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1980 - 1986 Bullnose F100, F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks Discuss the Early Eighties Bullnose Ford Truck

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Old May 26, 2013 | 06:20 PM
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Engine Oil

What is the most preferred oil for a 1983 f150, 4x4, 5.8? What weight and brand?
 
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Old May 26, 2013 | 09:23 PM
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It really doesn't matter. And I mean that. Clean oil that is changed often is what matters. I have run name brand oil, I have run house brand oil. The only oil I haven't run is the weird stuff they sell in the grocery store that doesn't have a SAE designation on it.
I would recommend with a older engine to stay away from the 5w oils, they are awfully thin for a truck engine with a lot of miles, but in reality they would work also.

My local parts store had some Peak 15w-40 diesel oil on sale cheaper than their house brand, and I bought a bunch of it and put it in my old Chrysler van. I think it actually made it run a little quieter, that old 4 cylinder hammers pretty loud, but it keeps running and doesn't use hardly any oil.
 
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Old May 28, 2013 | 10:08 PM
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I run 10w 40 valvoline in my 460 truck and in my wifes 96 Mustang and in my 78 F250 351M I run the same .The Mustang and 78 F250 truck don't get run in the winter .My 2003 Super Duty I run 5w 30 in the summer 5w 20 in the winter Motorcraft or Valvoline .I been running Valvoline oil for over 30 yrs before that I run Kendall and Motorcraft. In your truck I'd run 10w 40 summer 10w 30 in the winter
 
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Old May 29, 2013 | 01:30 AM
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Any discussion having to do with which oil brand is best will always degrade to something roughly equivalent to arguing over how many angels can dance on the head of a pin. As Franklin said, change it as often as recommended by the manufacturer (Ford). I meet customers all the time at the store that either think there's some way to not change it very often, or ask me if they get the 'expensive stuff' it means they don't have to change it as often...then I get called an a-hole when I tell them such ideas are blatantly false, and to change it as often as the manufacturer recommends, regardless of what kind of 'super-oil' they buy. People...
 
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Old May 29, 2013 | 06:10 AM
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Walmart is usually the cheapest place for oil and filters. (Get the Motorcraft filter, Frams suck) I usually get Pennzoil 10w30 for the gassers and Motorcraft 15w40 for the diesel.
 
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Old May 29, 2013 | 12:01 PM
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I agree with what's been said, with an exception. Unless you're running a roller cam motor, you NEED to be using either oil with a very high ppm of ZDDP or a ZDDP additive. After seeing the cam and lifters out of one of my motors that I hadn't run additive in... I'm a believer and see the extra expense as cheap insurance.

Comp Cams markets it's break-in additive for this very purpose, I usually dump a bottle in with every oil change.

More of the attempts to make our vehicles more obsolete in the name of long emissions equipment life...
 
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Old May 29, 2013 | 02:58 PM
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Originally Posted by Social_Joe
I agree with what's been said, with an exception. Unless you're running a roller cam motor, you NEED to be using either oil with a very high ppm of ZDDP or a ZDDP additive. After seeing the cam and lifters out of one of my motors that I hadn't run additive in... I'm a believer and see the extra expense as cheap insurance.

Comp Cams markets it's break-in additive for this very purpose, I usually dump a bottle in with every oil change.

More of the attempts to make our vehicles more obsolete in the name of long emissions equipment life...
That's a good point. Looks like Mobil's diesel oil has a high phospherous and zinc content in this chart. I wonder if the other diesel oils are like this?
http://www.mobiloil.com/USA-English/...duct_Guide.pdf
 
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Old May 29, 2013 | 03:01 PM
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Here's some more stuff on it.

5.What solutions does Valvoline offer to the zinc issue?

Valvoline offers two solutions to the zinc issue:

1.Valvoline VR1 Racing Oil: Contains 75% higher zinc than SM motor oil with a balanced additive package designed to work in both racing and street-legal applications. This product will protect older style push-rod and flat tappet engines. Valvoline provides this product in both multi and mono viscosity grades: 20w50, straight 50, 10w30, straight 30, straight 40, and straight 60.
2.Longer-Lasting Zinc/Phosphorus: Valvoline uses an advanced zinc/phosphorus additive that keeps higher levels of phosphorus in the motor oil where it protects the engine instead of poisoning the catalytic converter. Valvoline is the only brand offering this unique additive across its entire line of passenger car motor oils including SynPower -- the only synthetic oil that offers this additive.


I am finding out some of the diesel oils may be ok(Chevron Delo 400 LE 15W-40 Heavy Duty Motor Oil ) but others have had thir zinc levels reduced for protection of emissions equipment.
 
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