Fuel in oil

[Zaph]

I resolved my Fuel in Oil problem - I traded my Ranger for a Tacoma. I feel if and when Ford acknowledges this or there is a class action suit filed, the value of these vehicles will drop like a rock.
Good luck to all dealing with Ford

Friend, I'm giving you a like when nobody else will. Your solution is a fair one. Good luck with your future truck. If I had to go to a different brand not sure what I would pick. Been a Ford guy for decades. But the Taco does have a manual transmission going for it. But all vehicles have issues, just wish for better luck for you. At this point I'm under 3% dilution, Not too bad so I'll just change my oil often.

This thread has turned into just a cesspool of people hypothesizing about a fuel in oil “problem” that nobody even has proof is a widespread issue.

There is plenty of proof and it most certainly is a problem. Also, don't under estimate the intelligence and background of some of the people posting on this forum. Every forum's got some idiots but there are some seriously smart people here who know what's up.

Ford is not stupid, but is likely avoiding admission of an issue because it would lead to bottomless warranty claims when they are already struggling with them.

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[Samsquanch]

This thread has turned into just a cesspool of people hypothesizing about a fuel in oil “problem” that nobody even has proof is a widespread issue. You have one, maybe two people on here who had freak scenarios with actual proof, but because of this, people are actually trading in their trucks. All of these people freaking out about “fuel in oil” because either it “smells like fuel” or their $100 catch can that was engineered in a garage caught a tiny amount of oil and a bunch of water, but guess what… their trucks keep on running just fine. You don’t think Ford engineers have absolutely tortured and tested this engine before deciding to put it in all of their new and upcoming vehicles? The Bronco, Ranger, Mustang, Explorer, Lincoln Corsair, etc.. Oh and might want to go read some Tacoma forums about what they think of the 3rd gens before you go trade your Ranger for one lol. This thread is ridiculous.

It’s not like you have to click on it...

It isn’t really reasonable to state that it’s not an issue until people’s engines start blowing or burning oil early on in their life. By then it’s too late to realize it is or isn’t an issue. Large quantities of fuel simply do not belong in engine oil. This isn’t debatable. A small amount between 1%-2% is probably normal or within design spec. If you think Ford designed an engine that operates with 5%+ fuel in the oil I have a bridge to sell you. If you think an engine with 5%-10% fuel dilution is going to live a long healthy life I can wholeheartedly say you’re incorrect. Even the black stone reports that some have been getting specifically state that dilution levels are high and viscosity is low. This is where it goes beyond a funny smell and theories. We know that some of these fuel dilution levels are off the charts high.

The fact that Ford tested these engines means nothing in relation to this issue as far as I’m concerned. It’s not like issues in a supply chain never pop up during the life of a product. For all we know a part from a supplier such as the injectors is experiencing failures that aren’t design related and haven’t been discovered in testing yet. You have to wonder when issues like this pop up if the bean counters have a say in when Ford goes public with a fix. It’s not like a manufacturer ever put out a faulty product for years and years even after realizing an issue popped up right? Lol. I mean Takeda airbags anyone?

There are plenty of very smart curious minds here who want to see a resolution to this. As I stated much earlier in this thread there have been issues like this that the aftermarket and enthusiasts have solved long before manufacturers acknowledged them if they EVER did. See Honda v6 VCM threads for example. There’s literally a piggy back fix that eliminates a design issue that literally eats engines and blows them early and Honda never did squat to address it other than move on to a new engine design and give a paltry extended warranty to existing customers.

There is plenty to love about the ranger. It’s still the best mid-sized truck in the segment. That doesn’t mean this issue doesn’t exist for the people having it. The vast majority of car owners don’t even check their own oil so it’s not going to get caught quickly by the masses.

 

[Texasota]

I don’t think Ford has a solution for those of us with the moderate oil dilution (hovering around the top hole). They solved this problem on the V6 Ecoboosts by adding dual injection (port and direct). That also prevents coking on the intake valves. I hope they add it to the 2.3 for the 6G Ranger. I’m trading for a 6G Ranger PHEV regardless.

In the meantime I am changing oil at 3-4K miles. Love this Ranger too much to let this sour me.

