Hello All!

This is my first post ever; I am assigned here in Manila Philippines as a computer programmer.

I've been here for 3 years and bought my first truck here last year, a sweet 2003 F150 Screw Lariat 4x4.

The recommended severe oil change interval here in the Philippines for F150s and Expeditions are for every 10,000 kilometers or 6,213 miles! This is considered a frequent oil change interval here, and wondering if this is too long???

They also spec 5W/20 in the Philippines, and it is seriously hot and humid here, kind of like Texas and Florida in the summertime combined. Maybe I should switch to 5W/30 or even 10W/30???

Any advice to this relatively new F150 owner across the pond would be appreciated!

 

Welcome ! That's not a frequent oil change here. Manuals here say 5,000 miles and 3,000 miles for severe usage. I change mine at 4,000 with synthetic Mobil 1. There was a previous post here that tested this oil at several intervals and found it was performing well at over 10,000 miles. Newer Fords require 5W20 now to meet certain standards, but the same engines were designed to use 5W30. You'll be fine with either in any climate. Another post here by an engineer stated that after both weights degrade, that the 5W30 performed closer to what was required. Oil is a constantly debated topic here and you can "search" out 100's of opinions about it. Good Luck !

 

Change mine out with Red Line Synthetic every 5,000 miles, no more.

Especially with the 5W20 I wouldn't go past 3,000 miles.

Personally, I use 5W30.

 

Do they use the same engines there as they use here?

If so, I dont see why they would recommend different oil change intervals like that.

 

I change mine every 4-5000 miles using regular oil, no frills no problems and never have for the 35 years i've been driving. OIL BE OIL.

 

My brother was working in the Philippines not too long ago, and just brought his truck back a few months ago.
The 4.6L SOHC V8 is the only V8 available for Ford cars in the Philippines. After reading his service manual, it does state 10,000 kilometers under severe service schedule, so that is 6,213 miles!!!

I guess the 3,000 mile oil change is not ingrained in the Philippines like it is in the U.S., and Ford apparently has adjusted for it on its maintenance schedule. He said oil changes are cheap there, around $10 (oil/filter/wash), so I would just take it in more often.


Here is a link to Ford Philippines Corporate Page I found, check out the Ranger; it has a diesel there and some other cars I haven't seen before.

Ford Philippines Page

 

I lived in Guam for 10 years and all we ever used was 10W-30 and changed out every 3500 miles. Problem in Guam was that it being so small, you never really got the engine to run at operating temps for a long time, so the oil wouldn't last as long. I'd use a good synthetic or a good diesel oil rated CH-4. They have a lot more additives and will hold up longer in that harsh environment. M1-5W-30 has held up well in the hot summer months here in Oklahoma, but low humidity. I'd go with M1 10W-30 and run it about 4K miles or so, or at least every 6 months. Moisture is going to be your biggest fight.