My truck is due for it's first oil change. Just to keep things simple, I'm probably going to take it to a Ford dealer to have it done... either that or the local Exxon where we have some family friends.

Either way, is it worth the extra cash in the long run to use synthetic oil?

 

i believe it is....for me at least i'm flying every there and really beating my engine and trans up winding out the gears and all so i run it.....depend on your driveing style i guess...but i believe it is worth it just my .02 cents

 

Definately worth it. We did lab testing at Nissan on the microscopic particles afloat in conventional oil, and compared it to the results from a synthetic sample.

The particulates and molecules in conventional almost have a platelet/gear shape to them, while synthetic particles are almost completely spherical.

Bottom line? Synthetic is smoother. :)

 

I run my truck for a year at a time on Amsoil Series 2000 synthetic 0w30 and at the end of a year I had the oil tested. It was flagged only for an increase in viscosity over time (very common). The oil is rated 1 year or 35000 miles and for me it's a yearly oil change with a filter change every 6000 miles.

In fact, my wear metals were LOWER than the "normal" range most 3.0's have after 3k-5k. I'm sold on it both for wear prevention and the economics of the 1 year oil change.

 

Alright, thanks for the input guys.

The mechanic I know says that if I want to use synthetic, it's best to start doing it on the first oil change and keep it up for the life of the truck. I suppose the extra $25 or so will be worth it in the long run....

 

I use Mobil 1 and I change my oil every 4-5K miles.. The money I save by changing it myself more than makes up for the extra cost of the Synthetic.

 

He's right, but with modern engines and oils, if you've taken care of your engine, you can start later. Back in the day, incompatiblity between synthetics and regular oils was a problem (it is not anymore). Also since synthetics can find their way through openings better, oil consumption can rise on an older engine using synthetics -- even though they too are better protected with synthetics.

But if you start, say, as a totally made up number, before 30k or so you're probably going to be fine if you took care of your engine.

After 6k with Amsoil, when I go to do a filter change, I can't tell that I've really lost any oil on the dipstick. You'd probably find the same thing with any quality synthetic used on a newer vehicle.

 

Anybody here shop at Walmart?? The one near me has Mobil1 5w30 for $20 for a 5qt bottle. That's cheaper than individual quarts and you have a place to pour the old oil when you're done. For me, changes are every 10k with Mobil1 and I change the filter after 5k but my miles are all highway except when I go wheeling.

 

i just use castrol's synthetic oil... i know with synthetic oil, you can go longer between oil changes.. but i like the habit of every 3,000 miles.. just makes me feel safe i guess..

 

Uh, yeah! 80% of my wardrobe came from there. Ask my GF, she's utterly unimpressed w/ the way I dress!

..But wait a sec, you change your filter every 5k, but the oil every 10k? Must be a messy filter change! ;-)

 

Yeah I also get the Walmart 5qt jug of Mobil 1. Its a little bit trickier to pour 4.5qts out of it than using 5 1qt bottles, but it works.

I really have to remember to drop my used oil off.. I have 3 of those jugs full of used oil out in the garage!

Bubba.. I also shop primarily at WalMart. My GF is equally unimpressed with my wardrobe.

 

Tah hell w/ it. More money for the truck I say! ;-) ... Sell that plan to a woman uh?

Idea for measuring oil: Keep an old 1-quart container around, pour out 1/2 quart into it and you've got 4.5 left. then next time just fill up the rest of the container. .. Aren't I just a smarty-bum-farty!

 

Hey Walmart has some snazzy bowling shirts with flames on it! You know, the Christ Titus type? Speaking of Chris Titus, click here.

Doesn't ford use semi-synthetic oil at the dealerships in our trucks? I for now am sticking with the dealership, because if I do all my maintenence with them, they will give me free tires for life. Stock size, unfortunately, but free!

 

Once you fill the filter with .5qts, you have exactly 4.5 left in the jug.

As for the filter change, it's no more messy than removing it when changing the oil, I just have to make sure I have oil on hand to fill the new filter before installing it to make up what was lost in the old filter.

 

Showing my ignorance here. I've had so many problems w/ my truck that I've had all my oil changes so far done at the dealer while it was in for waranty work!

So you mean that you can pull the filter w/o changing the oil? I've never experienced a vehicle that worked that way. Then again, I'm mostly used to swapping oil on bikes where you basically have to pull the pan to get to the filter. Haven't done it on a car since probably HS..

 

Of course you can. I've never worked on a vehicle that you COULDN'T pull the filter without changing the oil.

Most oil filters have check valves that keep the oil in the filter, so when you take it off, some oil comes out generally. However the oil filter is ALWAYS above the level of the sump in cars -- with perhaps a few really odd exceptions of which I am unaware. So, the oil which comes out when you change the filter does not change from a drained sump to a full sump.

 

Again, I suppose it just never really occured to me. I've ALWAYS drained the oil w/ the intention of changing it before removing the filter.

On my old Honda motorcycle you would loose 80% or more of the oil just when you loosen the bolt to the filter housing. Draining it before hand was just mandatory if you wanted to avoid making a mess.

I actually thought it was a typo and he meant oil every 5k and filter every 10k. My bad, my bad.. <ducks for cover>

 

lol! Dang, I missed! Hold still, will ya' Colin? (takes aim again...)

 

Yeah, you'll lose almost a quart if you just take off the filter. But (and this may be opening a whole new ball of wax) why not just change both at the same time? Long term synthetics I understand, but just general over the counter stuff? Why not just do both at the same time? My opinion is that oil is important, so I'm not worried about saving 5 bucks when I'd rather have myself (and my dealership) know that all oil changes were on time and done right.

 

Yes, it's about a 1/2 quart when you change the filter. But you'll lose that 1/2 quart whether you change the oil or not.

Per your point, I would only change the filter without changing the oil when using a long-drain synthetic.

 

I agree but I also consider 10k long term for an oil The reason not to change both at the same time is because of the $20 difference in cost between a filter change and a full oil change with filter. Sonce my miless are 98% highway, I feel confident in keeping Mobil1 in that long, but I don't have the same confidence in the filter's ability to filter efficiently after 5k.

 

not meaning to highjack the thread, but my 2002 4.0L sohc has only 15,600 miles on it. I let the engine warm up from a cold start before i start moving 80% of the time i drive it and change the oil and filter every 3K miles...which is good for the engine. However, i do gas it from time to time, which isnt so good for the engine. My question is it still ok to switch to full synthetics when ive been using Ford's recommended oil for the life of the truck?...And will switching to full synthetics prompt any warranty issues?

Thanks

 

Just keep receipts of the oil & filters you purchase, or receipts from where you get your changes done. That *should* pass for any dealership that may claim you haven't been maintaining your vehicle.