Hello everyone, I'm a new Ranger owner and am learning about the truck. It is a 2004 2.3L Ranger with 121,000 miles. I just got everything up and running on the truck, and was wondering what the recommended engine oil to use is? I know lots of people say conventional is good for this engine, others say go synthetic, I'm not looking for any power gains or anything, just longetivity for the truck. It's a Florida truck so no extreme winters here. Thanks!

 

Whatever brand you have a preference of, i use Kendall its like a mix of conventional and synthetic. since your in florida and it never really gets cold, you should be safe with a 5w-30

 

Valvoline MaxLife Oil for higher milage engines.
Just remember to get the viscosity/weight, per the Ford Manual… i.e. 5-20
I live in New England and recommended is 5-20 oil.
On my 95 2.3L, I had the oil changed by a garage because I was too lazy and they used 10-30, because it was what they had in the barrel and the engine started making clicking noises; lifters I believe.
Brought it back, had them put in 5-20 and I watched, the clicking went away.

Stick to the Factory weight oil… and go to a Max Life type of oil; every brand has one.

Added - 01/13/11: I should have aded, I use Mobile 1 in my 03 EDGE . Does it help with milage, don’t know really, but I am hoping it helps with wear and tear.
I chg it every 6K miles with a filter chg at 3K - my preference.

 

motorcraft synthetic 5w20

 

Syn-blend, I use the same in everything.

 

Just conventional or synthetic Motorcraft is fine. I use Royal Purple and Wix now myself, but it's expensive. Mainly just preference and what you're willing to spend.

 

Ford specifies 5w20 synthetic. I've been using Mobil 1 for 8 years with no problem.

 

Thanks everyone, picked up the Motorcraft 5w-20 synthetic blend, the same that our 07 Fusion uses, bonus! It's ready for the road now, changed out the coil pack and replaced the valve cover gasket, after a good cleaning and title transfer away it goes

 

What are your driving habits??? Is money no object when it comes time to change the oil and filter? I know its a $$$ issue now that oil is going off the charts again but $7.00 a quart for full synthetic oil verses oem (or what the owner prior to you used ) can add up fast. I usually catch a full case sale at Menard's and get the limit and pass that info on to my brother-in-law who travels about 500 miles a week. Every 5 to 6 week he's changing the oil on his or my sisters car so thats where it might get to be a price problem for you. I stick with the conventional 5 W 20 all year but I can tell when its time to change it. I can notice a slight vibration in the steering wheel when I near 2,500 miles. If the temps get into the 90's or 100's like we've had, I'll go with 5 W 30. I noticed to that 5 W 20 isn't as easy to find. Not every brand has one either. I hope I hit 123,000 miles on mine. I had a 96 Grand marquis I was able to get to 127,000 before I sold it...I didn't need any $7.00 oil or $8.00 filter to do that...

Good Luck...

 

I use whatever Penzoil sticks in my truck. I might move to the high mileage stuff but so far it doesn't leak or burn anything. But if you're starting to eat a bit of oil the high mileage stuff works. My old 240 would devour a quart of oil every week. I switched to the high mileage stuff and it went down a less than a quart every oil change after two oil changes.

 

my 2.5 has 260,000 miles and it's had conventional oil all it's life. (Says the original owner, I just bought it) but it runs great and doesn't smoke one bit. Oil pressure stays consistent so I believe the motor is still in good shape.

 

I would use motorcraft, valvoline, napa, castrol, or mobile 1. you want to run 5-30 or 10-30 since you are in a warm climit. light weight oil is for cold weather. Synthetic is expessive, but you don't change the oil as often. I know royal purple is great, and so is ams oil. I know guys using that in diesels and they go 11,000 miles on an oil change with a filter change in the middle. I just switched to napa syn in my scion for added life, even though they say to change it every 5000 with regular oil.

 

Dayton OH. 10-30 Mobil 1 in everything, change every 7500 mi or 6 mos.

 

FWIW since it seems like I change oil brands every time I change my oil, but I've had really good oil analysis reports with Valvoline Durablend. That being said I'm using Motorcraft synthetic blend 5w-20 now and it could be my imagination, but engine seems to be a little quieter with the Motorcraft. Slightly Off-Topic, but has anyone else noticed that Motorcraft (printed catalog) is now recommending the FL-400S filter for all 2001 - 2010 2.3L Rangers?

 

That is a very good point about filters. I use the same filter on my current 05/2.3 that I used to use on my 94/3.0., the Purolater 20195. I do that because it is longer, so provides a larger (OK, slightly) capacity than the filter specified in the manual. Fits the same base; gives me a smidge more cleaning capacity. More bang for the buck.

 

all gasoline powered ford from i think 96 on take 5-20 except some hybrids and lincolns the 90 engine originaly called for 5-30 or 10-30 and in 98 ford did tsb stating that all gas engines so should be converted to 5-20 asap unless they operate in extremely high temperatures for longer then 70 percent of their time

 

If anybody has a pep boys rewards card... you can register it online, and you can print off a coupon that is good until the 31st of January for 5 quarts of mobil 1 synthetic, and a filter for $32.95... saved me about $20. And I don't need to change my oil for 2000 more miles :)

 

cool thanks i am going to do that this morning cause i love mobile 1