oil change schedule
Thread Starter
|
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,622
Likes: 0
From: nevada
oil change schedule
Just bought a '05 F150 4WD with 3500m on it. Is it too soon to do an oil change and use syn oil? Not sure about break in mileage. Now the 'ol '72 can have a well deserved rest, but she will still get started now and then.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 377
Likes: 0
From: your town
Originally Posted by baitmaster
Just bought a '05 F150 4WD with 3500m on it. Is it too soon to do an oil change and use syn oil? Not sure about break in mileage. Now the 'ol '72 can have a well deserved rest, but she will still get started now and then.
MMNC (SS)(Ret)
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 11,604
Likes: 148
From: SE Georgia
I changed the oil the 1st time at 3400 miles and it was pitch black. I'd recommend using the Motorcraft 5w20 they sell at Wallyworld and the motorcraft filter. it is semi-synthetic and is the same oil FORD dealerships will use to change your oil.
make sure to get a good filter wrench that acts like a socket on the end of the filter. the factory filter is on SUPER tight and you'll have one heck of a time getting it off.
as for synthetic, in the old days you had to worry about special blends and parrafins. nowadays, the synthetic is the way to go if you've got the money to spend. alot of the high end vehicles use synthetic from day one and never have problems. I would use it myself, but I follow the 3 month, 3,000 mile schedule religiously and paying that kind of money isn't in my budget.
make sure to get a good filter wrench that acts like a socket on the end of the filter. the factory filter is on SUPER tight and you'll have one heck of a time getting it off.
as for synthetic, in the old days you had to worry about special blends and parrafins. nowadays, the synthetic is the way to go if you've got the money to spend. alot of the high end vehicles use synthetic from day one and never have problems. I would use it myself, but I follow the 3 month, 3,000 mile schedule religiously and paying that kind of money isn't in my budget.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 113
Likes: 0
From: Seattle, Wa
My first oil change was at 1500 miles. I change my oil every 5000 miles now using the Motorcraft 5w20 syn blend from Wall Mart. Wall Mart sells the oil in 5 quart jugs which is easier to deal with.
Shawn
Shawn
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,511
Likes: 0
From: Marion, VA
Originally Posted by Shawn1024
My first oil change was at 1500 miles. I change my oil every 5000 miles now using the Motorcraft 5w20 syn blend from Wall Mart. Wall Mart sells the oil in 5 quart jugs which is easier to deal with.
Shawn
Shawn
Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,536
Likes: 200
From: southeast PA
I'm going with tylus here. I don't give a damn what they say you can do for oil change intervals, oil is considerably cheaper than jeopardizing your engine. The 5000 mile interval is pretty much for highway only miles as defined by Ford. Anything other that highway is considered "severe" and then your go back to oil changes every 3k. My truck only goes about 12-1500 miles in three months, but the oil is changed religiously at the 3 month mark, within a day or two. I use the motorcraft 5w-20 and motorcraft filter. My daily driver gets mobil 1 syn, and still gets the oil changed every 3k. You wouldn't believe how clean this engine is for 130,000 miles. I just changed it today, it was overdue by 2 miles! I did the first oil change on my truck at about 1100 miles, and that oil filter is a bear!
Trending Topics
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 264
Likes: 0
From: SE Michigan
First oil change was at 1000 miles, then every 3000 to 3500 since. Cheap insurance to keep the motor in good working order.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Thread Starter
|
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,622
Likes: 0
From: nevada
Thanks for the input. I've always wondered exactly how much syn is actually in the syn blends. Anyone ever seen a percentage? I guess it could be 1% syn and 99% crude, and it would still be called a syn blend on the shelf? I once perused the Valvoline oil website, and they explained that the syn has much smaller particles being it is a man made product, than the stuff pumped out of the ground. So, voila, less friction and wear!It gets hot out here (115) in the summer, and I wondered about such a light grade oil. But I guess they know what they are talking about in the manual. So with 3600m on the new motor, I dont know if it has been changed yet, although it is very clean on the dipstick. maybe I will just change it, so I'm not wondering.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 320
Likes: 0
From: South Jersey
I'm a little on the finatical side with mine. I did the first oil change at 2000 miles on my 06 KR. I now do every oil change at 3000 miles, I know the book says 5k and so do most others but I just can't bring myself to wait that long. I figure oil is cheap the vehicle is not, one less thing to ever have to worry about. I switched to Mobil 1 full syn 5w20 at about 6k. I've had Fords since 1978 and have had several go over 200k miles and not have any problems so I must be doing something right.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,536
Likes: 200
From: southeast PA
Baitmaster, an easy way to see if it's been done is to crawl under and look at the oil filter. If it's all white with no markings it's original, and unless your up for a fight, I'd just let the dealer get the stupid thing off. Mine was a bear, as with most others. If it has any markings on it like "motorcraft" or any other brand it's been done. even if it has been done, doing it again sure won't hurt.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,283
Likes: 0
From: Racine county, WI
Originally Posted by baitmaster
Thanks for the input. I've always wondered exactly how much syn is actually in the syn blends. Anyone ever seen a percentage?
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,479
Likes: 4
Just follow the change interval to the type of driving you do as documented in the owners manual.
Based on the recommended change interval it doesn't pay to use full synthetic oil since the MC 5w-20 is synth blend it provides nearly the protection full synth does at the recommended change interval and only costs a little over $2 per qt, there is no advantage.
Based on the recommended change interval it doesn't pay to use full synthetic oil since the MC 5w-20 is synth blend it provides nearly the protection full synth does at the recommended change interval and only costs a little over $2 per qt, there is no advantage.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,283
Likes: 0
From: Racine county, WI
Originally Posted by KevinM
Just follow the change interval to the type of driving you do as documented in the owners manual.
Based on the recommended change interval it doesn't pay to use full synthetic oil since the MC 5w-20 is synth blend it provides nearly the protection full synth does at the recommended change interval and only costs a little over $2 per qt, there is no advantage.
Based on the recommended change interval it doesn't pay to use full synthetic oil since the MC 5w-20 is synth blend it provides nearly the protection full synth does at the recommended change interval and only costs a little over $2 per qt, there is no advantage.
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,409
Likes: 1
I have to agree: changing the oil on a regular basis is the best insurance you can buy! I did my first oil change at 1000 miles, and have changed it every 3000 miles since. Not too much $ to protect a great truck!