i am getting close to the first oil change. I was intending to go the full synthetic route but not sure what brand. Then I noticed the 5W20 motorcraft oil is syn. blend. I can get this oil relatively cheap. Is there enough of a difference in performance, mpg, and engine life to justify the fully synthetic oil or should I just stick with the motorcraft 5W20.

Thanks

 

Go with the Motorcraft blend.

 

Stick with the Motorcraft. 90% of the responses I have seen on this sight recommend it. It seems to be a good oil. I don't see any significant benefits to using full synthetic in our truck unless you just want to spend the extra money.

 

Plus keep in mind that if you got the 5.4 it will take 7 quarts to refill the crankcase. This includes the filter.

 

You will not notice any difference between the two. Go with the MC 5w20.

 

Check out my latest UOA on 5w20 Motorcraft.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...d.php?t=478630

 

Go with the MC or any other oil that meets the ultra tough Ford 930a spec. I use Chevron because its cheap and returns single digit wear numbers. I also used MC with great success.

 

You might want to take it to your dealer for the first oil change too. Some folks who did their first change reported that the factory filter was a son of a gun to get off. They really had it wrenched in tight. I had the dealer do my first oil change, now I do it myself with Motorcraft 5w20 and Motorcraft FL-820S filter every 3,000 miles.

 

Silverfrost, I just did my first change yesterday, and let me tell you, I was cranked on to 500ft lbs !!!!! I tried every method to get it off, finally I jamed a screwdriver through it and cranked it off that way. be careful as, there is a coolant hose that runs right near it, as long as other sensors that are on the front of the cylinder head on this side. Also, i was parked on a little bit of an incline, so that little "drip tray" for the oil filter didn't work, andI ended up with oil in the driveway ....

 

I agree with everyone here, stick with MC 5w-20. As good as syn. oil is, the benifit isn't worth the cost. I have run synthetic oil on other F 150's and never saw any difference in fuel economy and I have always changed my oil at around 3-4k miles. I also agree with everyone here that you should have the dealer change your oil the first time, that oil filter is on TIGHT! Save your $ and stick with MC semi -synthetic or its absolute equal. good luck.

 

Thanks,

I have always run MC 5W30 in my Cougar with no problems, no leaks or burning. Also, thanks for the tip on the first change. I schedule it in at the dealer when I roll it over 3,000.

 

Guys that first oil change it's a real threat to get that filter off. My advice would be take it somewhere. I always change my own oil, this time i wish i had taken it too the dealer or somwhere.

 

I can also testify that removing the oil filter for the first oil change was a total pain in the rear-end! My wife heard me swearing from inside the house! It was all mangled up by the time I got it off.

 

We were at the Ford dealer the other day talking to them about trading our Silverado in on a 2007 F150. I talked to a few of the service guys and asked them what oil they used in their own vehicles. Most of them said they used Valvoline but some used Motorcraft.

Whenever we have waranty work done on our Silverado I talk to the guys at the Chevrolet dealer and everyone of them say they use Valvoline.

I asked at both the Ford and Chevrolet dealerships about Hovoline since I have read where some people like it and they ALL say that they would never use Havoline, Pennzoil or Quaker State oil.

When I told them that I have read about people that like Havoline they said who are you going to listen to, people that have UOA's done and go by that or people that work on engines every day that have been run on those other oils and see the damage done by them.

I have always used Valvoline oil and will use in our new truck, Ford or Chevrolet.

 

You can use what ever oil you want to, it's your engine. As long as it says it meets Ford's tough 930A spec, (there are many oils that don't in 5w20 form) and is SM rated, that oil will protect the engine just fine.

Every engine reacts differently to engine oils, regardless of brand.

BTW, Valvoline's CRMO tool doesn't reccomend any of thier oils for my '04 F150, no matter what info I put in. It just defaults to synpower.

IIRC, Valvolines 5w20 doesn't meet the Ford 930A spec.

http://www.valvoline.com/crmo/vehicle.asp