I noticed a lot of people on these boards use synthetic oil. Unless you plan to keep the truck for a at least 150,000 you are throwing money away. If you plan on keeping the truck until it's paid off then trading on a new one you are doing the new owner a favor but, you are flushing it down the commode.

 

That's informative!!!

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2000 F-150 XL,RC,LB,5.4,4R70W,3.55LS,
Class III tow/Payload #3/Convenience pkgs.,
4-wheel disc/ABS,Chestnut/Parchment 40/60,
Ford bedliner & gas/wheel/spare locks,
3" cold air box modification,Superchip,
Dynomax ultra-flow welded 3" cat-back.

 

Synthetic vs Conventional. There is no performance difference, if the truck appears faster or quieter you've subconsciously convinced yourself it is. It isn't. Synthetic oil usage will reduce oil consumption because it is less volatile. There is no reason in the world one of today's high tech triton engines can't last 150,000 miles on conventional oil. Synthetics would push that number higher. If you are going to trade the truck in at 90,000 miles look at this. Conventional oil changes at 3000 mile intervals cost about $400 for 90000 miles. Synthetic for 90,000 miles $960. Therefore to make synthetic oil worthwhile you need to drive over 150,000 miles. For the $560 difference you can fill up the tank 13 times.

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2000 F250 Superduty

 

Thank you for pointing that out.

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2000 F-150 XLT, 4x2, 5.4L Supercab, Superchip, Styleside, Black with silver two-tone, 3.55 rear, class III towing package with heavy duty cooling package, Heavy duty shocks, 4 wheel disk ABS, overhead console, sliding rear window, keyless entry, dark graphite interior, in dash CD, factory leather wrapped steering wheel, Pendaliner bedliner, K&N air filter, rubberized undercoating, cabin filtration system, Bugflector II, 5W-30 Mobil 1, engine build 10/4/99

 

Well well, Duckplucker

Here is where I shine. I do beg to differ with you a bit!

For the first thing we all know synthetics outperform conventional in every aspect. That means it's less volitile, runs cooler, has less friction and gets better gas milage. ENGINES LAST LONGER. And if you use the right stuff it will even cost less than changing conventional oil--even if you do it yourself.

I agree that synthetics changed every 3,000 miles is a little on the expensive side. But that is okay for some folks.

Now if you want synthetics to pay for themselves try just changing your oil once a year.
Lets figure. $5.50 a quart x 7 quarts plus 2 oil filters@$10 a piece = $58.50 a year!
The reaon for 7 quarts when you change the filter in 6 months or 12,500 miles you will need to top off with that extra quart.

This is for 25,000 miles or 1 year
So lets figure if you drive 100,000 miles that is 4 oil changes
That would only cost you $234

Hmmm that is half of what your are paying with your dino oil. And you get all of the great benifits of synthetic.

I can even cut that number down some by installing a by-pass filter and lets say maybe changing the oil 1 time every 60,000 to 100,000 miles. Yes that is 1 oil change per 100,000 miles!

Oh what the heck your engine will probably last 400,000 plus miles. So just keep your truck a few extra years, then put that $400 a month payment in the bank every month and you will be able to pay cash for your next truck! Then do the same thing again and your will get rich pretty soon, especially if you put your money in a good mutual fund that has an 18% or so average.




[This message has been edited by msparks (edited 07-06-2000).]

 

Duckplucker - I disagree. Fast Fords and Mustangs did a test with a mustang that proved otherwise. They replaced the motor oil with Redline Synthetic and also the transmission and differential fluids with Redline synthetics. They dyno'd and took temperature readings before and after the changes. They discovered that the motor, transmission and differential ran cooler, with the transmission and differential showing substantial cooling. They also discovered that just changing these fluids put more horsepower to the ground. Not a lot, but it did make a difference. If you want the max efficiency from your trucks drivetrain, as well as max protection, then you will use synthetics. Money - it's only stinking money.

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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, a Dynamax Race magnum muffler and 3" mandrel bent pipes, Superchip, K&N FIPK Gen II, Bilstein shocks and Redline Synthetic oil.



[This message has been edited by Ron Kaltenbach (edited 07-07-2000).]

 

I too disagree.
Having calculated the cost for 2 vehicles, will save over $100 bucks this year and that doesn't include the time crawling underneath 2 vehicles, clean up time, and having to contain it, dispose of it etc...
And for those that are really enviro sound,
thats 40 qts I won't be using this year, and another 8 filters at the very least.
Realistically my wife puts 800 miles a/ week. = that there is 14 filters in just a year. 800*52=41,600 miles/year.
So i save on 13 filters and 52 qts on her car alone.
At 2.49@ filter, 1.49 castrol =109.85
3@ truck. +oil= 47.76=
157.61 saved per year.
So, I'll argue your point.
.I used redline the last time w/ a K&N oil filter. I decided to upgrade to the Amsoil. If i dislike it that much I can always go back to the Redline/K&N set up.
I broke even then, but I still saved in time.


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Dr.(wife says i'm spoiled) Jones.
2000 F-150 5.4L(whatpowerawaitsthee)
AUTO,SC-sb 4x4-XLT, 3.55LS, 8.8 front- 9.75 rear, sidesteps, sprayed in liner, 17"wheels ORP, trailer-tow pkg, CD, Cpt chairs, 4whl ABS, Keyless Entry, Airbox silencer removed/K&N, Amsoil(transfercase, motor, rearend), 3" custom dynomax ultra flow catback, as an anniversary gift. PSD coming for christmas!
djones01@elp.rr.com

 

Seriously, if you really love your truck and want it to last a long time, how long would you really go between oil and filter changes with synthetic oil? I've been thinking about using it but the posts confuse me. I heard you can go 5000 miles with synthetic instead of 3,000 but now you guys are saying go 25,000 or 100,000 miles? REALLY?

