I’m sorry to say that I need a little direction for a problem that I created for myself. I have an “87” Ford Bronco II with 257,000 miles on it. I have been using Motorcraft 5-w30 for the longest time until Wal-Mart stopped selling it. Since I was already at Wal-Mart looking at the Mobil1 5-W30 in the 5-quart container for $19.00 and something cents – I just couldn’t resist. This happens to co-inside with me only utilizing the vehicle for six months and the other six months spent in Southeast Asia as a Professional Beach Bum – no need for the Bronco II.

The method to my madness is as long as I’m only going to be putting on about 6,000 miles a year at the most, why not just go with Mobil1 and do an oil change once a year! Sounded great at the time.

Now here is where I need the help. It leak’s, no I mean it really leaks – a lot! I haven’t driven 1,000 miles (closer to 500) and I’m a half-quart low! The engine makes little ticky-ticky noises and then it’s not doing that it makes valve noises that don’t seem to go away even after it warms up.

So therefore what would you recommend that I do? Should I go back to a generic 5-W30, or would you recommend something different like 15-W40 or 20-W50 in an old beater that’ll only be run in the summertime in Alaska?

Regards,

John….

 

i would dump it and use a 15w40 like rotella t or delo. i would change this oil at about 6,000 miles or 1 year whichever comes first.

 

First, you may want to go back to the conventional oil you were using..
The more I read about synthetic, the less I want to use them. For every person driving their car 200k + miles on synthetic, you will find one driving their's that far on conventional oil. It has been said there is a sucker born every minute, and the oil companies realize this. All of a sudden, synthetic is suppose to be some Godsend. Unless you drive a car that cost's more than 50 thousand dollars, you likely will never need or see a benefit to using it.

Also, your truck as over 200k on it. Whatever you were doing before, go back to doing that. I'm sure you have been told this already.

 

I use syn in everything, but your vehicle is a perfect example of what I mean when I tell people that if they have an engine with a lot of miles, syn may NOT be the proper oil for you.

Syn is good for many things, but my experience with old engines is that syn will find any leaks you already have or it may clean away any crud that keeps your engine from leaking.

Besides, with over 200K miles, syn isn't likely to do anything for you that the old dino oil wasn't doing well already. And syn is thin and can lead to noises like you have.

With infrequent driving, you should probably change more frequently than once a year anyway. You need to get rid of any condensation and deposits that might be sitting in the crank case. I would change the oil at least just before you leave so it has fresh oil in it rather than acidic dirty oil. If your car is stored outside where the temperatures change a lot while you are gone, you may also get condensation even though the engine is off. So, changing again when you come back or just a few thousand into it would not be a bad idea.

Syn is good if you have a relatively fresh leak free engine, it will help keep it that way. Syn is also good if you have temperature extremes and hard service. It provides an extra margin for error, like when your radiator blows and you are forced to drive longer than you should. Dino will die, syn may prevent damage in this case. I have done this with no harm, I did check compression etc.

Dino now a days is becoming a lot like syn, in fact some "syns" are really dino that take advantage of a lawsuit allowing them to claim syn status. Even regular Dino is awful good now and with your old beater, it is probably more than good enough.

Good Luck,

Jim Henderson

 

Unfortunately, when leaks start it's hard to get 'em to stop without replacing the gasket. You may have some work ahead of you. Same goes for lifters. I'd find the one that's making the noise and replace it.

On the oil, before doing a lot of work switch back to what you were using. You may have to drive around to a few different places, but someone will carry the Motorcraft.

 

Why the rush to go back to Motorcraft?

I know its a great oil and all, but there is nothing wrong with SuperTech 5w30/10w30/10w40(what I'd use in this old of a motor).

I'd go with SuperTech 10w40 and a SuperTech filter in that beater, and I'd sleep just fine if it were my truck.

 

Well he's run Motorcraft for so many miles, it's probably safest and would yield the best results just go back to that. Admittedly though, you probably get a different batch and different formulation each time you buy it.

I used to have an old Bronco 2 with the lifter tick. Trust me, heavier oil does NOT fix it.

 

synthetic oil is great as long as you start with it and finish with it.
meening the new cars today use synthetic so best to keep using it
older cars using regular oil should stick to that unless its a complete rebuild and then synthetic would be fine but stay with it.
Does that make sense the way it came out??