I've got a 2000 Windstar with a 3.8L engine. This 3.8 has always used some oil, but whenever I drive 65+ mph for any distance, then shut the engine off and wait about 20 minutes and restart, a cloud of blue/white smoke rolls out of the tail pipe. It's using about a quart of oil in 500 - 600 miles with highway driving. I don't really notice any puff of blue or white when starting up with daily local city driving. Have thought maybe this engine needs valve stem seals, but then someone else mentioned needing rings or a complete valve job. Anybody out there have any ideas?

 

There were some issues with oil getting sucked into the intake manifold. Not sure whether it was through the PCV system or some other way. Possibly someone with more knowledge can clarify this. In the meantime it wouldn't hurt to check the PCV system and throttle body for clues to confirm .

 

Just had the PCV valve replaced along with the Upper Intake mainifold gasket and the EGR.

This is very frustrating to me, cause many tell me that oil is cheap and just keep adding oil and don't worry about it.