Next oil change.
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New User
Joined: Jan 2019
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Next oil change.
So I've got an 88 f250 with the 7.3 idi. Have about 170k on it and was wondering if I should maybe run a synthetic oil or if I should stick with conventional. I usually run rotella 15w40 but I've heard good things about delo. So should I swap to synthetic if so what brand and if I stick conventional should I stay with rotella or try out the delo?
Laughing Gas
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 884
Likes: 7
Two factors in I use to choose oil in my idi trucks:
How much does it leak?
How much oil does it use?
Synthetic have consistently smaller molecules so it will make these issues worse. If the typical leaks and oil consumption don't plague you yet, use your budget as your guide. I just get Shell Rotella or Mobil Delo when they're on sale, always partnered with a motorcraft filter.
How much does it leak?
How much oil does it use?
Synthetic have consistently smaller molecules so it will make these issues worse. If the typical leaks and oil consumption don't plague you yet, use your budget as your guide. I just get Shell Rotella or Mobil Delo when they're on sale, always partnered with a motorcraft filter.
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Two factors in I use to choose oil in my idi trucks:
How much does it leak?
How much oil does it use?
Synthetic have consistently smaller molecules so it will make these issues worse. If the typical leaks and oil consumption don't plague you yet, use your budget as your guide. I just get Shell Rotella or Mobil Delo when they're on sale, always partnered with a motorcraft filter.
How much does it leak?
How much oil does it use?
Synthetic have consistently smaller molecules so it will make these issues worse. If the typical leaks and oil consumption don't plague you yet, use your budget as your guide. I just get Shell Rotella or Mobil Delo when they're on sale, always partnered with a motorcraft filter.
i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 5,552
From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
if you are using 1/2 gallon a week, plan on upping that to one gallon a week on synthetic.
i see no sense in using synthetic oil on older engines because it only leaks out of places regular oil does not.
i see no sense in using synthetic oil on older engines because it only leaks out of places regular oil does not.
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 240
Likes: 0
From: Ozarks
I haven't tried it in my IDI, but had an interesting experience with a '73 Mercedes 220D once... I'd done a complete rebuild (it's also a prechamber design) including pistons, bore/hone, rings. After about 10K miles, wanted to try synthetic oil since winters could be very cold where I was stationed. There was an audible "rattling" on acceleration that sounded exactly like a gas engine pinging with too much advance. Didn't smoke or leak, pressure was the same on the gauge. changed it back to conventional oil and the pinging immediately stopped.
I can only assume that the engine was burning small amounts of the synth oil, and since that's not timed like the injection pump, it'd ignite irregularly. I didn't keep it in there long enough to see if consumption was higher...
I can only assume that the engine was burning small amounts of the synth oil, and since that's not timed like the injection pump, it'd ignite irregularly. I didn't keep it in there long enough to see if consumption was higher...
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 1,519
Likes: 224
From: Nevada
Interesting you had the problem with your 73 220D. Our daily driver got it from the original owner with 305,951K.
They had it from new and owned it 30 years, so don`t have any records of maintenance done to it.
Now she is up to 383xxxK miles and still runs like a Singer Sewing machine.
At 321xxxK miles I shifted over to a 15 40 synthetic, still run it. I had heard of all the usual stuff it will leak like a
sieve, you will have leaks where you didn`t have them before, you will have an increase in oil consumption etc...
I didn`t have leaks before and none showed up and consumption stayed the same.
Now on the 86 6.9 I decided to shift it over to the same oil last Oct. With the cold nights figured it would help
starting and getting oil up to the vital parts sooner etc.... I do notice the engine seems to run smoother after the
change. But I do notice an increase in oil consumption.
As far as leaks go, we had all the leaks taken care of way before the change. I use to mark my territory where
ever I went. Usual things like Valve Covers, Rear Main, Pwr Steering etc... We are up 279,885K as of this
morning.
If I go back to conventional oil, I might place an Oil Pan Heater on the pan.
Charlie
They had it from new and owned it 30 years, so don`t have any records of maintenance done to it.
Now she is up to 383xxxK miles and still runs like a Singer Sewing machine.
At 321xxxK miles I shifted over to a 15 40 synthetic, still run it. I had heard of all the usual stuff it will leak like a
sieve, you will have leaks where you didn`t have them before, you will have an increase in oil consumption etc...
I didn`t have leaks before and none showed up and consumption stayed the same.
Now on the 86 6.9 I decided to shift it over to the same oil last Oct. With the cold nights figured it would help
starting and getting oil up to the vital parts sooner etc.... I do notice the engine seems to run smoother after the
change. But I do notice an increase in oil consumption.
As far as leaks go, we had all the leaks taken care of way before the change. I use to mark my territory where
ever I went. Usual things like Valve Covers, Rear Main, Pwr Steering etc... We are up 279,885K as of this
morning.
If I go back to conventional oil, I might place an Oil Pan Heater on the pan.
Charlie
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 3,959
Likes: 512
From: Edmond, OK
My truck leaks/burns about 1 quart a week. That was fast enough that I decided to use the cheapest oil available. I found that the Sam's Club 10W-30 is cheaper than the Rotella T or even the new Amazon brand oil.
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Elder User
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 695
Likes: 22
At 321xxxK miles I shifted over to a 15 40 synthetic, still run it. I had heard of all the usual stuff it will leak like a
sieve, you will have leaks where you didn`t have them before, you will have an increase in oil consumption etc...
I didn`t have leaks before and none showed up and consumption stayed the same.
sieve, you will have leaks where you didn`t have them before, you will have an increase in oil consumption etc...
I didn`t have leaks before and none showed up and consumption stayed the same.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 1,105
Likes: 78
After taking numerous leaks in truck stop parking lots, I noticed what empty oil jugs I seen the most of.. Mobil delvac 15-40, just works great and is inexpensive.
When my truck was new I tried mobil synthetic and it leaked all over the place.
Regular Dino I use very little, 1 quart in 3k.. Several if I keep going beyond that without an oil change, seems to use more as it ages, but leaks and uses little when I keep up on frequent oil changes.
When my truck was new I tried mobil synthetic and it leaked all over the place.
Regular Dino I use very little, 1 quart in 3k.. Several if I keep going beyond that without an oil change, seems to use more as it ages, but leaks and uses little when I keep up on frequent oil changes.
Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 3,860
Likes: 7
If you rebuild a 7.3 with new seals and such, you can run 5W40 synthetic. It's fine, but a waste of money unless you can add a bypass filter and extend the drain interval.
Otherwise, 15W40 Mobil Delvac. Cheap, good, works fine and with already leaking seals it will leak less.
Otherwise, 15W40 Mobil Delvac. Cheap, good, works fine and with already leaking seals it will leak less.
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 6,938
Likes: 13
I wouldnt worry about going synthetic. Ive done a lot of studying on the subject, the only real discernible advantage is easier cold starts. The efficiency gain isnt enough to matter. You get to run it longer but the cost per mile is about even, worse if you use / leak a lot. I would worry about shell / delo though, always consistently ranked in the bottom 30% of independent oil analysis (for dyno oil). Rotella synthetic on the other hand is the best. Valvoline blue is cheap and very good, as is mobile, and believe it or not, supertech. If youre wanting easier cold starts, you can try to find 10-30 diesel oil, never actually looked for it, so not sure how hard it is to find. Im just about to the 10k mark on my new engine, so it will be getting synthetic soon, mostly just for the cold starts, when it gets below zero, she really doesnt like to spin over like she should.
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TaosCowboy
1999 - 2003 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel
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