Just bought an 01 5.4 supercrew 2 months ago. I'm wondering whether to go with dino or synthetic. I will only be putting about 8000km (5000mi) on the truck a year as we also have a better mileage car. The truck gets a fair bit of short trips-i.e. 3 to 5 miles, some bush driving. At most I will be towing a 1500 lb utility trailer for firewood. If I go synthetic, the oil will be in there for a long time. I can spare the expense of dumping it every 5000k (3000 mi) but that will be about 8 months in between changes. The truck has about 119,000km (75,000 miles) on it.

What do people think. Also, will I see any mileage difference. I didn't see any in my 95 with a 302.

My option B is to go with a good dino oil and change every 4000km.

 

I use motorcraft simi synthetic along with the motorcraft filter that all cost's well under $20 at walmart. I think you could use that and probably get away with changing it about 1 or 2 times a year. I like to have fresh oil in for the summer season so I think its important to change it in late May. My car that only gets changed every spring only get about 2000 miles a year. it gets fully sybthetic If it were me I would change it every spring and fall with the motor craft oil.

 

Amsoil...Best thing I ever did, once a year oil changes if you want, just change the filter every 4-5K.....Ive had it in for several years now..

 

With your senario...Amsoil once a year. More expensive? Yes...BUT, you still come out cheaper than 2-3 times a year with anything else. I will have to disagree with tx150 though. If you're using an Amsoil filter, there is absolutely no need what so ever to change the filter before the oil. Amsoil filters are rated just like the oil is and will easily live up to your 5,000/1 year oil changes.

 

Considering you are not driving the truck often, I would suggest using a dino. There are different types of synthetic oils, the Gp III dino synthetic which is about 90% of the synthetic oils now, the PAO based oils, and the ester based oils. The Gp III and the PAOs both have issues like neither have the ability to support the all important additive package. The blender will use some form of binder, like a mineral oil or an alkylated napthenic, to bind it together.This is another additive to the mix. With the PAOs, like most of Amsoils oils, they have to use yet another additive depending on if the base fluid is polar positive or negative. If it's positive, there has to be an additive to cut the film strength down or the anti-wear additives can't get in to do their job and wear is accelerated. If they use a polar negative, the oil won't stick to the parts and a tackifer (yeah, another additive) has to be used to keep the oil on the parts or it runs off creating nightmare startup issues. I'd fully avoid any of these types of oils. The ester based oils are incredibly expensive. Redline has esters in the mix but is a mostly PAO. For the longest engine life under your driving habits for the vehicle, you won't beat a normal OTC dino oil. Change at every 3500 miles and enjoy the ride. FWIW, I have a rare LSC, it's a one in seven car of which only 4 exist anymore. The appraised value is in the 6 figures. I use Havoline 5w-30 in it and change every 3000 miles. That means I change oil about every 5 years. I have extremely low wear metals in analysis. Just remember, oil is a lot like real estate where they say the three most important things in buying real estate is location, location, location. For oil it is application, application, application.

 

I would probably use a semi-syn. oil also.

 

Sounds like a Canadian truck.... Go to Canadian tire, pick up 6 bottles of their Formula synthetic oil and a filter and change the oil twice a year. Simple eh?

 

....and stay in Canada. Don't come here to the US. It's bad for your truck to leave your native French speaking country.


Seriously, though, you should be just fine. I have an Explorer w/ the 5.0 that I hardly ever drive. It's also got high mileage (200K+). Mobil 1 has a synthetic that is good for 15,000 miles. I change the oil once a year.

 

OH MY GOODNESS Fifty150

 

Now thats just hilarious if you ask me. hahahhaha

 

I use the motorcraft semi syn oil as recommended in the owners manual.

 

I'd just go with Motorcraft oil and filter and just change it every 6 months and not worry about the mileage.