Oil questions
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 127
Likes: 4
Oil questions
I'll be doing my first oil change on my 18 6.7 PSD in the near future and am a little confused by everything to do with oil. The owner's manual says I can use SAE 10W-30, 15W-40, 5W-40 full synthetic, 0W-40 full synthetic (and it specifies motorcraft oil of course). Reading further it gives a viscosity grade chart that seems to indicate that I'd probably be fine with a 10W-30 for normal usage but I'm thinking I'd opt for 15W-40 since I'm towing about 9K twice a month in Southern California. Then, reading FURTHER, I find a part that says "For biodiesel fuel blends (B20 max), use SAE 5W-40 or SAE 15W-40 oil that meets Ford Specification..."
So my questions:
1. I don't know if CA uses biodiesel and would be worried that out of state travel might lead me somewhere that has biodiesel. Is this reason enough to go with the 5W-40 or 15W-40?
2. Does 15W-40 have a fully synthetic option? If it does, and since the manual doesn't call it out specifically, would 15W-40 synthetic be a bad idea?
3. If I find a cheaper price for Mobil, Shell, Valvoline, insert well-known company here, is it just a matter of finding one that is SAE 15W-40 (or whatever grade I decide on)? Or do I need to look for other information on the bottle to know it's okay for my truck?
Sorry for all the noob questions. This is my first diesel and I want to be sure to take good care of her... I was never very concerned about oil types in my previous gas vehicles.
Thanks everyone
So my questions:
1. I don't know if CA uses biodiesel and would be worried that out of state travel might lead me somewhere that has biodiesel. Is this reason enough to go with the 5W-40 or 15W-40?
2. Does 15W-40 have a fully synthetic option? If it does, and since the manual doesn't call it out specifically, would 15W-40 synthetic be a bad idea?
3. If I find a cheaper price for Mobil, Shell, Valvoline, insert well-known company here, is it just a matter of finding one that is SAE 15W-40 (or whatever grade I decide on)? Or do I need to look for other information on the bottle to know it's okay for my truck?
Sorry for all the noob questions. This is my first diesel and I want to be sure to take good care of her... I was never very concerned about oil types in my previous gas vehicles.
Thanks everyone
Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
My 2 cents. The 10W30 is for fuel savings, 15W40 has been used in diesels for decades, 5W40 is the diesel synthetic, recommended for severe use. I run Rotella 5W40 synthetic. I have ran this in many diesels, powerstroke, cummins, perkins, etc. Major manufacturers recommend Rotella, so you can't go wrong. Your going to get a lot of opinions, just go with one that is listed by Ford as approved.
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 127
Likes: 4
My 2 cents. The 10W30 is for fuel savings, 15W40 has been used in diesels for decades, 5W40 is the diesel synthetic, recommended for severe use. I run Rotella 5W40 synthetic. I have ran this in many diesels, powerstroke, cummins, perkins, etc. Major manufacturers recommend Rotella, so you can't go wrong. Your going to get a lot of opinions, just go with one that is listed by Ford as approved.
So if I were to pick one off this list under 5W40 or 15W40 there aren't any sub-categories or specifications I'd need to look for?
Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 1,239
Likes: 272
From: South Central Indiana
Your oil filler cap says 10w-30. Severe service 5w-40. When I had my '12 PSD I ran Rotella 10w-30 diesel oil available at Walmart. Personally I wouldn't run 15w-40 if I lived north of say Tennessee.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 566
Likes: 3
From: Florence SC
Valvoline Premium Blue Extreme 5w-40, unless of course you want to spring for the top-top shelf stuff like Redline and Amsoil.
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Elder User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 566
Likes: 3
From: Florence SC
I'll be doing my first oil change on my 18 6.7 PSD in the near future and am a little confused by everything to do with oil. The owner's manual says I can use SAE 10W-30, 15W-40, 5W-40 full synthetic, 0W-40 full synthetic (and it specifies motorcraft oil of course). Reading further it gives a viscosity grade chart that seems to indicate that I'd probably be fine with a 10W-30 for normal usage but I'm thinking I'd opt for 15W-40 since I'm towing about 9K twice a month in Southern California. Then, reading FURTHER, I find a part that says "For biodiesel fuel blends (B20 max), use SAE 5W-40 or SAE 15W-40 oil that meets Ford Specification..."
So my questions:
1. I don't know if CA uses biodiesel and would be worried that out of state travel might lead me somewhere that has biodiesel. Is this reason enough to go with the 5W-40 or 15W-40?
