I just purchased a 2004 F150 Supercab. I'm curious about two things; was the truck shipped with synthetic oil and my Ford dealer service manager said the Ford brand synthetic "blend" was the best oil I could get for the truck. I would appreciate informed opinions. It is a 5.4 plug "spitter outer".

 

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.....Moved you to this fourm....

 

The owners manual (pg 273) states that trucks sold in the US are shipped with 5W-20 Premium Syntetic Blend and trucks sold in Canada have 5W-20 Super Premium Motor Oil. I don't think you could go wrong using Motorcraft synthetic blend but I'm sure you would do well with any major brand such as Castrol. The manual says that you don't have to use Motorcraft oil to satisfy the warranty but I've heard and read that you need to use 5W-20 because the variable valve timing is operated by engine oil and it is sensitive to viscosity.

 

Thank you for the guidance re the motor oil. I am remiss in not reading the manual in its entirety. I do my own maintenance and change every 3000 (overkill admittedly} and was trying to weasel out of buying the very expensive Ford oil.

 

You can get the 5w-20 Motorcraft oil at Wal-mart for $1.42 and the filters for $2.97.

Cheers and welcome to the site.

 

Twellman......thanks for the comeback! I live in a small fishing village on the Oregon coast and have a WALMART about 60 miles away. I do buy in case lots so will give me an excuse to put a few miles on the vehicle. Would you happen to know if the $1.42 price is the synthetic blend my dealer reccomends?

 

I use the Motorcraft synthetic blend 5w20 in both of my trucks (2002 Ranger 3.0L and 2002 F250 6.8L).

For a while, a year or so ago, it had gone up to $1.77 but it is back down to $1.42 now.

 

I have not seen any off the shelf straight synthetic @ 5W-20. The only one that comes close is Mobil 1 that is 0w-20. with that said your truck is shipped with Motorcraft 5w-20 synthetic blend.
Mobil 1 does state that their 0w-20 full synthetic product meets Ford requirements.
The reason for 5w-20 is due to an EPA mandate to achieve a certain
fuel econmy by 2005.

"Higher fuel economy -- due to consumer preferences for larger vehicles, anything that can be done to improve fuel efficiency is needed to help meet the federal Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards. This will become even more critical, since CAFE standards for light duty trucks and SUVs will be increased starting in 2005."

http://www.noln.net/columns/column8.html

 

royal purple sells 5w-20 at most napa's, but they are pretty proud of it, around $5.50 a quart.

brian

 

Before I bought Royal Purpul at $5:50 qt, I would buy the 0W-20 Mobil 1 in 5 Qt jugs for $18.xx at Wal Mart

 

Yes, it is the synthetic blend.

 

I'm using Castrol Syntec 5-20W right now. It is a full synthetic. It's kinda hard to find. When you find it, buy alot.

 

Ken, yes the oil at Wal-mart is the motorcraft 5w-20. The same stuff you'll get if you go to the dealer and buy the quarts from them (for over $2 each).

 

I guess Georgia is making up on the lower taxes on gasoline ($1.57 for 87) by raising the taxes on motor oil. Just checked Wal-Mart last night and Motorcraft 5W-20 synthetic blend was $1.82/qrt. Oh well, I don't change oil nearly as often as I get gas!

 

Shop around at different Wal-mart's. I've seen it for the $1.82 price on one side of town and $1.42 on the other. I talked to a stock guy/purchaser at the cheaper Wal-mart and he said he adjusts his price based off of what Target has...he said he'll occasionally lower it as much as $1.29 /qt, but I've never seen it that cheap.