Ok, I'm new here. I've just bought a 2006 F150 FX4 SuperCrew with a 5.4L EFI V8 engine. Right now I have 1,537 miles on it and I have a few questions. First, I've had a few people tell me that using Synthetic Oil will help improve my gas mileage. Is this true? Is it worth the switch? Second, I've had people tell me that my gas mileage will improve as my truck breaks in. Is this true?

I know, this is a big truck and it's not going to get 20 mpg or anything like that, I don't expect that, but if I can get an extra 1 or 2 mpg it would help. I'm getting a solid 13 mpg right now with a 50/50 mix of highway and city driving. Any suggestions would greatly be appreciated.

Lastly, this is my first Ford truck and I couldn't be any happier than I am. Hell, I would probably drive it even if I got 5 mpg because I absolutely love the thing. Thank you for your time. I'm sure I'll have quite a few questions when I'm ready to upgrade the mediocre sound system.

 

yes as it breaks in the engine will get a little looser and in theory you'll get better fuel mileage. as for the synthetic, you'll get the same fuel mileage as using 5w20.
too improve fuel mileage, keep all the maintenance up to date and drive it slow and steady. a tonneau cover will help also.
welcome to the site and read about other ways to help by doing a little searching.

 

Congratulations on your new truck.

there are three major oil types. Regular (aka dino oil), then there are synthetic blends and finally full synthetics. Each type has it's own characteristics, but only you can choose which one (or oil preference) to use in your vehicle.

Here is my opinion. My 02 regularly gets 15-16 mpg. i have 85,000 miles on it and it still runs like a champ. I changed my oil @ 500 miles to a dino 5-20. My thinking for the early oil change was to remove any impurities that MAY be present from the manufacture of my motor. I ran a dino oil for the next 2500 miles. From there I switched to Mobile1 5-30 full synthetic and I have used 5000 mile intervals ever since. Synthetic blends may have the best of both worlds, but I have been pleased with the mobile1 product.

Mobile1 now has a line of synthetic blends too ($1.88 for the 5000 mile blend at Walmart)

Two other things that I have done: 1) bought a magnetic drainplug from NAPA. 2) Used ONLY motorcraft oil filters.

Good luck with your new truck!

FYI - Something that I read was that Castrol Syntec is closer to a Blend than a real synthetic ( i dont know if this is true).

 

I bought my 97 5.4L with 24,000 miles on the clock used. At 30K, I decided to go with Mobil 1 5W30 after a lengthy study of this site regarding oil. I noticed right away that it used about a quart between oil changes on synthetic, but stayed with it. Right now I have about 211,000 on the clock, and it still uses about a quart between changes, but it runs great! Based on my experience, I would endorse the synthetic switch.

 

First - Congratulations on the new FX4 - welcome to the group. I read a lot and post little because others are experts about these F-150 trucks withs lifts, mods etc.

Second - I traded a 2004 Super Cab 4X4 for a 2005 Super Crew 4X4(we needed more room for Grandchildren). I ran 5W - 20W Ford blend and changed it every 4,000 miles. After 10,000 miles or so and also warm weather your mileage will increase. My 2004 got a solid 17.5 as a daily driver and the best I got was 20.8 on a trup to Kingsland Ga from Virginia. Also, even after the 10,000 miles the one thing that best controls fuel economy is the right foot. I could go from 17.5 to 14 just by "Driving it like I stole it". But at times that is fun and without some fun Kenny would be a dull boy.

Best of luck with your new "toy"

Kenny

 

Thanks for the info everybody. Ya, I'm starting to notice that a lot of people in here are experts and I'll just be learning from their posts. I won't really be able to help anybody all that much, but I'm glad I found this place because it's full of valuable information.
The right foot is the best weapon against bad gas mileage and I rarely drive it like I stole it. I do enjoy getting on it a little bit from time to time, but it isn't worth the gas to drive like a moron day in and day out.
I'm very happy to know that the truck will get a little better on mileage as it ages. I figured that, but it's nice to hear the experienced truck drivers say it. Thanks again!!

 

Go with Mobil 1 5-30WT.
I've used Mobil 1 in 5 vehicles for about 350,000 miles now. I can't say enough about how it performs. Even the lawn mower is happy.
Use it and never worry about an oil related failure again.

 

Nice Truck archer. I am just south of you in Cumming. Running synthetic in your truck is a decision that will make you happier (and your truck for that matter) in the long run. I run it in every single car I own.

 

Thanks! I do believe that I will be making the switch over to synthetic. Even if I don't get a mpg increase (which I really don't care all that much about) I've heard nothing but good things about synthetic. I think your right, in the long run I'm better off and so is my truck.

 

Do you folks that use synthetic perform your own changes? (I'm not a trusting person, wouldn't pay extra and not know for sure what I was really getting).And how much is it?

 

Yes, I do. Takes about 10 mins out in the garage. I change it every 3K, and have been running Mobil 1 5W30 for 180K of the 210K I have on the truck. Oh, and I pay about $22 for a case of 6Qts at Sam's Club, and about $5 for a Motorcraft 820S filter.

 

Yeah, about 20-23.00 for oil (6 qts.) and 3-5.00 for filter. I do my own changes. Last time I aske a Mobil Lube about using synthetic they quoted me 50.00 to change it. Told me to buy it and change it myself to save money.

 

Yes I do my own changes. I feel the same way about most oil change locations. They get their oil in 55 gallon drums and I am not sure they are all trustworthy. It is always good to find a local shop that you can trust though. Ask around for references, you never know when you might need one for a repair.

 

I use a local quick oil change place that I have used for about 12 years. But, I still watch as they pop the cap off of a quart of syn and pour it in. I'm not that trusting! I really can't say that syn has helped my fuel mileage. I live in the southwest where it is not uncommon for the temps to be above 115 degrees. I figure that the syn is pretty cheap protection.

 

Actually Norm, any shop that does any worthwhile amount of service buys in bulk for their high use oils, and by bottle for synthetics. (although they have started to package synthetic in boxes, kinda like wine in a box) I personally store my oils in various size tanks, from 250 gallon to 1000 gallon. I also store my ATF in a 250 gallon tank. We can save a buck or two in bulk, and pass that on to the consumer in the long run. Although recent oil prices have really gone skyrocketing. And one thing to consider is this. We don't buy synthetic in bulk. It still costs us $4.11 a quart for the pennzoil brand we specialize in, and the mobil 1 is 5.49 a quart. Using mobil 1, it costs me $32.94 to get the oil. (assuming 6 quarts) Then add a filter to that, lets just say $3. Thats almost $36 I have in the products before we even get to your car. So nowadays, I charge $62.95 for a synthetic oil change. But when you consider that the Mercedes dealer gets $125, and BMW gets $119, it really makes for good business.