2. Does 15W-40 have a fully synthetic option? If it does, and since the manual doesn't call it out specifically, would 15W-40 synthetic be a bad idea?
3. If I find a cheaper price for Mobil, Shell, Valvoline, insert well-known company here, is it just a matter of finding one that is SAE 15W-40 (or whatever grade I decide on)? Or do I need to look for other information on the bottle to know it's okay for my truck?
Sorry for all the noob questions. This is my first diesel and I want to be sure to take good care of her... I was never very concerned about oil types in my previous gas vehicles.
Thanks everyone
So my questions:
1. I don't know if CA uses biodiesel and would be worried that out of state travel might lead me somewhere that has biodiesel. Is this reason enough to go with the 5W-40 or 15W-40?
2. Does 15W-40 have a fully synthetic option? If it does, and since the manual doesn't call it out specifically, would 15W-40 synthetic be a bad idea?
3. If I find a cheaper price for Mobil, Shell, Valvoline, insert well-known company here, is it just a matter of finding one that is SAE 15W-40 (or whatever grade I decide on)? Or do I need to look for other information on the bottle to know it's okay for my truck?
Sorry for all the noob questions. This is my first diesel and I want to be sure to take good care of her... I was never very concerned about oil types in my previous gas vehicles.
Thanks everyone
2. 15w-40 synthetic does exist, although the rating is a little suspect. Check out Redline 15W-40 viscosities at different temperatures and compare with other brands 5W-40.
3. If the oil you are considering meets the Ford -F1 spec, it should be “good enough”.
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 141
Likes: 1
From: Ashland, VA
Thanks for your input. I just googled "ford approved motor oil" and got this https://www.fcsdchemicalsandlubrican...ry=Motor%20Oil
So if I were to pick one off this list under 5W40 or 15W40 there aren't any sub-categories or specifications I'd need to look for?
So if I were to pick one off this list under 5W40 or 15W40 there aren't any sub-categories or specifications I'd need to look for?
FTE Community Team
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 3,336
Likes: 1,050
From: Florida
Read this thread. https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...-13-a-gal.html. Currently there’s a heck of a deal on Shell Rotella T6 Synthetic Diesel oil 5W-40 with available rebates.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 159
Likes: 13
While discussing oil here's a question I ve not been able to find an answer to ... 'Is Motorcraft 10w-30 Diesel a Dino oil or Semi-Synthetic? I ve been running it since new and haven't towed over 8k yet and sitting on 12k miles... thinking of changing to either Rotella T5 10w-30 semi syn or T6 5w-40 full syn next change. If MC 10w-30 is semi syn then nothing gained unless I go to T6. My main concern is turbo heat and cold weather cranking thus the interest in Synthetic; whether semi or full.
Thx
Thx
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 127
Likes: 4
1. Biodiesel is everywhere, and not always labeled. I’d assume you get biodiesel up to a few percent everywhere.
2. 15w-40 synthetic does exist, although the rating is a little suspect. Check out Redline 15W-40 viscosities at different temperatures and compare with other brands 5W-40.
3. If the oil you are considering meets the Ford -F1 spec, it should be “good enough”.
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,424
Likes: 12
From: BC Canada
Motorcraft 10w30 diesel motor oil is Semi Synthetic. Some 5w40 are semi synthetic. Full synthetics can come in 0w30,5w30, 5w40. I have them put the 15w40 motorcraft in for the summer, I use the 10w30 motorcraft the rest of the year. Your oil life monitor doesn’t know synthetic is in there.
almost all non winter diesel is now 5% biodiesel in Canada. It is often labelled on the pumps, but doesn’t have to be.
becaue I have a maintenance package, and extra warranty, I am using only the semi synthetic. In Canada an oil change on synthetic is an extra $100 to 120 for the oil. I may switch at 200,000 km when the service runs out, but at this point not inclined to change up. My oil gets changed every 8000 km, or 5000 miles regardless. No stretching to the oil life monitor at 12,000 km or 9000miles.
almost all non winter diesel is now 5% biodiesel in Canada. It is often labelled on the pumps, but doesn’t have to be.
becaue I have a maintenance package, and extra warranty, I am using only the semi synthetic. In Canada an oil change on synthetic is an extra $100 to 120 for the oil. I may switch at 200,000 km when the service runs out, but at this point not inclined to change up. My oil gets changed every 8000 km, or 5000 miles regardless. No stretching to the oil life monitor at 12,000 km or 9000miles.