or any other issue should also report their issues since Ford has not issued a TSB nor recall about this issue. That's according to the service manager at the Ford dealership where I took my vehicle in.
Telling me that a bunch of fuel in the oil will not damage the engine because it's aluminum is just asinine and insulting to what itty bitty intelligence I have.
After he ran his jaws about how there is no damage being done to the engine because it's aluminum. Telling me Ford has no idea how or why this happens, That they are aware of it and have not issued a TSB nor a recall on this issue. He tried to tell me it was a new issue to only a few trucks-just late model 2021 vehicles doing this, but I corrected him by telling him there were a number of 2019 and 2020 owners on the website that stated they had the same issue.
I then said to him, that's what Ford tells you to tell us, correct? He just gave me the look that said I was correct.
So I think we all need to band together and file a complaint about this issue or any other safety related issues that arise. That goes for missing bolts to tire rubbing and everything else in between and beyond.
They have three tries to fix this and then I'm going after the lemon law.

NHTSA
https://www.nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem#vehicle

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[D Fresh]

I think you need to take a second to breathe.


You're upset. We get it. But your service manager knew more than most. Give him a chance.

 

[dtech]

NHTSA charter is all about collecting data and at times taking action on auto issues that constitute safety issues. Unless excess fuel in the oil is causing a safety issue - such as engine fires - it's beyond the realm of the NHTSA to take action, just something that may cause excessive engine wear is not usually considered a safety issue.
Honda CRV had a big issue with fuel in the oil, especially in colder climates but I don't believe the NHTSA was ever involved.

 

[jsphlynch]

So I think we all need to band together and file a complaint about this issue or any other safety related issues that arise.

Do you have any evidence that this is a safety related issue? Is there any reports of vehicle fires stemming from this issue? Or even any reports of vehicle failure that were traced to it? I really can't see NHTSA getting involved here, since there's nothing that puts it under their purview.

They have three tries to fix this and then I'm going after the lemon law.

Good luck with that. If there's no recognizable problem (Does the truck still run fine? Is there any indication of abnormal wear?), I would bet on the lemon law claim getting denied.

Take a step back. Take a few deep breaths. Then if your truck is still "making oil," have another dealership take a look at it, and in particular the HPFP and injectors.

 

[Mustang2Ranger]

And get a Blackstone report

 

[Delirious]

Do you have any evidence that this is a safety related issue? Is there any reports of vehicle fires stemming from this issue? Or even any reports of vehicle failure that were traced to it? I really can't see NHTSA getting involved here, since there's nothing that puts it under their purview.


Good luck with that. If there's no recognizable problem (Does the truck still run fine? Is there any indication of abnormal wear?), I would bet on the lemon law claim getting denied.

Take a step back. Take a few deep breaths. Then if your truck is still "making oil," have another dealership take a look at it, and in particular the HPFP and injectors.

Regardless of whether it makes it through lemon we should all be reporting these things to the NHTSA.
Had a 2004 Ford Explorer that had a vibration issue and we won the lemon law on that. It belonged to my wife and she just chose to have them buy it back rather than replace it although as soon as that was done, which was extremely quick, she went and bought another one that was fine.

 

[Delirious]

provided its a safety related defect.

you'd be hard pressed to convince someone there that fuel/oil mixture has reached the upper explosion limit and is a ticking time bomb under your hood. but i guess you could try.
engine wear because of sub standard oil is not a safety issue.

Everyone is so against reporting this or anything else as a safety issue. What does it hurt to try? Let’s just all keep our friggn’ mouths shut and let the friggn things fall apart. Better yet when I’m driving down the highway at 70 or 80 miles an hour in the engine freezes up well that’s not a safety issue is it? There was so much fuel in my oil that the measurement was 2 inches above the High mark on the oil dipstick. The mechanic brought the oil filter into the service advisor and it was so watered down from the fuel in oil that it's splashed out of there.