 

[Samsquanch]

I never said people weren’t smart so im not sure where you got that from. I do think it’s funny that you replied to what I said with MORE HYPOTHESIS. “Ford is likely doing this” or “likely doing that.” That is the exact point of my post lol. Nobody on here has any facts. Samsquanch has a whole rant about how “Ford didn’t design this engine for 5-10% oil dilution” and he’s certain that his truck has fuel in oil, but his dealer said that it didn’t and he hasn’t even got the results back from his test yet. No facts. Lol thanks for proving my point again guys ??

So how did the level on my dipstick rise on its own over 1000 miles of driving? By magic? Are the holes in the dipstick moving around on their own when we sleep at night? Are all the oil analysis reports posted throughout the thread just photo shops? Please enlighten us all. I feel like this thread is threatening your enjoyment of your truck and I don’t know why. If you don’t have fuel dilution then keep on enjoying your truck and move on. This is a technical concern. If that sort of thing bothers you or isn’t in your wheelhouse you don’t need to participate but please don’t come try to blow the thread up. I happen to love the truck and think this is a solvable issue that will get resolved at some point. Coming here posting about it as a source of information shouldn’t bother anyone.

Pointing to the dealership who supposedly smelled my dipstick and said “nope there’s no fuel here!” As evidence the issue doesn’t exist is almost embarrassing bud. The point of me relating that was to show that they didn’t really even look into it very hard when I dropped the truck off and only after I let them know through technical means that I wasn’t going to take a simple “nope she’s fine” as an answer did they make a more serious attempt and documenting the issue.

 

[the5Gmartian]

So how did the level on my dipstick rise on its own over 1000 miles of driving? By magic? Are the holes in the dipstick moving around on their own when we sleep at night? Are all the oil analysis reports posted throughout the thread just photo shops? Please enlighten us all. I feel like this thread is threatening your enjoyment of your truck and I don’t know why. If you don’t have fuel dilution then keep on enjoying your truck and move on. This is a technical concern. If that sort of thing bothers you or isn’t in your wheelhouse you don’t need to participate but please don’t come try to blow the thread up. I happen to love the truck and think this is a solvable issue that will get resolved at some point. Coming here posting about it as a source of information shouldn’t bother anyone.

Pointing to the dealership who supposedly smelled my dipstick and said “nope there’s no fuel here!” As evidence the issue doesn’t exist is almost embarrassing bud. The point of me relating that was to show that they didn’t really even look into it very hard when I dropped the truck off and only after I let them know through technical means that I wasn’t going to take a simple “nope she’s fine” as an answer did they make a more serious attempt and documenting the issue.

Its not threatening my enjoyment lol I love driving my truck. It actually sounds a lot more like you’re letting this ruin your enjoyment. Thats why I deleted my post because I decided I was done with this thread and these truck hypochondriacs. How many pictures of oil analysis are posted on this thread? Now count that up and divide by the number of rangers sold. Thats how “widespread” this issue is with regard to factual evidence, bud. You getting so defensive tells me all that I need to know lol. I said what I said because you are just blabbering nonsensical information and your hypothesis to people who just bought a new truck and are going to lose their ass on it when they trade it in after reading your fear mongering. Enjoy panicking and worrying about a “problem” that hasn’t actually caused any problems.

 

[Zaph]

Its not threatening my enjoyment lol I love driving my truck. It actually sounds a lot more like you’re letting this ruin your enjoyment. Thats why I deleted my post because I decided I was done with this thread and these truck hypochondriacs. How many pictures of oil analysis are posted on this thread? Now count that up and divide by the number of rangers sold. Thats how “widespread” this issue is with regard to factual evidence, bud. You getting so defensive tells me all that I need to know lol. I said what I said because you are just blabbering nonsensical information and your hypothesis to people who just bought a new truck and are going to lose their ass on it when they trade it in after reading your fear mongering. Enjoy panicking and worrying about a “problem” that hasn’t actually caused any problems.

There's a poll on this forum that is loaded with people who have got real test results. These are people who just decided to test their oil and post the results, not just people who have rising oil levels in their crankcase or fuel smell on their dipstick. Because there are results from everyone, and there are lot of entries, there is enough there to see that it is actually a widespread issue, and we actually have enough data to see a bell curve for fuel dilution percentage numbers.

I admit that it does suck for happy Ranger owners to come in here and read about this and get that sinking feeling in their stomach. I can imagine how all those Honda CR-V owners felt.

But if you read into the data it's probably not all as bad as it seems. It's just not good if you are one of the guys who is falling into the really high dilution column. Like for example the above 5% crowd.

