F150online Forums - How often to change oil?

F150online Forums (https://www.f150online.com/forums/)

- 2004 - 2008 F-150 (https://www.f150online.com/forums/2004-2008-f-150-80/)

- - How often to change oil? (https://www.f150online.com/forums/2004-2008-f-150/440916-how-often-change-oil.html)

Same, I usually get the 5000 mile exemption

Quote:

Originally Posted by 88racing (Post 4492792)

Amsoil 0w-20 with their filter.....
I change oil only once a year but the truck only averages 6k-8k miles a year....

JMHO.....

^^^ x2

I usually have 600 or 700 miles on mine when I change it at 90 days. I do a lot of short trips, it's 2 1/2 miles to work, and that's really, really hard on the engine. I always used Motorcraft oil and filters but last couple of times I used Mobil 1. I think I'll go back to Motorcraft. It's good oil. My only problem with Motorcraft is that it such a light color, I can't see it on the dipstick when I check it. :)

you change your oil every 900 miles?

Quote:

Synthetic is just better for the engine in general

Go ahead and keep believing that. The Motorcraft semi-synthetic is as good as most "synthetics" and costs a fraction of the price.

I wouldn't put standard Mobil 1 in my lawnmower, much less my truck. However, I do use Mobil 1 "EP" with a Mobil 1 filter and change it about every 10k. If I were going to change every 5k, I'd use the Motorcraft oil and filter.

we cant forget too that the change your oil x amount of miles or x amount of months holds true either. how does oil in an oil pan age faster than oil on the shelf in a bottle?

F150:
6 quarts of Motorcraft 5w-20
1 Motorcraft FL820S Oil Filter

Usually try to get around 5000 miles between. I did skip one at 35k, but have done every other one.

Ford recommends that you change the oil/filter at least every 7500 miles.

F250:
Haven't changed it yet, the truck has gained maybe 500 miles since I bought it 2 years ago. It spends most of the time parked. Only time I do run it is if my F150 is in the shop or there's snow that needs to be plowed.

I'll probably change it some time this summer.

why do you run 6 quarts, its 7 isnt it?

Quote:

Originally Posted by fivespeedsteed (Post 4492935)

you change your oil every 900 miles?

Yup! When the engine is cold, the pistons don't fit the cylinders as well as when they're hot. This allows a small amount of blowby to go down into the oil pan. This blowby contains a small amount of sulfur which, combined with the condensation results in surfuric acid in the oil. Although the oil has additives to counteract this, the many starts and very short drives don't allow the condensation to properly dry out and the oil additives rapidly disperse.

I drive 2 1/2 miles to work. Another 2 1/2 miles and I'm home. After working/driving 12 hours, I'm not too anxious to go anywhere else. With temperatures in the single digits above or below, I need to take my truck for a ride every two weeks or so to get the white sludge off the oil fill cap, and the rest of the poor engine.

Yeas ago, I got a 40 Merc that had been rebuilt, run for 500 miles and put in the barn for 10 years or so. Without an oil change after only 500 miles. The acid in the crankcase actually ate holes in the bearings! Ruined the whole engine!

Yup! I change my oil every 90 days unless it was changed and the truck not run. That's why the owners manual states 3000 miles or 90 days.

Quote:

Originally Posted by fivespeedsteed (Post 4493121)

why do you run 6 quarts, its 7 isnt it?

4.6 2v=6.0 quarts
5.4 3v=7.0 quarts

oh sorry, thought it was a 5.4

I have used only Mobile 1 Syn since I got the truck and I change it every 5 000km I use a ford filter but have used others a few times for convenience.
when i dump my oil its still clean, to me that means the likely hood of less future problems. My buddy has the same exact truck with **** oil every 5000 if its lucky and his truck is a gutless pig compared to mine and harder on fuel.
wait another 5 years and see my my truck will be going strong at 300 000+ and he will have a new one.

Heck I change mine every 2,000 with Motorcraft 5-20 and FL-820 :lol:

I use to be really good at changing the oil every 5k km with good synthetic oil...
Then, I realized that over the years, every time I got rid of a truck it was because of worn suspensions and rusty bodies.
My intervals have widened significantly since that realization.

That may not be as true in the snow (re:salt) free states, but up here the salt eats the bodies well before engines ever need work.

I also lease a car, and saw that extended performance stuff from Mobil 1 on sale when the car was due. As long as it looks ok for the duration, I'll be leaving it in for 20k km as advertised.
If it looks ok on the way out after 20K, my f-150 will be getting the same.