I also change my manual transmission and rear-end fluid every 30,000 miles, oil and oil filter every 3,000 miles, fuel filter every 10,000 miles, rotate the tires every 5,000 miles, plugs and plug wires will get changed at 60,000 miles (unless there is a problem with them before), flush the radiator every year, new power steering fluid (flush) and brake fluid flush every 2 years.

The is probably a few other things I am forgetting but none of the above means I will get better mileage out of my truck, however it gives me more advantage of my truck lasting longer then someone that may not do much maintenance to their truck. Its not a guarantee just much better odds.

Preventative maintenance is just that, it “hopefully” prevents something from happening even though everything seems fine. Once something happens and needs repair it is that repair and usually more costly then routine maintenance. Repairs do not offer the same advantage of the truck lasting longer before more repairs are needed.

Pay a little now, or pay a lot later…

 

Hello Sport,

I have read Mike's posts in the past. I don't ever go in chips forum. Chips are a low value item to me in my 6000 lb normally aspirated truck. It will still be slow even with a chip, but it will require fuel that cost 10-20% more. If you are talking putting one into a super charged or turbo application, that is a different story.

Please do not forget what Mike does for a living. He is in sales. He makes a living selling himself and his product. I know he is now supporting this forum as an advertiser. I have nothing bad to say about him, but keep in mind he is selling himself and his products here.

I can tell you from experience that O2's typically last more than 60,000 miles. I had 3x those miles before I changed my first one and 4X that before I changed the second. Performance and fuel mileage (typically 15 mpg around town and 19mpg at a steady 75 mph cruise) have always been fine. Fuel mileage, performance, and emissions are all very closely related. You can't mess one up without affecting the others.

It is your money and your truck. Do what you feel is right. I don't expect to convince anyone that I'm correct, but I've thought about it, done some research, and put lots of miles on my truck. I'm doing what is right for me and trying to get others to think about it also

Changing fluid is normal maintenance. IMO changing the O2's is like changing the headlights for maintenance. Some go out right away, most last quite a while, and some last the life of the truck.

 

You make some very valid points. However, even though I do “not” have the chip I will say from all the post I have read even the V6 that the chip is the biggest bang for the buck on our 5,000 – 6,000 pound trucks. I think on the V6 you get somewhere around 20 – 25hp and 25ftpd of torque. 20hp - 25hp gain on a 202hp motor is a little more then 10% gain.

 

I'm not running a commercial for Mike T., but he does NOT sell O2 sensors. His explanation was that O2 sensors were maintenance items. He chose not to sell normal maintenance items.

It seems to me that we have the classic apples/oranges debate here. For those running stock or nearly stock motors why would one change a part that hasn't completely failed. Particularly when those parts sell for $60+.

Now for those who want to keep their F-150s in "a sharp state of tune" (MIke T.'s words), then one would want to consider changing their upstream sensors around every 40k miles.
I changed my sensors on my heavily modded motor at 40k miles and honestly noted no change at all. I suspect most of the improvement could only be noted on a tuner's computer screen. Since O2 sensors are mass produced like other auto parts, it is possible that a NEW O2 sensor would not be up to spec -- not a pleasant thought at $60+ each!!

I only can comment that O2 sensors operate in a very harsh environment. Common sense tells us that O2 sensors have to degrade after 30-40 thousand miles of enduring hot corrosive exhaust. Of course degrade doesn't mean fail. Perhaps a poor comparison could be drawn to spark plugs. Clearly most drivers do not wait until plugs fail before they replace them. And most drivers would not replace only one plug, but all eight. Of course you can normally feel and hear the engine performance improvement after a fresh set of plugs. If plugs cost $60 each, drivers probably wouldn't change them very often.

I would think that most here would agree that if a driver was concerned enough to change O2 sensors, then he is probably doing all other recommended maintenance, and that F-150 will likely last a good long time.

 

Very interesting debate that in the past I remained out of. But... Bent6 spiked my curiosity about the O2 sensors. Check out http://www.boschusa.com/AutoOrigEqui...xhaustSensors/
Look at the LSF4 sensor. The service life is 150,000km. That is 90,000 miles. Draw your own conclusions.

regards

Jean Marc Chartier

 

Careful - if you actually check the specs under the sensors under production, it says 160,000 km, which is approximately 100,000 miles.

Also, service life is not listed as 160,000 km, it is listed as GREATER than 160,000 km. A significant difference.

Kind of like Ford's Durability targets on the Triton motors is 150,000 miles. They don't give up and die there, many last much longer, but statistically, that is the durability target.

I look at it this way: If my 02 sensor fails, what is the result: Engine computer operates in closed loop mode, and ignores the 02 sensor input. Is it still drivable? Yes. Will it kill anything? Maybe the cat if driven that way a very long time. My fuel econmy goes down until I fix it.

Life or death preventative maintinance? Not exactly...

 

JMC

Always good to get your input. Not to change the subject, but how do you like your header / cat back combination. In particular, why did you choose that combination? Just curious. I'm running JBA headers and Borla cat back myself.

 

When the Borla first came out it was dynoed at 12 hp increase on a 4.6. It was also the 2nd ever exhaust system to come out for the triton V8s. Gibson was the first. I got a deal and I liked the warranty. As for the headers I got them from Neal the HP freak. They are ported, gasket matched and Jet black ceramic coated. I got them for a steal. Shhhh, don't tell Neal I have them....

JMC