Hello there,

MY question is this.....


I have a 1999 Expedition that has 91K on it. I want to start using the synthetic oil from walmart (super tech). Is there anything special I need to do before making the switch?

MY BIGGEST QUESTION IS BELOW!

****Also will this synthetic oil allow me to go longer between oil changes?****

Wesley.

 

You might want to do an engine flush before the switch, probably be a good idea.

No, it will not allow you to go longer between oil changes because even though the oil may not be breaking down like conventional oil, it is still being diluted with upburned gas that gets past the piston rings,acid is building up in the motor and the filter isn't any better than before.

Here is what I do and I've had good luck with it.
When I ran conventional oil I changed the oil and filter at 3k.
With synthetic I run Mobil 1 and the motorcraft filter, I change the filter at 2500 and the filter and oil at 5k.

 

I have been using a 5000 mile change interval when using a full synthetic (and now with a syn-blend). 95% of my miles are highway. This means that the engine warms up to and remains within a normal temperature for 30 or more minutes. This can help to burn off condensation ect.

I contacted Walmart regarding the Super Tech oil. I was told that it is produced and bottled by Quaker State. My local Walmart has stopped carrying the 5-30w full synthetic so I have changed to the Valvoline 5-30w Blend. My personal opinion is that a good blend can give you the best of both worlds.

These are my opinions, I hope you find them useful.

Good luck

 

i've been runnin 10,000 mile changes and the oil still looks smells and even tastes the same as it did when i ran 3,000 mile intervals.i got tired of payin so much for mobil 1 and runnin 5,000 miles on it when everybody says you can run it longer so i tried,and its no different.i would NEVER run any other oil that long though,especially wal mart brand.

 

FWIW, it depends on the location in the nation as to who is the supplier of Wallys synthetic oil. Some is from Warren, Mobil/Exxon, Shell, or SafetyKleen. If you are buying in the newer blue bottle, it is from Mobil/Exxon. It is not the synthetic that you may think that it is. It is on all counts a Gp II+ and Gp III dino, the difference in the two is the Viscosity Index, otherwise the same science is employed. If you use it like any other dino, it will serve you well. It is not for extended oil changes and I wouldn't suggest running it over 5,000 miles. It does not have a healthy enough additive package for that. If you are wanting extended oil changes, you need to consider either Amzoil or Delvac 1. Both of those will give long service but you will need to have oil analysis run to ensure that the oil is not depleting its additive package. Most folks don't care to mess with the extended changes and resulting tracking required.

 

I`m getting mixed opinions about this!!

I guess then all I would be doing is wasting more money to buy the synthetic if I have to change it at the same intervals as the other?

Thanks for the info.

Wesley

P.S. I am in San Antonio texas if that helps with any other opinions!

 

I've heard this from someone that he has(for his car at least) Puts in Castrol Syntec and a top quality oil filter, then once every usual interval, replaces the oil filter and tops off the Syntec if needed, He can keep it like this from 9 months to a year without a total oil change. He has not had a problem with any of his cars, his cars are bigger engine cars as well.

I'm thinking of doing this myself but not sure.

 

I have a 99 4.6L with 271,000 miles on it. I changed to synthetic at 36,000. I usually use Mobil 1 but I have used Castrol. When I first changed over I went about 10,000 between changes. The mechanics usually said my oil looked cleaner at 10,000 than most others did at 3,000. With a lot more miles on the engine I usually go between 6-7,000 now. A lot of my miles are highway miles.

Until recently when I needed upper and lower ball joints the only thing, besides regular maintenance, that needed replacing was the alternator at about 150,000. I recently installed the Troyer "tune-up" items: performance plug wires, Denso plugs and MSD coil packs. I think it added about 2-3 mpg and my backside computer thinks it has more pep also.

Just my experience with synthetic.

Al in Tennessee