 

100,000.
I'd hate to see how much that stuff cost.
Amsoil says to go 25,000 on the oil and 12500 on the filter.
The also put in writing that if their oil and filters damgage your vehicle they will fix it or replace it.

From the dealers i've talked to. They have customers who've done the 25000 intervals on their diesels that now have 100,000miles on them and all they do is change at 25,000.
Still getting the same mpg and haven't had any mechanical problems. The synthetic concept isn't new it's just now becoming more prevelant.
My old roomie put castrol syn. in his fiero and it made a world of difference. I've noticed my truck runs a bit cooler.
I like it, i know it works. I'll do the oil analysis at 25,000, during normal change intervals and that'll tell me what is going on with the motor and what if anything must be done.
If some one want to crawl under their car or truck every 3000/3 months and spend an extra (157.00 in my case) year, go right ahead.

For the $$ I've concluded that for me Amsoil was the best way to do.
The second would be Redline 10,000/ K&N filter-6000.



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Dr.(wife says i'm spoiled) Jones.
2000 F-150 5.4L(whatpowerawaitsthee)
AUTO,SC-sb 4x4-XLT, 3.55LS, 8.8 front- 9.75 rear, sidesteps, sprayed in liner, 17"wheels ORP, trailer-tow pkg, CD, Cpt chairs, 4whl ABS, Keyless Entry, Airbox silencer removed/K&N, Amsoil(transfercase, motor, rearend), 3" custom dynomax ultra flow catback, as an anniversary gift. PSD coming for christmas!
djones01@elp.rr.com

 

I would have to agree with Duckplucker(that's a good one). Why spend the money if you are going to trade in the truck in a few years. The synthetic advantage is increased life expectancy of the engine and unless you will keep the vehicle until it falls apart(like me) you won't benefit from the life expectancy improving characteristic of synthetics. I certainly haven't noticed a difference in reduced temperature, fuel mileage, or performance with synthetics. There might be a fuel mileage difference but it's so minimal I can't tell. I change my oil every 4000 miles and it get's filthy in that short interval, changing yearly well..................

 

As far as the 25,000 mile thing goes,

1. Amsoil has been doing it since 1972, yes that is almost 30 years. Of Coarse they were the first synthetic oil on the market.

2. They have a written warranty: http://home.elp.rr.com/lubedirect/Amsoil_Warranty.htm

3. As far as your oil looking dirty in 3,000 miles. Remember Looks aren't everything. You would be suprised to see even after 25,000 miles an oil analysis would find very little dirt(silicon). As long as both your air filters and your oil filters are kept changed and clean.

4. As we all know modern cars are comming from the factory with ever increasing drain intervals. Some are even 15,000(BMW's) My Jetta is 10,000 miles. Finally auto makers are catching up to what Amsoil has been doing all along.



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Lube-Direct


New Lubrication Forums

 

When you do extreme extended oil changes, what do you do when warranty work comes up? In other words, will Ford honor their warranty if you haven't been changing your oil per the owners manual schedule?

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'99 F150 SC, 4x2, Oxford white, flareside, 5.4, 3.55 rearend,
bodyside mouldings, Snuglid hard tonneau, K&N dropin, airbox and frsh air mods.
Duraliner drop-in (gave up on the Penda Nascar). Gibson Supertruck. Ford 2-piece bra. Catch-All floor mats. Image tail light covers. B-Quiet sound dampener in rear of cab.
No door cracks yet at 10K!!!

 

I was told that the additives in synthetics have a life of 7000 miles max. I would think that after the additives expire you'd have oil with a lot of acids in it.

 

I'm not buying any of this. Marv1 brought up an excellent point about possible warranty voiding. Explain that to Ford!!!! During this 25,000 mile interval do you just change filters or do you have to refresh the additives periodically?

 

Nope, as far as additives go, some do and some don't. The Amsoil product I am using has additives good for 7500 miles. Their other products have additives to 25K.

Ford recognizes the use of synthetics and approves them but they still insist on the change intervals. That is right out of the owners manual. I chose to stick to the Ford change interval while I am under the 36/36. I would rather go after Ford if need be than after Amsoil. That's why I am using the new Amsoil XL 7500 product as it is cheaper and I am doing mine at 3 to 5K intervals. After the 36/36 is over I might go with the longer intervals and I might not. But it will be my choice at that point.



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2000 F-250 Super Duty, SuperCab XLT, Oxford white with medium grey cloth captains chairs, 5.4L Triton V8 (260 HP - 345 FP Torque version!), 4R100 4 Speed Automatic Transmission, 4 wheel ABS, Deluxe Aluminum Wheels, Trailer Towing Package, Class IV Hitch, Reece load distribution system, Escort Sensor II Electronic Brake controller, Sure Stop towing skirt, "Westin" black powder coated step bars, "White-White" head lamps, Herculiner bed liner, ISSPRO Tranny Temp Guage, Excursion center console, Ford moulded mud gaurds, K&N Air and Oil filter, Amsoil XL7500 5W-30, Air filter minder, Perma Cool 8" (800 CFM) Tranny Cooler Fan (manualy switched).