I apologize if I am about to beat a dead horse but I have searched this site over and over again. All of the opinions have many different variables involved with them from the temps where they live, how much they haul, how heavy they haul, how many miles are on there engine and so on.

I want to do the best I can for MY truck so here goes... I live in South Eastern PA where the winter temp can be anywhere from 40 F above and down to 0 F at night but averages in the 30's F most of the time. I will probably put on close to 10,000 miles this winter with about 40% of that hauling between 3000 and 7000 pounds. My truck has 125,000 miles on it and is due for an oil change now.

Some of my questions are what weight oil should I run and when should I run that weight. I am also torn between putting in the standard weight oil and trying to put 5,000 miles on it before it gets cold enough to put the lighter weight oil in or should I go ahead and put the light stuff in now BUT is it to warm for the light weight oil yet. Some posters say you can damage the engine by pulling heavy in warm weather with a light oil?

Like I said I have read so many posts I am just a tad perplexed. My C11 Cat with 310,000 miles isnt even as fussy as this 7.3 due to everything the oil controls in this PSD!

This PSD is worse to figure out than a high maintenance woman!!

Thanks in advance for any help!

 

Forget you even read this post!!! After I posted my question I saw my Local buddy Big Poppa just posted basically the same question a couple hours ago. I guess I should have read up on the forum just one more time LOL!!! I will read up on his thread and do the exact same thing he is!!

SORRY!!!!

 

Alot of us use Shell Rotella syn 5w/40 and use it year round.. Quicker starts and a quieter engine and your turbo will last longer..the injectors love it too... and no romps..

 

Thanks Clint, I think I am going to run 15W40 for the next 5 then go to the 5W40 Syn after that for the winter months.

I just had questions about running the 5W40 over the hot summer months while towing loads. Some have said it is too light??

 

Both oils, at operating temperatures,... are viscosity of "40"... That's why you can use 5w40 year round..

 

Thanks for the kind words brother. IMO, since your going about 10,000 miles here soon in the winter, just get the Rotella synthetic 5w-40 with a new filter and you'll be golden. You won't have any problem with the romps on those very cold mornings and your truck will thank you, mine does. I haven't had time to update my thread but the T-5 10w-30 is going back and I'm just throwing the syn. 5w-40 in, it will last all winter.

 

Thanks guys..now I know which way to go finaly!!!

 

Just updated it Rob, have fun.

 

how long is the 5w-40 synthetic rotella good to run? i normally run between 5-7k between oil changes running regular 15w-40 rotella

 

It's good to run until it needs to be changed. The only way to determine that is with a used oil analysis. Many here use Blackstone Labs.

 

il have to check into an oil analysis but idk if il have time to do it till i get home. im going to try to run it until christmas when i go home it will prob have around 7-10k on it by then

 

I just moved to the philidelphia area; Where you guys located. Im still getting used to the layout. I used regular motocraft oil while in Maine, and did not have one issue with the cold. I do regular OA and i can go 10k easily on the oil. Last oil change was at 13k I believe. I will more then likely still use motorcraft oil from walmart and the fl-1995 filter. Maybe when I do the next oilchange ill go with the synthetic, but it depends on how thick my wallet is at the time. Id like to try the schaeffer oil, but we will see.

 

Welcome to PA, JR!! You a Flyers fan by chance? I am down in the Southern End of Lancaster County, about 1 1/4 hours South of you, straight down RT.1.

 

If you only do a few OA then blackstone is ok. I prefer schaeffer because it's cheaper (13 each test) and we have a very experianced person among us who can help us out. Whitebuffalo has given me some very good feedback on how my truck is surviving after 230k miles. I go 10-14k per oilchange. I test around 9-10k and when the oa comes back good then I go the reccomended amount more. I've had great luck with schaeffer.

 

Got a link to Schaffer's testing site please??