I'm leaning at around 3k the first time and getting an analysis done to see where I stand. I guess my only concern is seating the rings properly.

 

So I am probably OK………I will worry all the way up there and back
just me, the way I am

 

Tim, SBV45 and Others....

Ok, OK, lay off guys... I give!!!

No longer will I worry about my truck. Yes it runs fine (as far as I know), but both you guys jumped on me for "worrying to much"... but until I posted my latest Blackstone report about low viscosity and "shearing", many or all of you thought that you were in good shape with your preferred choice of oils???

Now, don't tell me that you or others are not now questioning your oil change intervals and what constitutes normal versus severe service. Do I perform my first oil change at 3,000 or 5,000 miles? We'll I chose 3,000 miles and knowing what I know about "shearing" it would be NO MORE than 3,000 miles for the first one and possibly the second one... and no more than 5,000 after that.

Which one of you reading this post will be the first to leave your oil in for 7,500 miles and report back how your Blackstone report is? Who will be the test case? No me - after getting my reports back at 5,000 miles.

With my bumper to bumper warranty quickly approaching an end (I have 22,800 on the ODO to date) and "issues" that seem to always plague the 2003 motor (whether I suffer now or not), I just want to ensure that I am 100% on top of the situation and have a dealer that knows I am watching. I did not buy a used car, nor did I by a Focus... I bought a brand new 2003 Excursion valued at $40,000+!!!

Have a nice evening,

Jeff

 

does blackstone have a website

 

Here you go www.blackstone-labs.com/

 

Jeff, I am not sure that it is a problem yet. Seems to me that if it was a big problem, we would be hearing about it by now. Go to this site where a guy has compiled a bunch of oil analysis reports that have been sent to him.
http://members.aol.com/fmtrvt/OilStudy/60current.pdf
I notice that almost all of the reports show this shearing. Few are showing signs of high wear. It looks as though the synthetics are faring the same as dino oil. Look at Choctaw Bob and Jdadamsjr. They really push their machines. I think we would have been hearing of some big problems if it was an issue.

 

Tim, SBV45 and Others....

Jeff you know we are teasing you, yes you worry about your truck and we do also, however you lead us in that area


I am in great shape with my preferred oil and I DO NOT care about the shear issue. at all. It is OK to worry, however..realistically, it will not help ANY to do so.


I am going with over the 5k mark because of my next pull, yesterday I was wondering, today it is behind me, I make the decision and do not look back................yesterday it was different.


Confused about this, we were never going to leave it in for 7k, so were did this come from?

I have the 100k one............so, however I can and do understand the worries there...............take care buddy and quit worrying so much................drive and enjoy. You cannot change the outcome by being concerned, you can stack the deck in your favor and you for one have accomplished that, probably the best anyone could.

Tim

 

If Ford recommends 5K and 7.5K, then that is what I can legally do...
if it comes back that there is a problem due to this, I have legal recourse against Ford for their misguided change intervals... I just save all my receipts of changes and go from there...

I purchased an extended warranty to 100K because I know how many miles I put on a vehicle and wanted the piece of mind of having it...
Yeah, know all the arguments pro and con about the extended warranties, but it's my money (less than 3% of MSRP) and my piece of mind - so let me do make my decision about my truck for my situation

besides, our trucks have a way of telling us when it needs changing too...
my Delvac 15w40 started a uneven idle after about 3500 miles IIRC... so I changed it and all is fine...

 

Jeff, if I get my test back before Sunday morning(which will have to be sometime tomorrow, I guess, I'll compare my 5000 mi viscosity averages with the 6000 mi interval, and maybe that will give some idea of whether the viscosity continues to shear or stabilizes. I'm still not sure this is a major worry, because I don't think running 10W/30 type viscosity would hurt the beast anyway, except maybe under really extreme heat or service conditions. If I don't get it back by then, I'll post it when I get back from surgery in a couple of weeks. Or send me an e-mail and I'll send it directly to you.

 

Wow that report compilation was pretty nice. Based on that and what others have said I am going to change every 3k until the blackstone indicates the engine is fully broken in then I will go to the 5k-7.5k intervals. I am still going to install the oil bypass filter and the magnet strip.

 

jd, the engine comes with a 100K warranty. My Premium Extended Warranty goes to 75000 on the rest of the truck. Are you saying your extended warranty other than engine is to 100K?

 

I believe the standard motor warranty is 5yrs 100k...so a 7/100 would cover the motor for another 2 yrs if you kept it under 100k....that's what I'm banking on....just buying time.

 

I'll run out of miles before I run out of time. I put about 2000 mile/month on my truck.

 

Are you going with oilguard,
I am very pleased with mine.

 

Yep Sb,
bought a 100k extended warranty...
well - didn't buy it....
leveraged it into the deal on my end of modelyear 02 7.3L Ex and they transferred it to my 03 Ex when I got it as a replacement ---- thought I came out smelling like a rose on that one :-)