2000 Ford Windstar

WEASELGIR

MEMBER
2000 FORD WINDSTAR
6 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
120,000 MILES

My Windstar has a rough idle. After a tuneup and oil change, I find every few days I am short about 1/2 - 1 qt oil. No leak on the garage floor, no oil underneath the engine, no sign of smoke out of the tail pipe. I put in 1/2 - 1 quarts of oil each week or so.

I've had the shop look at it; they me they get "lean" codes on the diagnostic machine. One guy says a valve cover kit will fix the problem.

I don't know what to do. If I have the valve cover kit put on and it isn't the problem, I'm out $400 and I'm still burning oil.

Any suggestions?

1 Reply

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
109,755 POSTS

That is a lot of oil to go through weekly. If the valve cover gaskets are leaking that much, I would think you would see the leak on the floor or smoke when you shut the car off. If you see no oil leaks, and nothing is coming from the exhaust, check the coolant to make sure there isn't oil getting into it through an intake leak. Also, when you changed the oil, it can be easy to "double gasket" the oil filter. This happens when the old filter is removed and the old gasket sticks in place. When you replace the new filter, there are two gaskets that can cause a bad leak. But again, I would think you would see that. Give it a check regardless. Also, when you shut the engine and it is hot, open the hood to see if there is any smoke from oil burning on the engine.

Let me know what you find.
Joe