What oil do I use?
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 439
Likes: 1
What oil do I use?
1990 F150 5.0 196,000 on new used engine. What type of oil (synthetic, part synthetic, or conventional) should I use? What viscosity should I use (5w30, 10w30, 10w40) I've used fully synthetic and conventional but I want to double check since I have no owner's manual
FTE Chapter Leader
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 8,843
Likes: 27
From: Eastern Ky
Owners manual for a 1994 calls for basically 5w30 in the winter months and 10w30 for the summer.....
FTE Chapter Leader
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 8,843
Likes: 27
From: Eastern Ky
Its a general thing...THinner oil for easier operations, and thicker oil in summer for extra protection...Heat an what not...
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 19,402
Likes: 38
From: Bonita Springs FL
With that many miles on it, I would not use 5w30 at all. It's too thin and may not hold enough oil pressure. I would run 10w40 year round. If it hasn't had synthetic in it every time since it was new, do NOT change over now. It will leak oil from every gasket if you do.
FTE Chapter Leader
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 8,843
Likes: 27
From: Eastern Ky
The man speaks truths...lol
Trending Topics
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 793
Likes: 1
From: Lincoln, Ne
andym. ive changed every vehicle ive owned for the last 12 years or so over to full synthetic when i get them and have never had any leaking problems. my blue 95 had 123000 miles on it when i got it and when it got wrecked it had 158000 and never had any leaks
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
FTE Chapter Leader
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 8,843
Likes: 27
From: Eastern Ky
My current truck....I saved...Quite literally...
My 1994...The PO's were family friends....An older gentleman and his daughter.....Both were easy on the truck, and it showed...
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 264
Likes: 0
From: SWPA
I like the Motorcraft Synthetic Blend oil along with Motorcraft filters. Newer Fords call for 5W 20, 5W 30, older 10w 30 or 40. I stick to what the Owners Manual calls for, while my son disagrees with me on the oil weights, I have never had any problems. I try to change around 3500 miles.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 203
Likes: 1
From: Middle of nowhere, Mo
My 95 I run 5w20 Valvoline full synthetic in and have no leaks at all and my truck was a beater truck that was lucky to get it's oil changed every 6000 to 8000 miles with 5w30 conventional once again like above stated it's all a preference thing. I work for Valvoline and have seen the tests on oils it's pretty crazy when u get the graphs and all the info complete together and that's why I use what I use. But in a 90 the recommend 5w30. I use 5w20 because my truck falls in the years for the tsb that ford put out
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 805
Likes: 1
From: Small town Iowa
My 95 I run 5w20 Valvoline full synthetic in and have no leaks at all and my truck was a beater truck that was lucky to get it's oil changed every 6000 to 8000 miles with 5w30 conventional once again like above stated it's all a preference thing. I work for Valvoline and have seen the tests on oils it's pretty crazy when u get the graphs and all the info complete together and that's why I use what I use. But in a 90 the recommend 5w30. I use 5w20 because my truck falls in the years for the tsb that ford put out
In the 96 302 its trop-artic semi-syn 10w30, 96 300 rottela-t 10w30 for the zinc addative they both get napa golds and changed 2800-3200 miles
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 203
Likes: 1
From: Middle of nowhere, Mo
I could never put glorified canola oil in my truck
In the 96 302 its trop-artic semi-syn 10w30, 96 300 rottela-t 10w30 for the zinc addative they both get napa golds and changed 2800-3200 miles
Trop-artic....... That's gas station oil ..... Talk about canola oil....... I'd put mobil in my truck before I'd get close to using that. Ashland makes some of the finest oils in the world and with all the research that is done they stay ahead of everyone else.
In the 96 302 its trop-artic semi-syn 10w30, 96 300 rottela-t 10w30 for the zinc addative they both get napa golds and changed 2800-3200 miles
Trop-artic....... That's gas station oil ..... Talk about canola oil....... I'd put mobil in my truck before I'd get close to using that. Ashland makes some of the finest oils in the world and with all the research that is done they stay ahead of everyone else.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 203
Likes: 1
From: Middle of nowhere, Mo
Lol sorry that was my bad but if u look up for my truck it reads 5w30 for when it came out but ford put out a tsb basically saying 5w20 superceeds the previous recommendation of 5w20 that's y I use it.