I just bought a 2000 f150 4.6, 4x4 40000 miles. When I change the oil I am thinking about using synthetic. Any experiences or opinions as to the pros and cons? Also what brand?
Thanks Bill

 

Castrol GTX Sythetic has done me good. I have run it in my 84 SVO since I bought it back in 97. Before that it was ran on strictly Mobil 1 sythetic. When I took the motor apart at 158k, I found that I really didn't need to take it apart. I should have just freshened up the head and the turbo. The cam didn't even have hardly any ware on it. I ended up re-using the stock cam because it looked so good. The motor is tight all because of how I and the previous owners treated it.

 

I have been using Mobil1 for about 15 years, it's good stuff. I currently own a 92 grand prix and it just broke 200K on the original motor & trans, I have been useing mobil1 since new. No leaks or oil burning, haven't replaced anything at all except normal maint items. I change the oil with filter (ac delco pf52) on a 5-7K mile interval, the transmission once a year (mobil1 atf), I put about 20-25K per year on the car. The inside of the motor is clean like new, no varnish or cooked oil build up, you can see inside from the oil fill cap. I follow the same oil change interval with my truck, it has about 105K on the clock, runs like new, no leaks, doesn't burn. I use amsoil in the transmission (4r70w). I chose amsoil because I couldn't find merconV synthetic and amsoil had it. It's worked great for 75K.

I am considering going to amsoil for the once a year oil change or 25K which ever comes first. Useing their oil filter you change it every 6months or 10-12K miles. So that's 2 filters per year and 6 qts. of oil. Our trucks would be 7 qts. of oil. The oil is about $6 per qt. and $11 per filter.

As for the cons, I don't think I could come up with any that would be real fact except for the price. I have heard of leaks in older engines when switched to synthetic, but I have done that too, and I never encountered leaks.

 

If you want to spend the money go Redline. Mobile 1 is just as good for a 5,000 mi. drain interv. I use Redline, and my father uses Mobile 1 Full synthetic. Synthetics are generally better in durability, esp. to heat, but who's going to get an engine over 400 degrees F?

You can't go wrong either way. Just what ever oil you choose, make sure you follow the drain interv.

good luck.


P.S. Chevron brand Supreme motor oil is great stuff, too.

 

used Mobile 1 in my 98 Expy , no problems in 53000 now (knock on wood) , looks clean inside best I can tell, change every 5000 miles. Its going to go in my 2002 F150 next oil change.

 

I've had Mobil1 in mine for a while now. When I first bought my truck, I went to synthetic on the very first oil change on the recommendation of a buddy who is a large truck mechanic. He swears by the stuff, says that the trucks he see's that have synthetic have way more miles on them than those that don't before needing to be overhauled.

But everyone seems to know of an exception to the rule. For example, another guy I know has a honda civic that he bought used, and the stupid car just won't die. He's got well over 350000 (215,000 mi) on that little sucker and he punishes it on a daily basis. He puts regular oil in there, and I don't think he even does it religiously at 5000 either. The damn body is going to rot away LONG before the engine goes !

I dunno, I want to believe that putting the 'good stuff' in there makes a difference, but jeez, if it only give me a few thousand at the end... I'm not sure it's worth the extra dough.

 

Yes, but a Honda is like comparing Apples to Oranges. Although some here on the board do not like Honda and Ricers, etc.... They are built a lot different than demestic motors. I was once told that the Japanese build their motors with a finer tolerance and there for they last longer due to less wear.
I'm not sure if this is true, but I do know from experience that a Nissan or a Honda will out last most domestics on average. Now not to say there are not domestics that don't go 300000+ miles, but on average a Honda will out last a domestic hands down for longevity.

BUT as far as running synthetic in our domestics, YES, this will extend the life of your car/truck and it does run cleaner and longer. I swear by it. No doubt in my mind at all.

 

I've been running synthetic since new. Started with Castrol Syntec until 1999. Then switched to Amsoil 0w30. I have since only changed my oil 1 time since then. Once in August of 2001 when I installed my by-pass system.

 

Hey and if u cant decide jus go in the middle. There are oils that are a synthetic and reg oil.. Half the price of synthetic, but still the protection. Valvoline and Castrol make them....Possibly more, i cant remember. There called like Durablends....

 

Here is a thought for you. Walmart carries a full synthetic 5w-30. Walmart informed me that it is produced by "Quaker State". The cost is less than 3$ a quart.

I tried the Penzoil synthetic, but my engine knocked so severly on cold mornings, that I tried the Super Tech synthetic. The cold start knock is gone and the cost wasn't tooo bad.

just my 2 cents....

 

From what I understand to be true Penzoil, Castrol and a few others are refined from a hydrocracking process and marketed as synthetics. In fact these are not authentic synthetics because they are originally refined from crude oil. In other words just a purer form. Mobile 1, Valvoline and the other $4 synthetics, on the other hand, are true synthetics, not derived from crude oil. If you want to get fancy, Redline and Amsoil use synthetic base stocks that can lubricate a modern jet turbine. So, there are many different grades and qualities of synthetic oil; hence, the price differences.