I manage a fleet of Fords for a large communications company. We have 137 F-150s. We keep our vehicles for 6 years and then they are off to the auction. We have every engine in service from the 4.2 to the 7.3 and everything in between. In the last 16 years we have only had to rebuild 5 engines. Here is the kicker. The only oil we have ever used and still use today is Valvoline 15w-40 All-Fleet. We have had no piston slap problems with our 4.6 or 5.4 motors. We have 6.8s with over 70,000 miles that we have had no problems with and of course our Power Strokes are doing fine being 15w-40 is designed for diesel use. I have read a lot of things on this board about oil from a lot of knowledgeable people. I see no reason to change to synthetic or change viscosity. Your opinions please.

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FORD RULES !!!

 

Surprised you're not using Mystic. I work just down the road from you in OKC (you must be with SWBT).

[This message has been edited by Ford man (edited 03-17-2000).]

 

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

There have been a few reports of warranty service being denied based on the owner using something other than 5W-30. I don't know if the reports are true, but you have to keep in mind that we (individual consumers) don't have the same power as a large corporate fleet. Dealerships will most likely honor your work requests, regardless of cause, just so they can keep getting your business. For me, it's not worth the risk to use anything but the recommended viscosity.

 

Ditto on the 5w 30.............At the dealership I work the mechanics say it is very important to use 5w 30 with the Trtons because of the close tolerences.

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97 F-150 4.6 auto, 4x2, 3.55 LS, WMS Velocity tube, K&N, Dynomax Super Turbo exhaust with Echo tube.
Oh yeah, it's Oxford White with crome wheels, Legacy shell & custom grill!

 

I think the 5w-30 has little to do about tolerences. I think it has more to do with Ford meeting its gas mileage claims and meeting government requirements for MPG.We have Triton motors with up to 65,000 miles on them with no failures.(NO piston Slap)I would think if tolerences was the issue we would have had some problems by now running the 15w-40.

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FORD RULES !!!

 

I agree with Mechanic Man - Ford has CAFE requirements to meet, so they are not about to recommend anything but 5-30 weight oil. Look on any container of 5-30 oil and it tells you that one of it's best characteristics is better fuel miliage. I owned a 911, and I doubt Tritons have any closer motor tolorances, and they were not fanatical about oil weights. As for the owners manuals, they are written with the thought that most owners know nothing about oil or motors and must be told exactly what to do.

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2000 F150 SuperCab, Short Bed, 4X4, ORP, 5.4L, Auto Trans, 3.55LS, Captains Chairs with power drivers seat, rear slider, class III towing package, remote entry with alarm and just about everything you can get on this truck. Added a Ford bug deflecter, floor mats and a K&N filter.

 

Yes Rick I agree with what you are saying about oil break down. The 15w-40 we use meets diesel engine specs for protection. A diesel engine is a lot harded on oil than a gas engine. That is why I feel that we are having such good luck with running it in our gas engines. It would take a extreme condition for that gas motor to break down that diesel spec oil. It keeps my oil change cost down because it is cheaper then synthetic.

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FORD RULES !!!

 

I use synthetic oil because of the superior protection that it provides.

It does not mean that petroleum oil is not worth using. I am not aware of any oil related engine failure should a person perform maintenance at the perscribed intervals.

One would then ask why synthetic oil? The only answer I can provide is that depending on the conditions that you subject you vehicle to can make a big difference between the protection of synthetic vs. petroleum.

I live in the Las Vegas area where desert temps reach 115 degrees or more. That does not account for the road surface temps.

Operating a vehicle in these conditions, say pulling a good size load i.e. boat, trailer etc. up a grade can literally puke petroleum oil due the excessive heat that is produced inside the engine for a prolonged period of time.

One would feel comfortable with the fact that you just changed the oil and should have good protection. The reality is that the oil has already broken down, baked and left behind all the petroleum byproducts inside your engine. You may continue to run the oil for another 2-3k when in reality it was wasted on that one major pull.

Synthetics don't brake down in those types of conditions. Thats why they are superior protecting engines in extreme conditions.

Just an opinion---Regards,

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Rick Medina
Las Vegas, Nevada

 

I've used Delvac 1 5-40, Mobil's diesel synthetic in a '92 Town Car, 4.6. I noticed at about 3500 miles into the change I'm still at the full mark. Mobil-1 5 or 10/30 is down about 2/3'rds of a quart. This oil is an extended drain oil trucks run up to 100k with spec filters changed at 60k.

 

How often should you change your synthetic oil? 3000? 4000? 5000? miles I change to moble 1 when my truck had a 1000 miles on it now has 4000 miles on it? ShouldI change it now or later

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2000 XLT SPORT SC SB LS 4.6 AUTO SILVER WOOD DASH KIT

 

Mech-man....what...if any problems have you had with the 4.2 V6 motors on the 97 models.

97F150 4.2V6 5spd K-cab XLT with less then 54000 miles with a blown head gasket on #3 piston. Rebuilding motor at the dealer now (dealer has had the truck now for 4 weeks and still counting the days), crack bearings on back order.

 

Robin,

Since your owners manual calls for an oil change at 5,000 miles with conventional oil. There should be no reason you can't go that long with synthetic.

Of coarse, I change mine once a year, but I don't expect everyone to be that bold. I do change my filters every six months though.

As far as using the correct Vis oil I use a 0w30, I think that using anything higher gives you less gas milage, which will cost you money in the long run.

If you raise your gas milage from 20 to 21 with gas at $1.20 a gallon you save $72 dollars over 25,000 miles.
Since gas is even higher than this I would guess your savings would be up over $80.

Also if you are changing your oil every 3,000 opposed to 5,000 you are losing money too. Any modern oil should easily make it to 5,000 miles. And most synthetics can go beyond that.

But to each his own.



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Lube-Direct


New Lubrication Forums

 

Mspark:

Thank you for help Ill wait till I get 5000 miles on the truck beford I change the oil again.

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2000 XLT SPORT SC SB LS 4.6 AUTO SILVER WOOD DASH KIT

 

Motorcycle Man, We have 37 97 model 4.2s in service. To date we have had 2 oil pan leaks and one antifreeze leak on the front of the engine.That is it. Sorry to hear about your problems.

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FORD RULES !!!

 

i went to a mechanic recently to have the computer reset because of a misfire and he asked me if i used anything but 5w30 and i said no. he said good because the oil return galleys are so small that they don't recommend using anything else


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'97 F-150, 2WD, 8'bed, 4.2L,5-spd, 3.55 axle, Pendaliner, D. plate toolbox & mud flaps, K&N filter, 3" air box mod,slotted taillight covers, Ventvisors, bug deflector, Westin nerf bars, champion truck plugs, towing pkg, 2000# helper springs, Whelen Responder 2 light bar, 100Watt Street Thunder Siren and speaker, headlight flasher, Rancho RS5000 shocks, Heckethorn 2" leveling kit