Which Oil
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Joined: Sep 2006
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From: NJ
Which Oil
Hey guys,
I am new here. I need an opinion on which way to go for future oil changes. I am getting as a gift from my father his 99 F150 Scab 4x4 w/4.6 v-8. It has 81,000 miles and he has changed the oil every 3500 miles. I am planning on keeping this truck for a while. He has used dino oil for all 81,000 mile would it be recommended to keep using the dino oil, go to a blend, or switch to a full synthetic oil.
Andrew Parshall
I am new here. I need an opinion on which way to go for future oil changes. I am getting as a gift from my father his 99 F150 Scab 4x4 w/4.6 v-8. It has 81,000 miles and he has changed the oil every 3500 miles. I am planning on keeping this truck for a while. He has used dino oil for all 81,000 mile would it be recommended to keep using the dino oil, go to a blend, or switch to a full synthetic oil.
Andrew Parshall
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Joined: May 2001
Posts: 219
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From: Richarson, TX
Andrew,
Welcome to the Forums. Congratulations, you have asked THE number one "question most likely to start arguments". Do a seach on motor oil and you will get lots of different opinions.
I say number 1) change the oil every 3 mo or 3K miles which ever comes first and 2) use a high quality oil - Mobil1, Castoroil, Quaker State, Penzoil, ...ect(never use a store brand) and 3) Take it easy and drive your truck like you want it to last 200k miles. If you want to use a synthetic, go for it- it can't hurt. Good luck
Welcome to the Forums. Congratulations, you have asked THE number one "question most likely to start arguments". Do a seach on motor oil and you will get lots of different opinions.
I say number 1) change the oil every 3 mo or 3K miles which ever comes first and 2) use a high quality oil - Mobil1, Castoroil, Quaker State, Penzoil, ...ect(never use a store brand) and 3) Take it easy and drive your truck like you want it to last 200k miles. If you want to use a synthetic, go for it- it can't hurt. Good luck
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 151
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From: Denver CO
The book answer is that Ford back speced these trucks to use 5w-20 synthetic blend oil. You'll find many fans of Motorcraft 5w-20 on these forums but any 20 weight that meets Ford's 930 specs will work.
If you plan on changing the oil every 3500 miles any sm rated oil will work fine. No need to spend for synthetic unless you plan to extend your oil change intervals beyond 5000 miles.
If you plan on changing the oil every 3500 miles any sm rated oil will work fine. No need to spend for synthetic unless you plan to extend your oil change intervals beyond 5000 miles.
Suspended
Joined: Mar 2006
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what's wrong with store brand oils? i've been using it for a long time now and the ONLY difference i've noticed so far is how much it cost to buy the stuff. if it meets the specs for the temp i'm in, i'm happy. so is my engine
Senior Member
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 219
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From: Richarson, TX
Sorry about my late night spelling of Castrol. I'm challenged that way.
Whats wrong with store store brand oils? -Possibly nothing but first check the back of the oil container for the SAE label. The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) puts out standards for oil for both gas and diesel engines with an API service rating. Every couple of years, as the oil tech gets better, the ratings are raised. The gas engine standards have gone from SH to SJ to SL to SM ( I think that SI and SK were skipped). The store brands are usually 2 standards (~5 years) or more behind the major brands. I once saw a quickie mart type store selling an oil that had a SB service rating. I don't know when SB was the top standard but I know it was more than 20 years ago.
The store brand may be ok but I figure that Wal-mart or Safeway or Pep-boys or whom ever does not make a core business selling motor oil. They don't research additives or test viscosity or lubrication or thermal breakdown or stability or anything else. They just go to the refiners and ask for the lowest bid on 10,000 cases a year of something that they can sell as oil that won't gum up engines. They don't care if it is not first quality, just something that is cheap to produce. Besides, someone will always just grab the cheapest thing on the shelf and pick up that SB rated oil.
Whats wrong with store store brand oils? -Possibly nothing but first check the back of the oil container for the SAE label. The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) puts out standards for oil for both gas and diesel engines with an API service rating. Every couple of years, as the oil tech gets better, the ratings are raised. The gas engine standards have gone from SH to SJ to SL to SM ( I think that SI and SK were skipped). The store brands are usually 2 standards (~5 years) or more behind the major brands. I once saw a quickie mart type store selling an oil that had a SB service rating. I don't know when SB was the top standard but I know it was more than 20 years ago.
The store brand may be ok but I figure that Wal-mart or Safeway or Pep-boys or whom ever does not make a core business selling motor oil. They don't research additives or test viscosity or lubrication or thermal breakdown or stability or anything else. They just go to the refiners and ask for the lowest bid on 10,000 cases a year of something that they can sell as oil that won't gum up engines. They don't care if it is not first quality, just something that is cheap to produce. Besides, someone will always just grab the cheapest thing on the shelf and pick up that SB rated oil.