I bought a 99 Ranger Supercab 2.5L five speed in December 2005 with 76,000 miles. The Ford Dealer I bought it from had a oil change sticker on the wind shield showing they changed the oil at 76K with Northland Lubricants 5w30. Engine was smooth and quite.

One month and 1500 miles I changed the oil, and put in TropArtic syn blend 5w30. 77500 miles on truck.
Two days latter and after about 50 miles I started it up in the morning and after running about 30 seconds it started ticking from the top from idle to 1500rpm and went away when the engine reached normal temp. The noise continued to come and go when the engine was started untill warm.
One month later now Feb.2006 and 1000 miles I changed the oil to Motorcraft 5W20. 78500miles. Noise still present but not as loud. I Drove the truck to Texas and back with the 5w20 and changed the oil again on March 18th with 3200 miles on the oil and refilled with Motorcraft 5w20. Noise still present, I ran this oil 6 weeks and 1600 miles before changing it and refilling with Valvoline Max Life 10w30 on May 12th 2006 at 83300 miles. Noise still present. On June 8th after driving 1000 miles on the max life me and my wife and three kids loaded the Ranger with 3bikes, fire wood, luggage and my 3000# Starcraft tent camper and drove 425 miles to the Black Hills for a vacation. The little engine that could motored along at 65mph returning 18.5 mpg loaded. Noise still present all week as we sight see'd. On the morning we left for home the wind decided to blow 30mph from the east straight in my face. I drove at wide open throttle most of the 425 miles, mpg droped below 15 but since getting home the noise has been absent.
Did working the snot out of her get it hot enough to melt or clean some gunk?

Also should I cahnge the oil from the hard drive home? It now has about 2000 miles on it. Truck is at 85200.
I am thinking of staying with the max life due to moly at 300ppm and it is now available in 5w20. The engine ran the smoothest with the 5w20 in it that I want to go back to that vis. for the colder months.

Flash can I go to the 5w20 year round? or not good idea for pulling the trailer?
Thanks Dan

 

Your 99 Ranger 2.5 falls into the backward compatible Ford recommendation for the useage of 5w-20 oils. If it were mine, that's all it would get from now on. It almost sounds like you had a carbon buildup in the engine causing your noise. Might want to run a can of Techron thru the gas before changing oil. FWIW, the Pennzoil and Havoline will also have moly. Pennzoil around 300 ppms and Havoline at 480 ppms. Chose wisely, grasshopper.

 

Thankyou
Dan

 

I believe Motorcraft and Trop-Arctic (Syn blend) of the same viscosity are identical.