Hi, I'm changing my oil this weekend on my '97 4x4 which has 111,000 miles on it. Itll be the first time I perform this procedure. I cant seem to find any info. in my manuals about what weight oil, or what kind of oil I should use. Can someone recommend what oil I should buy for the truck I have? This is my primary vehicle. I put less than 100 miles/wk on it if that helps. Thanks guys.

 

Any API certified 5w30 is fine. Wal Mart's oil is one of the best you can buy right now. I think it's called Tech2000 or Supertech or something like that.

 

Motorcraft oil is a semi-synthetic like Valvolines dura-blend, I wouldn't use anything less. Be aware most dealerships buy their Motorcraft oil in bulk and can sell it much cheaper than your typical 1 quart container price, which means sometimes they can do the oil/filter change including labor for less than you can buy the parts for. Also your local dealer will use a Motorcraft oil filter and while the truck is on the hoist it will receive a safety inspection and all fluid get topped off at no extra charge. And they dispose of the old oil and filter.
Needless to say I let my local Ford dealer do it.

 

Smart man. The dealership is quite often one of the best values.

Consider running 0w30 in the winter, for increased fuel economy and reduced cold start wear.

 

Motorcraft 5W20 or 5W30 (your choice). or any oil of that weight depending on where you buy your oil.


but the most important thing... use a Motorcraft Filter, you can get them at walmart for $3.48.

i only pay 18 bucks to do an oil change myself the dealer want 24.99 for the same thing. plus i have to drive 15 miles to the dealership. so the dealer isn't always the best choice. just saying

 

I respect all of your opinions. Thanks a lot for the feedback!

 

Almost any oil you pull off the shelf now days is a synthetic blend. I can't think of a single one off the top of my head that doesn't have a little bit of synthetic in it.

 

Im curious man, how did you come to this conclusion??

 

Nothing but 5w20 Motorcraft synthetic Blend here.

 

Straight out of the mouth of a research chemist in the oil industry. He told us which ones weren't, but I can't remember which they were. Synthetic blend is nothing more than an advertising gimmick.

 

Was that just for the 5-30 oil that you mentioned before, or for all of their oil?

Very interesting information by the way. I know there are guys out that that would cal you nuts by saying the tech2000(or whatever its called) is better then esso, or shell or whatever!

 

I agree a synthetic blend is nothing more than ordinary oil mixed with a different type of ordinary oil. It has no real advantages over regular oil in any area. It does not have increased thermal stability, it does not lubricate better, it does not last longer. Most synthetics are a fraud too, being nothing more than a refined petroleum. A real synthetic will advertise it is good for at least 15,000 miles.

 

That is for all oil. I wish I could find my notes from that seminar, but they are in hiding somewhere.

I didn't say I used the Wally World oil, just that they currently have one of the best oils out there. I use Trop Artic. In this case, a brand name is worth a little more to me. That info is from the same chemist as the other info.

 

Regarding synthetic oils, they are VERY resistant to thermal breakdown and loss of viscosity, they will still be full of unfilterable sub-microscopic particles (abrasives) which
can cause engine damage. Even the BEST oil filters are a compromise between filteration ability and OIL FLOW. The greater the ability of the filter to strain out the particles, the more resistant to oil flow it becomes. I personally do not run my oil longer than 3months/3000 miles. 84 chevy cavalier/330k+, 91 geo metro/228k+, conventional oil.

 

I use Mobile 1 with a Motorcraft filter. I have always used 5w30, but just last week I put in the 0w30. Will probably stick with that through the winter. I have a 1997 f150,4.6,auto,4x4 with 215000 miles. All original, well a few things...