Fuel in oil

[Racket]

I've only had one oil change and paid the difference to switch to full synthetic. Been checking the dipstick evel every other week or so, but the thing that seems odd is how dark the oil looks. Just turned over 15,000 miles and my 80,000 mile Saturn or 70,000 mile Mitsubishi had cleaner oil between changes.

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[Texasota]

I've only had one oil change and paid the difference to switch to full synthetic. Been checking the dipstick evel every other week or so, but the thing that seems odd is how dark the oil looks. Just turned over 15,000 miles and my 80,000 mile Saturn or 70,000 mile Mitsubishi had cleaner oil between changes.

Mine was the same. Appeared to have lots of soot in the oil. I wonder if the soot is worse because of the 87 octane gas (running richer to avoid knocking)?

 

[quirkybar8]

All, discussed with moderator and decided to post a new thread with a poll for those with Blackstone results. If you have had your oil tested, regardless of the results, good or bad, please go there and participate. The more people that participate, the more we know bout this problem. It may open some eyes at Ford too.

But continue discussion here.

Poll - Test Results for Fuel in Oil

My truck now has 2 new intake manifold gaskets under its belt, the first with a HPFP replacement, the second a #4 injector. I've yet to use the kit I bought to test, but I'm confident it had as much as a quart of added "oil". Simple math seems to say it was bad.

Point is, like with others who have deemed the problem as either very small or better yet, completely under control, this poll will also be of limited value. At least to those of us with the threat of shortened engine life.

 

[P. A. Schilke]

Hi Folks,

The things that bothers me about this problem is that the "remedies" do not always fix the problem. To me this means that the problem is not really well understood by Ford Engine Engineering. I wonder if they have an investigation on going. In the day we would buy back problem vehicles...maybe two or three and do a deep dive to understand the problem and then prove it out by fixing the vehicles for verification....I just do not see this happening.

Frankly, i am in Ostrich mode on this one. Changed my oil at about 1600 miles as the oil change indicator timed out....it had been a year. (I do my own oil changes) Got about 6 quarts out of the engine, and assumed the remaining 0.2 were in the filter. Filled it back up and have not checked the oil level.

So the burning question on top of Zaph's poll is how many folks have had the problem and actually got it fixed?

Best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

 

[N. J. Jim]

Hi Folks,

The things that bothers me about this problem is that the "remedies" do not always fix the problem. To me this means that the problem is not really well understood by Ford Engine Engineering. I wonder if they have an investigation on going. In the day we would buy back problem vehicles...maybe two or three and do a deep dive to understand the problem and then prove it out by fixing the vehicles for verification....I just do not see this happening.

Frankly, i am in Ostrich mode on this one. Changed my oil at about 1600 miles as the oil change indicator timed out....it had been a year. (I do my own oil changes) Got about 6 quarts out of the engine, and assumed the remaining 0.2 were in the filter. Filled it back up and have not checked the oil level.

So the burning question on top of Zaph's poll is how many folks have had the problem and actually got it fixed?

Best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

Looks like nobody on this site Phil. If they did get a fix the ones with extreme fuel dilution I'm not aware of it. Ford acts like just because there's no codes thrown and all there checks are good there's no problem. I definitely have a problem and I wish someone at Ford would stand up for us!

 

[RedlandRanger]

Looks like nobody on this site Phil. If they did get a fix the ones with extreme fuel dilution I'm not aware of it. Ford acts like just because there's no codes thrown and all there checks are good there's no problem. I definitely have a problem and I wish someone at Ford would stand up for us!

I'm pretty sure there was at least one person who got it fixed - it was either the HPFP or injectors - I can't remember which. They definitely seem to be the outlier however. Maybe a case of better techs at the dealership?

I'm sorry you continue to have the issue - it is sad that Ford won't step up to get it resolved.

 

[2020FX4]

Collected my sample today... Will get it shipped off this week.

 

[ZX10_AFM]

Mine was the same. Appeared to have lots of soot in the oil. I wonder if the soot is worse because of the 87 octane gas (running richer to avoid knocking)?

Jumping in, first post.

GDI can lead to improper fuel atomization (depending on a few variables) because the time for the fuel to burn is less than if the fuel injector is further upstream (say, the intake manifold). Fuel can make its way into other areas if not all of is burned.

