More 'n likely, you be draining out perfectly good oil at 3000 miles. Today's dino oils are typically plenty good to go 5000 miles. Lots of used oil analysis data floating around here to prove it.
My previous F150 w/ the 4.2 was sold at 170,000 miles. It got conventional 10W30 oil at 4500 - 5000 mile intervals its whole life. Ran like a top and burned no oil when I sold it.
The 5W20 is a good oil. Use it without any worries. I was an old 10W30 die-hard until other's UOAs proved the performance of the 5W20. So, I use it in my '05 w/ the 4.2.

My suggestion: Havoline or Motorcraft or Pennzoil 5W20 at 5000 mile intervals (unless you qualify for severe use).
Motorcraft filters are top notch.

Good oil, good filter, 5000 miles.
Awfully simple. But it works.

 

I posted this in another forum, but it seems appropriate here as well.
As an RVer, I've seen a lot of gas engines that have gone a LOT of miles using dino oils under much more demanding use than any pickup truck will ever see.
Consider that Ford's V10 gas engine in motorhome applications (which is the same engine as in a Ford pickup truck) that has a GCWR of 26,000 lbs. is designed to provide a service life well in excess of 100,000 miles on plain old Motorcraft oil.
Also consider that GM's medium-duty 8.1L gas engines in motorhome applications (again- same engine as in their pickup) with a GCWR of 30,000 lbs. is designed to provide a service life in excess of 200,000 miles on plain old .99/qt. dino oil.
These engines run at max or near max capacity all of their lives- not just intermittently as when pulling a trailer, and they deliver astounding service lives on cheap dino oil and $4 Fram filters. Would they benefit from pure synthetic oils and $20 car boutique filters? Possibly, but the point is- if these engines can go 100k-200k+ miles on dino oil with this kind of service life, why would someone feel they NEED to run synthetic in a grocery getter SUV or pickup? Even hauling a boat or horse trailer will never tax the dino oil in an engine if it's changed as recommended.

My point is- dino oils are more than adequate these days for the majority of all gas engine needs. As with the original poster selling his vehicle "before really knowing if the [synthetic] oil made any difference," most people rarely keep a vehicle long enough to see any benefits from, or realize any return on the additional cost associated with, synthetics. Unless you are racing on a track somewhere at 8000 rpm all day, or running a blower of some type, or are pulling a 30,000+ lb. trailer with your pickup, it's hard to say your vehicle NEEDS synthetic.
Does it give you a warm & fuzzy to spend the extra money for it? Maybe. Is it required for long engine life? Absolutely not.

 

From my understanding the Motocraft oil is synthetic. It's all I put in mine now, switched from Havoline. Oil seems cleaner when I change it, but I haven't had a real test done on it.

 

Motorcraft oil is Semi-Synthetic. It is a blend of dino and synthetic. I have used it trouble free in my 01 5.4L and I would never use anything but the 5w20 Motorcraft oil in it as well as a Motorcraft filter. They have the best anti-drainback valves in them.

 

How often do you guys change your oil?

 

Whatever the manufacturer specifies- in the case of my F-150 every 5000 miles.

 

Every 3000 miles, still looks good when drained. Not black, just a couple of shades darker brown.

 

I think I'll go with the 3000 mile interval, Motorcraft 5W-20, and Motorcraft filter.

Thanks for the great information.

 

i use motorcraft 5w20 when i feel like doing it myself. when i dont have the time i usually just take it to valveonline have them change it ( with full synthetic) i see benifits to synthetic rather than you regular oil. stays cleaner at least. then agian i get it changed every 3,000-3,500 like clockwork.

 

I used Mobil 1 in my last truck since it was new, traded it with 150k on it with no loss in power or mpg. I will stick with it until I find something better. I do change it at 5k. I started using a K&N oil filter. Does anyone have info on this filter?

 

K&N is rated one of the best.
I just started running Royal Purple yesterday. Thought I would try it out as I have read some good things about it. I was using a semi synthetic since I bought the truck used. I change every 3 months or 5000 kms. Is synthetic really necessary in my case, probably not.

 

Thanks for the info, I have a brother in Michigan who runs royal purple in his super duty and swears by it. Good Luck!

 

a heads up from a ford parts guy...motorcraft makes 5w20 semi-synthetic(most of you use), but they also make a 5w20 full synthetic that is cheaper than mobil one. ford part number on the semi-synth is XO-5W20-QSD, and the full synthetic is XO-5W20-QSP.

 

Question: All I hear you guys talking about is 5w 20 oil for your 5.4s. My 2000 F-250 5.4 says under the hood to use 5w 30 oil? I am guessing either is fine.

I read a 3 year test study once on synthetic oil longetivity, namely Mobile 1 and Amsoil. 10 guys ran these oils (5 of each brand) for 3 years in their personal vehicles and took test samples every 1000 miles and each sent a sample to 2 different labs simotaniously. Basic conclusion: Mobile 1 has the edge but both went an astronomical amount of miles before the lab said "change it". One guy only changed his oil once in the three years! Average was around 16,000 miles or so between changes. Several guys were told to change their filters only and leave the oil itself alone, the reason: as oil get some age on it, it accumulates microscopic metal particles which become rounded off (think rocks in a creek bed) and the particles actually give lubrication help to the oil. Every time you change your oil you have to start this accumulation process all over again and unessary wear is occuring in the meantime. Sorry so long but this was eye opening for me.

 

QUOTE: Question: All I hear you guys talking about is 5w 20 oil for your 5.4s. My 2000 F-250 5.4 says under the hood to use 5w 30 oil? I am guessing either is fine.

In 2001, Ford changed the spec to 5w20. 2000 back said to use 5w30.