I've been using 10w30 in my truck now for quite some time, I've now got 243,000 miles on it and wanted to know if I should consider a different weight of oil. I appreciate everyone's insight and thanks

2000 f 150 4.2 v6 232,000 miles

 

Follow your owner manual specifications for engine oil service grade & viscosity for this engine. If you don't have a manual, one can be down loaded at no cost from this sticky link. Owner Manuals | fleet.ford.com

We don't know how the vehicle is used, but 5w-20 is specified by Ford for this engine. So tell us more about how you use it during the year.
Seeing as how you live in cold country, your battery, starter motor & engine would likely appreciate a 5W20, or maybe even a 0W20, or 0W30 for winter starts, especially if it sits outside & is often started cold & or is used hard, like frequently hauling heavy loads, towing, or long high speed highway runs with a full load, or heavy tow.
Is it consuming any oil from mileage wear? Does it have any gasket/seal oil leaks?
If so, has the PCV valve been replaced as scheduled & is it now up to date on All scheduled maintenance call outs?

 

Well thank you so much for the detailed response. The reason I started thinking about the oil is because my wife's car (2010mkz) requires 5w20 which is for high mileage , my truck has waaaaay more miles than the car. It is a cold
country truck sits outside and takes long trips back and forth to work(expressway). These last couple years has been tough in the winter mos. Sometimes it won't start, it'll just crank over. Fuel pump?
The pcv valve does get changed periodically and yes it burns oil(about a quart every two weeks).does not leak anywhere yet., but there is some saturated oil around the valve covers, no where else

2000 f 150 4.2 v6 232,000 miles

 

Ok, good feedback. Seeing as how this puppy sits outside in winter, it Would likely appreciate a 5W, or even a OW on those cold starts, as the oil viscosity would be lower, making it easier for the starter motor to crank the engine & taking some load off the battery, to be used to run the fuel pump & the ignition system to make a good hot spark.
Seeing as how the battery is at a disadvantage being so cold, its capacity being severely lowered, all else needs to be in tip top shape to get us going on those cold weather starts.

Are you up to date on All scheduled maintenance replacement parts, like plugs, wires, fuel & air filters?
If it's using that much oil, have you pulled the spark plugs lately, to check them for deposits & to check their spark gap? Setting them to Min specified spark gap can help make for an easier to fire, hotter spark kernel, that can help get us going on a cold start.
Are you using the fine wire spark plugs, as they make a easier to fire, smaller, hotter spark kernel, that helps the ignition system get us going on a cold start. I get noticeably quicker year round starts with the fine wire iridium enhanced center electrode, with platinum pad ground side wire design plugs, set to the Min spark gap, on all of our vehicles.

Have the O2 sensors ever been replaced on this vehicle?

Have you ever had the valve covers off to check top end deposit loading?

Have you been using synthetic oil, or ever used a high mileage or dual use diesel oil, or have you been using a standard mineral oil 10W-30?

More thoughts for consideration, with more info we might be able to make some more suggestions that might help quicken your cold country starts.