i have 14000 miles and was thinking of changing to synthetic oil any opinions? thanks

 

Go for it. Thats my plan on my first oil change

 

Paint...just for a change, let's hear your rationale for changing to synthetic.

 

I switched to synthetic and saw a mpg increase.

 

Run whatever you want with the latest API ratings from a (preferably) reputable brand, change it regularly and sleep well at night. I run Motorcraft bulk semi-synthetic 5W20 and 820S filters. If it's from a known name and it's changed regularly, I don't see any benefits from conventional, semi synthetics or full synthetics.

 

Just don't change to old style oil. The Motorcraft blend is very fine oil, but it won't hurt anything but your pocket book to go to Mobil 1.
Beware getting an oil you can't find in a strange city, unless you never 'road the truck' or are the kind that packrats a couple of quarts along on trips.
Chris

 

thanks for the info. i have heard so many people saying the synthetic oil was the only way to go

 

i switched to Amsoil at 2500 miles. 0w-30

 

My last two trucks had a combined 350K miles and neither one ever burned any oil. A very simple regimen of changing my oil every 5K miles using plain old dino oil and *GASP* the dreaded FRAM oil filters! My '88 F150 was traded with over 200K and my '94 Ranger runs perfectly at 141K with no oil consumption.

My modular Triton 5.4 motor is getting the recommended 5w-20 (NAPA brand, bottled by Valvoline) because it's a reputable brand at a reasonable cost. I have nothing against synthetics, but I just cannot see any worthwhile benefit from their use. The extra cost will get me what? I'm already getting 200K miles with no oil burning. If I use synthetics, my oil cost doubles (or more) and my consumption WILL go up.

Oh yeah, all those guys talking up synthetics rarely will admit that they regularly burn a quart of oil every 5K miles.

 

RockyJSquirrel, you lost me.

Why do you say they burn oil with the synth oil? Mobil one is all I ever used in my 92 Eldo from the second oil change. 112k miles when I sold it, never used a drop. Never used a drop in my vette, 80k miles before I sold it. My partners LT1 vette came from the factory with Mobile one, we've stomped it for 12 years now, and with 155k, it still doesn't use a drop. Never has.

My wife's Northstar has about 30k miles on it, but again, has never used any oil. It's had Mobil 1 since the third oil change.
The first two were by the dealer, and they claimed to be putting in mobile 1, but who knows.

I am a fan of the Motorcraft blend oil, so as long as I can get it for a decent price, I will use it.

I would probably jump to Mobil one, but the difference isn't worth the price.


Now, using Mobile one or any of the thin synthetics can sure exacerbate an oil leak. Nothing escapes a motor like synthetic...
Chris

 

I have got 9,xxx miles on the Mobile 1 in my truck right now and it is at the same level it was when I put it in. In fact I have been running synthetic for the last 12 years in everything I have owned (changed it at around 12,000 miles) and have NEVER EVER had a car or truck that would need oil added between changes. SO I hate to tell you but your info is a little off.

 

I was under the impression that only high performance engines needed synthetic oil. I'm not aware that the 5.4 is a high performance engine. For every litre you should have around 100 HP...thats an ideal scenario usually never met, but should be close to that, within 75 HP. We're no where near that range thus it is also a low cost truck motor, not a porshe or bmw or mercedes motor.

 

RJS,

Remain calm while reading this please.

OK, you can't see any benefits from using synthetic oil? Hmmm, seems you don't know much about oil.

Your consumption WILL go up? Why? Mine never has. Anybody else?

Burn a quart every 5K miles huh? You have now convinced me that you absolutely DO NOT know what you're talking about.

PaintMD: Please disregard RJS. He clearly either had an isolated negative experience, or is buying his cigarettes from a guy named Bongmaster Bill (and isn't sharing with others). Synthetic oil IS the way to go for anything that uses oil. It beats the pants off petro crud hands down in every single area. The only negative--if it is one-- is initial cost.

SL

 

How much will a synthetic oil change run you on these trucks? Like I said earlier though I'm not sure our engines really need it though.

 

You pay for what you get. You buy cheap oil, you get cheap oil. You pay 20bucks for an oil change everytime you change your oil on a 30k+ truck, thats lowballing your motor.