 

[Rp930]

I think we are curious what you think NHTSA is going to do with it. You haven’t had a safety issue or an engine issue. But hey don’t let a few forum members keep you from bitching to NHTSA about anything you want.

 

[Delirious]

I think you need to take a second to breathe.


You're upset. We get it. But your service manager knew more than most. Give him a chance.

Thanks.
I knew to begin with it was probably a longshot. One voice, one shot. Many voices, many shots.

 

[Jason B]

The questions are:
How many DI Turbo engines are out there (all makes)?
How many DI Turbo engines does Ford have out there? Including 2.3, 2.7 and 3.5 Eco in all models of Fords?
How many have fuel in oil issues?
How many of those failed prematurely or caught fire?
Is fuel in oil only a DI Turbo engine issue?

Also, my guess is that even a naturally aspirated port injected engine can get fuel in oil if there
is enough blow by past the piston rings. Which there is, hence PCV sytem.

 

[Delirious]

I think we are curious what you think NHTSA is going to do with it. You haven’t had a safety issue or an engine issue. But hey don’t let a few forum members keep you from bitching to NHTSA about anything you want.

Thanks so much! Now that I'm educated I'm curious to see if they do anything at all. I guess they're not the right agency to go to after on something like this. Bad press is a better place. What perturbs me is that they don't have a TSB on this at the very least.

 

[puckdodger]

I agree with DF....chill out a bit.

Username checks out though...

 

[rcairflr]

the measurement was 2 inches above the High mark on the oil dipstick. The mechanic brought the oil filter into the service advisor and it was so watered down from the fuel in oil that it's splashed out of there.

That sounds worse than most have posted about this issue. Seems the Ford dealer didn't have some ideas on what to do. I agree that this much dilution can definitely be detrimental to your engine.

 

[Delirious]

no one is against reporting it, but you gotta go to the right place. Most of us would agree the NHTSA isnt the place for this. Ford is where you want to take your fight, and well beyond your inept service advisor. Ask him for a higher up contact to speak to to resolve this. You clearly need someone with more knowledge to answer and satisfy your concerns. Hint: its not him.

Fear and fact are two different things. the explosion limit on the fuel in your crankcase needs a bunch of factors to combine before it becomes a bomb in your garage or on the highway. trust me, you're no where near that at the moment. the oxygen content is well below whats required, remember the fire triangle in chemistry class?
I have wandered around many homes that smelled of natural gas, propane or fuel with a multi gas meter looking for the source, never once reaching any serious level of explosiveness.

For some clarity....i spilled some fuel on my shoe last fill up...probably a few milliliters at worst, and I had to remove my shoe and throw it into the bed because the smell was so bad...there was no explosion hazard there either, just the gag factor. Your garage is no different.

We have no proof of your claim on 2" high, or that the bumbling mechanic was spilling fuel/oil all over the place while running to the boss to show him, so we will have to take your word.
TBH, if there's that much fuel....the problem should be easy to find. you have a broken injector bleeding fuel into the cylinder after you shut the engine down as it bleeds off the pressure. or a very badly seated cylinder/ring combo. Either way, the mechanics have tools to verify these failures.

Get it fixed and your problem will drastically disappear i presume....and again, not in the NHTSA's wheelhouse right now.
This is like going to the Doctor to complain about a bad hair cut.

Dont get mad at those of us who clearly have more hours on our Rangers than yourself and are pulling back on your reins.
We are all just trying to help.

Thanks so much and I'll go re-edit where I was perturbed. You make a lot of sense there and I appreciate it.

 

[Delirious]

provided its a safety related defect.

you'd be hard pressed to convince someone there that fuel/oil mixture has reached the upper explosion limit and is a ticking time bomb under your hood. but i guess you could try.
engine wear because of sub standard oil is not a safety issue.

Well you guys have all educated me a bid on this. Bad publicity sure goes a long way in getting a problems fixed.

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