So after much struggle with the credit union over things NOT posted by the credit bureau, we finally got financed today for the 05 Ranger sitting over at the Ford store for the last three to four weeks.

Anyhow, so we got all the paperwork done and got 'er bought. Had to come up and drive the 98 Dodge trade back to town. Man, wifey is HAPPY with her new ride. She's an 05, Xcab, 4x4, 4.0 V6, 5 spd, and a short 80k. It's kinda funny she's a year newer and a FEW less miles than my Super Duty!

So, with that said I had a couple of questions. It came with P255/70R16 tires, I'd never HEARD of that size (then again, all I do is LT), but with a little math our old Dodge had LT245/75R16's on it. the 255's are just a tad over 30" tall, the LT245's are 30.4" or so. Would there be any problem to put light truck tires on this sucker? I wouldn't imagine so, reason I'd look at it strongly is LT tires are MUCH more common around here.

Second is in regards to oil... We had the old Dodge and wife has been driving a borrowed 94 Ranger for the last few months. Those two are both old, high mileage stuff, and I was running whatever I had laying around. Ran a bunch of Mobil Clean 5000, Country Tuff (from Orshceln), and the old Ranger has a round of Cenex 15/40 diesel oil in it now (it's all I had on hand...).

I've run across Mystik motor oil at Orscheln, states it's "synthetic blend" and "super heavy duty" (aka diesel oil). I'm going to try some of the 15/40 in my Powerstroke next go 'round, however ya'll think I'd be kosher to test some of the 10/30 in the new Ranger? Whatever I do I'll probably give a shot, for at least a few oil changes, of running Lucas in my oil. I like the idea of Mystik because it's at least a syn blend but isn't near as pricey as Rotella (which I've been running in the SD), and if it works then I buy ONE brand of oil, in two grades, for EVERYTHING. Not going to put $19/gal oil in my old tractor.

Anyhow, thanks!

 

Pretty sure you should use 5-20 per Ford. Dealer put in 5-20 Mobile-1 on warranty service last week. I wouldn't eff around with weird oil weights or types.

 

spence13e, those LT type tires will give a bit rougher ride. But if they have the tread pattern you want then go for it. I had some Bridgestone Duelers on my 91 Ranger that were pretty rough. Noticed a big nice change when I went to BFG T/A's. For the oil, stick with what Ford recommends. Motorcraft has synthetic blend 5W20 which is what it needs. And stick with the Motorcraft oil filter too. Some stores sell both items.

 

Doesn't 4.0 run 5W30? 5W20 is for 2.3 and 3.0

 

I use what the label on the filler tube sez.

 

manual says 5W30. and it seems in my experience that running 10W30 doesn't HURT anything.

and talked to my tire man today. he can get the 245/75R16's in the std load (ala 4 ply), 25 bucks a pop cheaper than the LT 6ply. guess that's what i'll be going with. damn 255/70's were 42 a pop more than the 4 ply 245's.

any suggestions on these things? this will be the first time i've had a DECENT gasser to take care of on a normal basis for a while. figure i need the thing to run to ~200k before i want to sell her.

 

The Single Over Head Cam (SOHC) 4.0L needs it top end lubed right away.

10W30 might take awhile longer than 5W30 but it's your call.

I'm simple minded and engineers with proper training and on the job experience decided to label the filler tube for guys like me.

 

LOL! well, i don't claim to be a smarty guy at ALL. now, i do know that i've run 15/40 dsl oil in a few gassers designed for 5/30 or 10/30 with no problems, but that's ALL older stuff...