 

[Metalshift]

There's a poll on this forum that is loaded with people who have got real test results. These are people who just decided to test their oil and post the results, not just people who have rising oil levels in their crankcase or fuel smell on their dipstick. Because there are results from everyone, and there are lot of entries, there is enough there to see that it is actually a widespread issue, and we actually have enough data to see a bell curve for fuel dilution percentage numbers.

I admit that it does suck for happy Ranger owners to come in here and read about this and get that sinking feeling in their stomach. I can imagine how all those Honda CR-V owners felt.

But if you read into the data it's probably not all as bad as it seems. It's just not good if you are one of the guys who is falling into the really high dilution column. Like for example the above 5% crowd.

5% oil dilution is less than 300ml. Nothing to really be concerned with.

 

[Doc]

5% oil dilution is less than 300ml. Nothing to really be concerned with.

Any % fuel/oil dilution is bad...5%, change the oil ..

 

[SymChris]

For F’s sake, STOP IT. Did your truck die on you yet because of this? If yes, you can say you have an issue, otherwise F’N Sop it.

Close this dang thread, it’s making people think they have “issues” they don’t, until someone can prove it actually did something warranting a service trip.

Change your oil and other associated fluids that you think need changing (and I’m all for early fluid changes), and all should be good, unless you have that rare one that doesn’t play nice.

if you have a somewhat decent dealer/service garage (or are a decent DIY’er) than you just get’er done every 6 months or your preferred mileage.

I love this thread and all the info it brings, but jeepers….

/just venting….

P.S. (pre-edit) - I understand some of you brought your trucks in and had stuff done like HPFP’s and injectors so have at least got this fuel in oil thing raised with them (Ford) and in their database of things to look into….
L
My 2019 is a long-hauler for me. Not towing, just ownership and driving’er for 10+ years. Rust-proofing and 6 month checkups has worked well for me for years with various vehicles….. again , just venting….

 

[Doc]

For F’s sake, STOP IT. Did your truck die on you yet because of this? If yes, you can say you have an issue, otherwise F’N Sop it.

Close this dang thread, it’s making people think they have “issues” they don’t, until someone can prove it actually did something warranting a service trip.

Change your oil and other associated fluids that you think need changing (and I’m all for early fluid changes), and all should be good, unless you have that rare one that doesn’t play nice.

if you have a somewhat decent dealer/service garage (or are a decent DIY’er) than you just get’er done every 6 months or your preferred mileage.

I love this thread and all the info it brings, but jeepers….

/just venting….

P.S. (pre-edit) - I understand some of you brought your trucks in and had stuff done like HPFP’s and injectors so have at least got this fuel in oil thing raised with them (Ford) and in their database of things to look into….
L
My 2019 is a long-hauler for me. Not towing, just ownership and driving’er for 10+ years. Rust-proofing and 6 month checkups has worked well for me for years with various vehicles….. again , just venting….

How do you really feel ?

 

[MotoWojo]

For F’s sake, STOP IT. Did your truck die on you yet because of this? If yes, you can say you have an issue, otherwise F’N Sop it.

Close this dang thread, it’s making people think they have “issues” they don’t, until someone can prove it actually did something warranting a service trip.

Change your oil and other associated fluids that you think need changing (and I’m all for early fluid changes), and all should be good, unless you have that rare one that doesn’t play nice.

if you have a somewhat decent dealer/service garage (or are a decent DIY’er) than you just get’er done every 6 months or your preferred mileage.

I love this thread and all the info it brings, but jeepers….

/just venting….

P.S. (pre-edit) - I understand some of you brought your trucks in and had stuff done like HPFP’s and injectors so have at least got this fuel in oil thing raised with them (Ford) and in their database of things to look into….
L
My 2019 is a long-hauler for me. Not towing, just ownership and driving’er for 10+ years. Rust-proofing and 6 month checkups has worked well for me for years with various vehicles….. again , just venting….

I have 12% fuel dilution in 500 miles. Multiple oil samples over a year, all taken and sent out by the dealer. Please tell me what you would do? Does that warrant a service trip?

