Synthetic or not synthetic. What type of oil do you use and suggest?

 

Not again. J/K
I use:
Mobil 1 full syn
motorcraft filter

 

Amsoil Fully Synthetic XL 5W20

Youre going to get alot of replies on this... or you could just do a search.
This will be one of the few questions that will pop up again and again every week.

 

Youre going to get alot of guys telling you the good things about using synthetic and then the guys that say its no different as long as its changed at 3500-5000 miles. And then some will say the cost is the only difference...
Its really upto you and whether or not you want to spend a few extra bucks.
Good luck

 

I have a 180K on my '01 5.4, using Valvoline Durablend. Tail pipe is still clean, engine uses very little oil. I am in San Antonio, and its hot down here most of the year so I run 10w-30 in spring, summer, and fall, and 5w-30 for a few months in the winter.

I try to change oil every 3K, occasionally going up to 4K. Truck has never been in a shop, but I have done about eight brake jobs, changed front rotors once, rears are still original but I do have new rear rotors in garage to be installed soon. Changed plugs several times, change trans oil/filter apprx 30K. Truck is still running on original equip including serpentine belt, all hoses, except for ball joints.

 

As posted above....depends. If you are an avg Joe Synthetic has little advantage unless you extend oil change intervals. If you are going to change every 3-5K anyways and aren't towing or live in extreme temp areas....probably a waste. But if you want to go 5K + between changes, tow a lot or live in a very hot or cold area it may have "some" advantages.... at a price.

 

I've used castrol for 26 years, change around 5,000 and have never had an oil-related failure in a vehicle. Some guys swear by the syn and it may be the way to go, but for me, I'd rather save the money and run what I've run all this time.
Rich

 

Valvoline SynPower 5w20 for gas and 30 for diesel

Don't know if it makes that big of a difference, but it gives me the warm and fuzzies and I have 983K on my '83 so I'm not changing anything.

 

If you read this forum much it appears EGR passage deposits are a problem with the 4.6L engine. My 1997 4.6L has never had any deposit in the EGR passages and it has 162,000 mi. I have used Mobil 1 since I bought the truck in 1998. Is Mobil 1 the reason for no deposits? maybe.

I use MC 5w20 blend in my 01 Cobra. Biggest reason was in 2001 it was hard to find any 5w20 in dino, syn or blend. Autozone started carrying the MC oil so that is what I use in the Cobra. I live in Phoenix and the Cobra hasn't blown up yet in 45,000 miles.

Synthetics and blends do not form as many deposits as dino oil and exprience less breakdown at elevated temperature. This is a fact. In Phoenix its nice to know that you have that extra margin against breakdoown and deposit formation.

 

Amsoil lube & filters on all our vehicles for years.

 

I owned an '85 ranger for about 10 years, put 136,000 on it using Motorcraft 10W40 and never had any engine problems going between 3-4k on oil changes.

I just sold my '95 mustang, drove it for 12 years and put 148,000 on it using Mobile 1 full synthetic 5W30 at 6K on oil changes, no engine problems.

I have been using Mobile 1 full synthetic in my Jeep Grand Cherokee for the past 4 years, no problems as of yet.

I just bought my '04 F-150, and today I am at the Auto store in front of the oil shelf trying to decide on what brand / type of oil I'm going to use in this truck.
I see the Motorcraft 5W20 for $2.59 a quart, MC filters are $3.69 each. I do the math and it's less than $20 for the oil change. Manual says you can go 5000 miles between changes with this oil.
Mobile 1 5W20 is $5.99 a quart, filters are $9.85 each. (if your going first class on the oil why skimp on the filter?) Do the math and it's roughly $46.00 for the oil change. My experience with synthetic has always been 6-7k between changes.

I'm standing there trying to remember why I started using synthetic in my vehicles in the first place. I never really had any bad experiences with the motorcraft oil in my ranger (my very first new truck) that little 4 cylinder ran like a top all they way up until I sold it. I think it just turned out that later in my life I could afford the higher priced oils and thought somehow they just had to be better. But really I don't have any proof.

Personally I am sick of the $50 oil changes, I left the store with the Motorcraft oil and filter and $26 extra dollars in my pocket.