My 2004, F-150, 5.4 L, should be arriving soon so I need some expert advice .......

A) When (break-in miles) should I change the "stock" dino oil in my engine ??

B) If I continue to use "dino" oil how often should I change it based on 90% city driving with "no load" in the box and no towing. (no plan to test oil)

C) Should I change the "dino" stock oil to a "synthetic" oil and when should this initial change take place ?? How often should I change the synthetic oil (see above for truck usage)

D) Regarding synthetic oil ... I'm leaning towards Mobil 1 ... any pro or con info ??

E) I plan to use a "Wix (NAPA gold)" oil filter for the dino oil ... will this filter also work with a synthetic oil ??

F) Is there any proven oil additives that really work ??

G) What did I forget to ask ??

Thanks in advance ....

 

Here's my answers. These are all my opinion, and will probably differ with at least one person on this board.

A) As soon as possible. You want to get any and all machining dust and break-in wear particles out of the engine as soon as possible. I'd say first change after you get it home from the dealership, next at 500 miles, then at 1000 miles, then every 3000 miles (or however often you perfer to go, I like going 3000 miles) from there on.

B) I'd go every 3000 miles to be plenty safe.

C) No. From all the evidence I've seen on this board, and in my personal experience, synthetic offers no benefit whatsoever, with the sole exclusion being extreme cold weather cranking speed. I've never had a problem with this though. I live in Iowa, and use 10w30 in everything.

D) Not applicable as per my previous answers.

E) The Napa gold is a good filter, for whatever oil you use.

F) Nope. They're all snake oil, particularly for a new engine. If you had an old sludged up beater, there are some like MMO that will help clean it. Other than that, forget the additives.

G) What specifications should you look for? I like to use a CI-4 / SL rated oil, due to it's better additive package. Some names to look for are Shell Rotella T, Chevron Delo, or Mystik JT-8.

Good luck with your new truck!

 

What rusty said!

 

A repeat of a previous post.

To reinforce what Rusty wrote:

"You want to get any and all machining dust and break-in wear particles out of the engine as soon as possible."


My Dad bought a new 1956 Ford Stationwagon. A few weeks later, the timing chain broke in front of the house and the vehicle was leaking oil. He put a pan under the motor to catch the oil. The oil was put in a mason jar and stored away in the basement. Just looked like oil, nothing special.

The jar was forgotten and about a year later we took a look at the jar. The entire bottom of the jar was covered in silver. The metal shavings had dissipated out of the oil.

Might be "food for thought."

 

Yeah - I was thinking you must be pretty darned old! j/k

Your point is a good one, just because it isn't visible doesn't mean there's nothing bad in your used oil.

 

oppy wrote:

Yeah - I was thinking you must be pretty darned old!

As Andy Rooney said on 60 minutes. "I didn't want to get old, it just happened."

HAHAHA

 

Just make sure whatever oil you use meets Ford specifications.

I believe the 5w-20 Motorcraft is a synthetic blend.