 

[Samsquanch]

So how did the level on my dipstick rise on its own over 1000 miles of driving? By magic? Are the holes in the dipstick moving around on their own when we sleep at night? Are all the oil analysis reports posted throughout the thread just photo shops? Please enlighten us all. I feel like this thread is threatening your enjoyment of your truck and I don’t know why. If you don’t have fuel dilution then keep on enjoying your truck and move on. This is a technical concern. If that sort of thing bothers you or isn’t in your wheelhouse you don’t need to participate but please don’t come try to blow the thread up. I happen to love the truck and think this is a solvable issue that will get resolved at some point. Coming here posting about it as a source of information shouldn’t bother anyone.

Pointing to the dealership who supposedly smelled my dipstick and said “nope there’s no fuel here!” As evidence the issue doesn’t exist is almost embarrassing bud. The point of me relating that was to show that they didn’t really even look into it very hard when I dropped the truck off and only after I let them know through technical means that I wasn’t going to take a simple “nope she’s fine” as an answer did they make a more serious attempt and documenting the issue.

For F’s sake, STOP IT. Did your truck die on you yet because of this? If yes, you can say you have an issue, otherwise F’N Sop it.

Close this dang thread, it’s making people think they have “issues” they don’t, until someone can prove it actually did something warranting a service trip.

Change your oil and other associated fluids that you think need changing (and I’m all for early fluid changes), and all should be good, unless you have that rare one that doesn’t play nice.

if you have a somewhat decent dealer/service garage (or are a decent DIY’er) than you just get’er done every 6 months or your preferred mileage.

I love this thread and all the info it brings, but jeepers….

/just venting….

P.S. (pre-edit) - I understand some of you brought your trucks in and had stuff done like HPFP’s and injectors so have at least got this fuel in oil thing raised with them (Ford) and in their database of things to look into….
L
My 2019 is a long-hauler for me. Not towing, just ownership and driving’er for 10+ years. Rust-proofing and 6 month checkups has worked well for me for years with various vehicles….. again , just venting….

Why should you want to control what other people talk about in a technical thread? I really don’t understand this sudden turn in this discussion but if anything the thread should remain open and put back on topic.

Nothing we’re discussing is outside the forum rules and it’s not stopping anyone from enjoying the ranger or this forum unless they chose to come into the thread and try to derail it. The argument that we have to start waiting for engines to blow up before we can discuss this is fully ridiculous. This ain’t an issue that if it goes on forever might amount to minor repairs and changing parts it could end up being a rebuild your talking about. This is the lubrication system for the engine not an issue with the radio. Lots of very talented engineers and engine builders have discussed fuel dilution ad nauseam in engine building forums and oil forums (yes there’s literally friggen oil forums out there) for literally years. It’s well understood that you do not want high levels of fuel in your oil. Why do you think there’s even labs that test for this stuff? You can chose to believe it’s not an issue all you want no one is asking anyone to do anything they don’t wanna do with their truck. Several folks in the thread have reportedly had their issue fixed so the thread has utility for anyone who may come here and search for this issue.

Now back to the topic at hand...

This is straight from black stone labs:

 

[N. J. Jim]

I have 12% fuel dilution in 500 miles. Multiple oil samples over a year, all taken and sent out by the dealer. Please tell me what you would do? Does that warrant a service trip?

I guess we're all automotive hypochondriacs!!!

 

[Doc]

I have 12% fuel dilution in 500 miles. Multiple oil samples over a year, all taken and sent out by the dealer. Please tell me what you would do? Does that warrant a service trip?

You are over 500 miles
Break it in hard, run it in third gear from 3000 to 5000 rpms up and down,
and repeat, change the oil first , get it hot then seat the rings. Don’t bog a cold engine..change it again at 1000 miles...send a sample..if that doesn’t work, then explore all the suggested alternatives...
Regards
Doc
JMHO ..

 

[SymChris]

I have 12% fuel dilution in 500 miles. Multiple oil samples over a year, all taken and sent out by the dealer. Please tell me what you would do? Does that warrant a service trip?

As I mentioned, there will be the rare ones (and I was actually thinking about your case), but again, how are things going with your Ranger otherwise? All good? Have you broken down on the side of the road yet?

Or is your truck still in the shop because of something that "may" be a problem in the distant future?

This is all I'm trying to get at with my response above. There seems to be a lot of sounding-off/alarmist posts about a "maybe" something... but it's all science that we can work with. Of course a catch-can would cure all, but you can't put that in every vehicle because 95% (or more?) of us wouldn't even know it was there/what to do with it. These are the natures of this beast. Of course we can deal with it, but there is no way it's a "sky is falling" scenario like some would like to think it is...

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