Is it worth it for me/people to do there own oil changes these days? seems like you end up paying the same price or close to having someone else do it.

i have a 02 with 94k miles on it. if i do end up doing my own oil change...

how many quarts do i need?
what brand and weight do you recommned?
and what kind of oil filter do you recommned?

 

If you change oil yourself you know its done right and what oil your getting.

how many quarts do i need? 6 quarts
what brand and weight do you recommned? I run 5w-30 mostly Pennzoil Platinum since I'm out of warrenty
and what kind of oil filter do you recommned? Motorcraft Fl-820S is the best filter for the best price. Only other filter I'd run is the Purolator Pure One

 

Very true so maybe it is better do it myself.

I actually picked up the truck little over a month ago. I wad able to get a 2 year warranty on it.

So since I'm user warranty still do u still recommend the same oil??

 

The V10 originally speced 5w-30 for the first couple years it was in the SDs and E-series. Then Ford changed the specs over to 5w-20 mainly to standardize oil they carry and to help meet CAFE. I change oil on other vehicles that take 5w-30 so only stocking 5w-30 was a no brainer for for me. Honestly I don't see how using a 5w-30 would void the warrenty but I just used 5w-20 until my 3/36k was done.

 

Thanks alot I'll go with the 5-30

 

I've only not changed my own oil once, and I ended up regretting it. I had Wal-Mart change my oil on my Hardbody one time since I was at a Wal-Mart out of town getting new tires and needed an oil change anyway. They left the plug barely finger tight and it leaked all over my driveway (they also scratched my alloy wheels). The only exception is my wifes T&C, however it is still under warranty and I want a paper trail proving I changed the oil. Since we don't have a Chrysler dealer in town and I have the warranty through Ford, I let them change the oil. I still double check everything though.

Anyway, the great thing about changing the oil on the SD is that you don't even need to jack it up to have plenty of room to work. It has to be the easiest vehicle I've had to change oil on, and the Motorcraft oil filters are easy to find.

 

I recently changed my oil and it took 6.5 qts. of oil. 6 qts. only got it up to about halfway up the hash marks on the dipstick. Maybe the V10 Excursions have a little bigger oil pan?

Walmart has Motorcraft oil filters for a good price.

I use 5W-20 Mobil synthetic.

 

All the 2V 6.8ls should have 6 quart pans. The dipstick can vary from truck to truck. I marked my dipstick by changing oil/filter, add 6 quarts, run engine for few minutes to circulate oil, let sit for a couple hours and then scribe a mark into the dipstick where the oil level is. Now you know the oil level on the dipstick with 6 quarts on flat ground. I usually add about 6 1/4 quarts just so I have a little extra for any consumption. Too much oil can actually cause power lose due to the extra drag on the crank from the oil.

 

My '02 V10 also takes 6.5 to get it to the full mark. 6 stops in the middle between full and add.

 

My 03 takes 7qts. to the top of the full mark.

 

My 03 also takes 7 quarts. The oil filter holds a quart by itself.

 

Are you using Motorcraft filters.

 

Is it worth it?

Do you want to know it was done right?

I let a "quick lube" place do my 5.4 on my F150. They used a cheap filter with no check valve. How do I know? Ford told me so when they handed me the filter, and an $1100 bill.

 

6 quarts gets me right to the top mark.

 

How do the cheap oil change places do it so cheap?

Simple! Cheap parts and cheap labor!

You get what you pay for. No matter how much you wish for.