Higher octane should burn faster. I’m wondering if there is a trend with low octane being a contributing factor to this problem. Oil type and detergent usage is also a factor. For example, there are special oils designed for GDI to promote better fuel atomization.

IIRC, anything over 2.4% fuel in the oil is cause for concern. Less than that I believe is acceptable for a GDI engine.

 

[Rickfar]

Well i have had my oil changed 3X in 1746 miles on the clock I saw an issue at 500 miles and kind of played it off as being a new engine and rings not seated yet. Oil changed by dealer and was told to drive another 500 miles and check took it back in at 1500 miles and they saw increased level and told me they were ordering a HPFP gasket and told me it was back ordered( Lie) as I checked with parts and they told me they could get it from Memphis in 2 days So I called them out on it and they told me to bring truck in. They had trick for 4 days and when I called Day 3 they told me they did a Heat soak over night and found #4 injector leaking so they replaced. This all sounds like bull**** to me but I think they are just throwing sh** on the wall to see if it sticks.
I have never owned a vehicle that "made oil" but owned a few that it would disappear in Especially the old Vega's I have one that would use a quart in 50 miles until i got the engine sleeved old timers will remember them.
I don't blame the dealers as much as I blame Ford Engineer's as most dealers try to do the right thing but they are at a loss and my dealer showed me a email from one engineer that said I was not driving the truck enough (Letting it get hot) which is bull as I drive it like I stole it I do have the ford tune on it but this issue happened way before I got it.

 

[quirkybar8]

I'm pretty sure there was at least one person who got it fixed - it was either the HPFP or injectors - I can't remember which. They definitely seem to be the outlier however. Maybe a case of better techs at the dealership?

I'm sorry you continue to have the issue - it is sad that Ford won't step up to get it resolved.

Looks like Wade hasn't been around to speak up, so https://www.ranger5g.com/forum/threads/fuel-in-oil.4803/post-176653

 

[Hoosier Daddy]

Ford Customer Relations 1-800-392-3673

Just made a phone call to the above number. A somewhat frustrating experience to say the least but I least I made a case and got the case number for my issue. To summarize my customer care person.....I should just drive the truck as normal and give no concern to the fuel dilution. The lady actually said it should quit at 35,000 miles (quit getting fuel in the oil).

I am at a loss for words.....

 

[jsphlynch]

IIRC, anything over 2.4% fuel in the oil is cause for concern. Less than that I believe is acceptable for a GDI engine.

I've said it before, but this gets at my biggest frustration with this situation: there's no real definition for the threshold above which fuel dilution is a problem in these engines. I've seen a lot of different numbers thrown out there, but I don't think I've ever seen any of the numbers justified.

 

[jsphlynch]

The lady actually said it should quit at 35,000 miles (quit getting fuel in the oil).

That's a mighty long break-in period!

 

[Zaph]

Collected my sample today... Will get it shipped off this week.

Be sure to add your results to the poll when you get them.

Some interesting ideas being discussed here. Would running premium help? Can someone with a fresh oil change, high fuel content and an empty gas tank be willing to run 91 octane for a few thousand miles to see how that goes?

I also have to wonder how breakin is affecting things. I break in engines hard, mostly because of my experience with fresh engines and compression testing kits on race bikes. A hard day at the track on a fresh engine and I watch my compression increase, while people who baby their motorcycles on the streets for 500 miles end up with a low compression oil burner.

When I got my Ranger I did not go easy on it at all. Maybe it was a factor in having <.5% fuel content in my oil due to better seated piston rings.

 

[SomeJoDude]

I have run premium fuel since my second tank. I first reported my problem at 1600 miles. Oil change and told to check back in a few week. I checked back in last Monday after only 120 miles and I was at the top hole of the stick. They asked me to drive 1000 miles or so and check back in.
Reported to the customer service line at Ford & mail a certified letter and got very little positive feedback. My service rep at the dealership did check in with Ford and I went in this afternoon to see what he heard back. Something about checking the crankcase vent for obstruction? The technician doesn't think it going to make any difference but I'm going to take the truck in next Monday. When they changed my oil they gave me a sample I sent in to Blackstone. They said they removed 6.7 quarts of oil but my report shows only 1.3% fuel. That amount of fuel dilution doesn't alarm me much but I am not sure about the sample because 6.7 quarts would be closer to 7%. I might take another sample before I take it in next week and see what the dilution is.

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