4.9 liter oil preference
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Junior User
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 90
Likes: 0
From: Sandusky, Ohio
4.9 liter oil preference
Hi all, my first post, and proud Ford Owner...
I recently bought a 1996 Ford F150 with a 4.9 6 cylinder 4 speed manual. I want to change oil and due some basic maintanence. What have you guys found to be the best (to use)/ or worst (to stay away from) oil to use in this engine? I plan on changing rear end oil as well, again ,any thing to stay away from or what brands are recommended? This truck has 184,000 miles and runs really good. Truck is on ok, shape, body rot here and there but runs like a champ.
Thanks
Robb
1996 F150 184,000 miles
2002 Explorer 84,000 miles
2001 Excursion 116,000 miles
Aren't Fords Great?
I recently bought a 1996 Ford F150 with a 4.9 6 cylinder 4 speed manual. I want to change oil and due some basic maintanence. What have you guys found to be the best (to use)/ or worst (to stay away from) oil to use in this engine? I plan on changing rear end oil as well, again ,any thing to stay away from or what brands are recommended? This truck has 184,000 miles and runs really good. Truck is on ok, shape, body rot here and there but runs like a champ.
Thanks
Robb
1996 F150 184,000 miles
2002 Explorer 84,000 miles
2001 Excursion 116,000 miles
Aren't Fords Great?
Hotshot
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 11,958
Likes: 228
I would run conventional oil in 10w30 or 10w40. Just use Pennzoil or Valvoline. You could also consider running the high mileage stuff. I run Pennzoil high mileage in the copper bottle. My truck has over 280,000 miles on the original drivetrain.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 363
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I run Rotella T 15w40 diesel oil in my 300 and it seems to run pretty good. I do it for the detergent quality required in diesel oil plus the extra zinc content. Oil quality has come so far over the last 10-15 years...you can pretty much buy anything and not have to worry about it in an old truck.
At your mileage, I would probably stay away from a synthetic, as the degergents will probably clean out some of the sludge inside and cause external oil leaks. May not happen, but if it does you're stuck with a leaky truck. I had it happen to me in an old camaro.
Get a decent filter too. Motorcraft filters are pretty basic and get the job done. I prefer WIX filters on everything I own. Don't use fram filters unless you get the high dollar one. The cheaper ones have cardboard parts in them which are known to fail and cause oiling issues for the valvetrain. At the point you're paying $8 for a high quality fram, you can have a cheaper motorcraft or wix filter that is better quality.
At your mileage, I would probably stay away from a synthetic, as the degergents will probably clean out some of the sludge inside and cause external oil leaks. May not happen, but if it does you're stuck with a leaky truck. I had it happen to me in an old camaro.
Get a decent filter too. Motorcraft filters are pretty basic and get the job done. I prefer WIX filters on everything I own. Don't use fram filters unless you get the high dollar one. The cheaper ones have cardboard parts in them which are known to fail and cause oiling issues for the valvetrain. At the point you're paying $8 for a high quality fram, you can have a cheaper motorcraft or wix filter that is better quality.
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 960
Likes: 3
From: Saint Charles, Missouri
They actually just did a test on the leading oils and wal marts super tech topped penzoil, valvoline, shell, and all the other leading brands. My jaw dropped. But I run shell rotella 15w40 in my 4.9
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Hotshot
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 11,958
Likes: 228
I wouldn't run either of those. KN just plain sucks. From everything I have seen Royal Purple oil is just too thin and watery. I know people that have had issues with that stuff.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,028
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From: long island
really? is there an article online that you can share? thats crazy
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 751
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From: NC
Don't they spec 5W-30 for the 4.9?
If so, would run that. My 5.8 calls for 5W-30, but I had been using 10W-30. Last oil change I switched to 5W-30, and it seems to start easier. I'm going to start using 5W-30 in my car too, at least for the winter.
If so, would run that. My 5.8 calls for 5W-30, but I had been using 10W-30. Last oil change I switched to 5W-30, and it seems to start easier. I'm going to start using 5W-30 in my car too, at least for the winter.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 2,314
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From: southwest michigan
FWIW I run only Purolator PureOne filters on my vehicles.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 2,314
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From: southwest michigan
So... the higher concentration of polymer will break down faster because there is more of them to break. So if you do plan on running 5w-30 (factor of 6), change your oil every 3k miles max. 10w-30 (factor of 3) has half of the polymer content that 5w-30 has and doesn't' break down as fast.
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,712
Likes: 1
From: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
You need to run Shell Rotella 15/40. 5/30, 10/30, or 10/40 will not do the job, and it's not because of the viscosity, it's the zinc dialkyldithiophosphate (ZDDP) content that's lacking in conventional off-the-shelf motor oil.
Here's some quality reading on the topic from an unlikely source: The Economist
Tribology: The Difference Engine: All change, oil change | The Economist
This is true of all engines that use a flat-tappet cam, which every one of the mighty I-6's did. Modern stuff off the shelf will rapidly wipe the lobes off your cam.
It's not really a Rotella thing, Chevron's Delo will do the job as will Mobil's Delvac product. It's all about the ZDDP, just like "91chevywt" said. With the proper oil you'll have that truck for years without any problems at all- it's the best engine anybody ever put in a 1/2 ton pickup truck.
Here's some quality reading on the topic from an unlikely source: The Economist
Tribology: The Difference Engine: All change, oil change | The Economist
This is true of all engines that use a flat-tappet cam, which every one of the mighty I-6's did. Modern stuff off the shelf will rapidly wipe the lobes off your cam.
It's not really a Rotella thing, Chevron's Delo will do the job as will Mobil's Delvac product. It's all about the ZDDP, just like "91chevywt" said. With the proper oil you'll have that truck for years without any problems at all- it's the best engine anybody ever put in a 1/2 ton pickup truck.