Relatively new owner of an old Ranger ('98 3.0L 4x4 XLT with 233k miles). This is a different beast than my old sedan--any recommendations on an oil and filter? First blush I'm thinking Castrol 5w-30 synthetic with a Fram filter. Just kinda associate that combo with childhood memories of my dad's old truck.

 

OwnersManual spec or equivalent NameBrand FullSyn Oil +\- one weight:
say 0w30 or 5w30 or 10w30, depending on your Colder or Typical or Hotter climate\season.
I prefer K&N HP series OilFilters, primarily because of the EasyOff 1"HexHead & the HigherThanSpec flow ratings.
Most important part is just to change\refresh your Oil+Filter & all other fluids frequently, & fix any leak as soon as noticed.
This simple but often neglected task will make the typical vehicle go 2~3 times further down the road than average.