Mixed Oils/Wts, 6095 miles, 92 Aerostar 3.0 V6

[TallPaul]

1992 Aerostar 3.0 V6 128,835 miles.
Sample was at end of 6095 mile, 8 month OCI.
Was about 1 quart low at end of OCI and took 4 qts makeup oil.

Iron 16
Chromium 1
Nickel 1
Aluminum 7
Lead 8
Copper 19
Tin Silver Titanium Silicon 12
Boron 20
Sodium 16
Potassium Molybdenum 29
Phosphorus 1300
Zinc 1466
Calcium 3401
Barium Magnesium 27
Antimony Vanadium Fuel % Water % 100C Vis 13.8 cSt
Glycol negative

Initial fill: 4.5 qts Maxlife Blend SL 10w30 with 8 oz SLOB.

SLOB: 28 cSt, 4700 zinc, 4300 phos, 7800 calcium by VOA

Make Up oil (not in this order):

Maxlife Blend 10w30: 9 oz
Maxlife Blend 10w40: 32 oz
Valvoline 20W: 16 oz
Valvoline VR1 SAE 60: 26 oz
Durablend 10w40: 7 oz
Quaker State Blend 10w30: 16 oz
Quaker State Blend 10w40: 12 oz
Kendal SAE 50: 5 oz
Schaeffer’s Neutra 131: 10 oz

 

[Taylor]

do you have a leak?

 

[TallPaul]

Originally Posted By: Taylor
do you have a leak?
No, she doesn't put a single drop on the pavement. Somehow it uses a quart about every 1300 miles, but no blue smoke and the engine is not lacking power. Been this way ever since we got it at 27000 miles in '95.

 

[jorton]

How is fuel economy? Fuel dilution will cause excessive consumption. Is your mpg about the same as other 92 Aerostars? If not, check fuel pressure regulator. It may not be sending gas back to the tank when fp is high.

 

[SubieHo]

Have you checked your PCV valve? It may be stuck open.

 

[TallPaul]

PCV valve was changed regularly (43, 74, 94, 105, and 126 thousand miles). Also no gunk under filler cap (albeit on cap on top of long tube) or on dipstick.

Gets 17.5 mpg now with my lead foot. Seems once got closer to 19 but that may have been more freeway.

 

[Jaymus]

GC for all your consumption troubles ;-)

 

[demarpaint]

Originally Posted By: TallPaul
PCV valve was changed regularly (43, 74, 94, 105, and 126 thousand miles). Also no gunk under filler cap (albeit on cap on top of long tube) or on dipstick.

Gets 17.5 mpg now with my lead foot. Seems once got closer to 19 but that may have been more freeway.


My 93 uses about 1/2 qt in about 1700 miles with 163,000 on the clock. I use 5w30 and 6 oz VSOT, then the last 500 miles of the OCI I put 16 oz MMO to clean things up.

I am in the A-Rx rinse phase with hopes of cutting that number to 1/2 qt in 3000 miles. No additives used with the A-Rx clean or rinse phases. Gas mileage on the highway was about 24-26 mpg, city driving is about 17 mpg. But we drive with a very light foot.

I plan on trying Yellow Bottle 5W-20 since it appears to have been back Spec'd for 5W-20.

HTH,
Frank D

 

[TallPaul]

Interesting demarpaint. I know most Aeros get better oil mileage. My 17.5 mpg is mixd freeway city. But I do have a lead foot.

Jaymus, I don't think GC would help. Even a run of Redline didn't help.

 

[demarpaint]

My highway figures are just that, gas up get on the highway and no traffic what so ever. The city number is, around town stop and go, on and off, etc. The mixed driving figure would be IIRC about 20 mpg.

I will say the little 3.0 is one tough engine, probably one of the best Ford built.

Have you tried 5W-20? I've been reading on this board that the thinner oils have reduced consumption in some cases. I have about 2200 miles to go and I will be trying it.

JMO,

Frank D

 

[TallPaul]

The Redline was 5w20. All else I have run in it has been 10w30 with some 10w40 addes. The analyzed brew was a bit thick at 13.8 cSt. Seemed to make it work harder. Current brew is about 11.8 cSt.

Yeah, that 3.0 Vulcan pushrod engine is pretty near bullet proof. Mine will wind to about 5700 rpm pedal to the metal in first gear.

Oh, another bit of info on this 3.0: I am running 93 octane to prevent pinging. I struggled with the pinging for a few years. Tried water injection to blast out carbon, tried Italian Tuneup. Still pinging. Finally retarded to 4 degrees BTDC (spec is 10 degrees) and could run 87 octane, but then the acceleration an fuel mileage were retarded. So I decided to put it back, actually now at 11 BTDC. Runs pretty good.

 

[demarpaint]

I must be lucky, no pinging problems either. I could probably [censored] in the tank and it would run. I am due for a major tune up though. I had it in for an inspection and asked the mechanic if he thought it needed a tune up and he told me no, so I left it alone. The tune up is something I am not looking forward to doing.

Frank D

 

[TallPaul]

I won't do the plugs, well a couple are okay to get to, but no fun. Did wires once and took me a couple hours. Cap and rotor are piece of cake though. Love this van, just wish the transmission were less finicky. Oh man, a stick shift would be a blast in this thing, but then so would a 300 cid inline six, or better yet a built 302 V8!

 

[oldmaninsc]

Have you cleaned the MAF sensor? My 95 Aerostar will only ping and get poor MPG when the MAF sensor gets dirty. It doesn't take much dirt. It's about a 10 minute job to clean it and it makes a huge difference. I use only 87 octane - regardless of if I drive in the desert or along the ocean.
Of course I have the 4.0 instead of your 3.0 My 4.0 still does not use more than 1/2 quart of oil in about 3-5K miles.

A close friend has an 87 with the 3.0 The body looks really bad, but it keeps running. I'm not sure how many miles it has - I'm sure at least 150K or more.

 

[TallPaul]

First I have to figure out where the MAF sensor is. There is some wiring to something just upstream end of airbox, then elsewhere some thing near the throttle body. Which is MAF?

 

[OVERKILL]

It's the one closest to the airbox. It has two heated elements that tend to accumulate build-up over time. They are EXTREMELY fragile, so be sure not to break them.

 

[TallPaul]

Okay, perhaps CRC electronic contact cleaner (leaves no residue) and just hose them good, or maybe gently wipe with CRC soaked Q-tip. I see if the Haynes or Chilton has advice.

 

[oldmaninsc]

I myself just spray them and let it dry for a few minutes. I wouldn't wipe them with anything - like was mentioned they are very delicate.

I think CRC does make a MAF cleaner spray. I have used brake cleaner in the past (the one that doesn't leave a residue) and it worked great.

 

[chevrofreak]

Have you considered putting an oil separator in the PCV line to see if that's where the oil is going?

If that much oil is being burned, I bet your pistons look pretty nasty.

 

[Hermann]

Tall Paul,

If that is the 3.0l Vulcan V-6 this oil usage is not surprising. Have had two Taurus with that engine. Both a '96 and a '94 both used a Qt every 1500 or so, from day one till I got rid of them. My mom's 2000 Taurus also uses about that amount. They are a reliable motor, but a bit thirsty. Just like yours no drips, no smoke. It must just go to oil heaven. I always changed every 3K so I just added 1 qt mid OCI and changed it when it needed the second qt.