Anyone change the oil yet in their 7.3L? What are you running?
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Joined: Jun 2020
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Anyone change the oil yet in their 7.3L? What are you running?
Curious to see what people that aren’t on the factory fill are running. Will be looking at doing mine at the end of next month after 2 more long camping trips.
More Turbo
Joined: Jun 2020
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From: Texas Hill Country
I'm curious as well. The specs call for synthetic blend and I wonder if many people are using full synthetic, and, if so, why. I'm planning to buy a maintenance plan from Zeigler and the blend is cheaper. I figure using the spec oil is plenty good, especially with 5k changes, but I'm here to learn!
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From: Texas Hill Country
Interestingly, my owners manual doesn't mention the full synthetic as an alternative. It doesn't mention an alternative at all. The 6.7 diesel engine shows full synthetic as an option, but the 7.3 gas doesn't. The only options the 7.3 shows is a different weight for extreme cold environments.
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Yeah, I misread it completely and you are totally correct. It shows the synthetic blend and then lists the “Super Premium Motor Oil” which is apparently the Canadian spec. It doesn’t list the Full Synthetic, which is weird to me since according to the Motorcraft site the Full Synthetic meets the same spec.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2015
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From: Boise
Just changed my oil Saturday as I hit 5k miles. Used 8 qts of 5/30 Napa Synthetic and a Napa platinum filter. It was the easiest oil change I have done in a long time. 1/2 Inch wrench for the drain plug and the oil filter wrench was the same one I had for my 6.2's.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2002
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From: Mansfield, TX USA
The Ford WSS-M2C946-B1 is an update to acknowledge the reduction in additives (I think calcium) in order to address the LSPI issue in direct injected, turbocharged engines. The spec is roughly equivalent to the SN+ API rating.
As the 7.3 is not turbocharged, LSPI is not really an issue, and any SN oil should be satisfactory. And the new SP designation has been approved and will be rolling out as we speak.
I have never been an advocate of syn oil, but the price between it and dino has narrow considerable in recent years. So much so that it rarely makes sense not to use syn.
Wally has this full syn 5w-30 made by Havoline that meets Ford WSS-M2C946-B1.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Havoline-...6-qt/537902742
If the Ford rating does not bother you, the Wally sells this 5w-30 full syn that is rated SN+
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Super-Tec...uarts/17133942
Personally, the only reason for Ford, GM, etc. to have their own spec is so that they can charge licensing fees in order for the manufacturer to be able to say "Approved".
GM, Ford, et al., are all members of the licensing organizations (API, etc.) and have input into the API specifications.
If Ford, GM, etc., all agreed that the API SN or SN+ specs were sufficient, why do they now need their own individual spec?
Another way to look at it is if the OEM says dino or semi-dino is acceptable, how can a full syn, of any brand, not be sufficient?
As the 7.3 is not turbocharged, LSPI is not really an issue, and any SN oil should be satisfactory. And the new SP designation has been approved and will be rolling out as we speak.
I have never been an advocate of syn oil, but the price between it and dino has narrow considerable in recent years. So much so that it rarely makes sense not to use syn.
Wally has this full syn 5w-30 made by Havoline that meets Ford WSS-M2C946-B1.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Havoline-...6-qt/537902742
If the Ford rating does not bother you, the Wally sells this 5w-30 full syn that is rated SN+
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Super-Tec...uarts/17133942
Personally, the only reason for Ford, GM, etc. to have their own spec is so that they can charge licensing fees in order for the manufacturer to be able to say "Approved".
GM, Ford, et al., are all members of the licensing organizations (API, etc.) and have input into the API specifications.
If Ford, GM, etc., all agreed that the API SN or SN+ specs were sufficient, why do they now need their own individual spec?
Another way to look at it is if the OEM says dino or semi-dino is acceptable, how can a full syn, of any brand, not be sufficient?
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More Turbo
Joined: Jun 2020
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From: Texas Hill Country
It all makes perfect a sense, but I can't figure out why Ford would specify blend and not even make full synthetic as an option. I'm looking at a maintenance plan and want to keep this truck for a long time, and there's a big price difference between the blend and full plans, so I've got to figure this out. I won't be towing regularly, but it'll be about 12k when I do and, on rare occasions, up mountains in NM (8k feet elevation). I'd like to know if using blend every 5k beats full synthetic every 7.5k. Probably hard to really answer.
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From: Mansfield, TX USA
The Zeigler site is quoting $5305 for a 8 year/150k miles plan with 7500 mile intervals and full syn and $6485 with dino oil and 5k change intervals. So yeah, over a grand difference.
If you go with the dino option, there is no guarantee you will get a blend. It might be pure dino. The specs on 5w-30 are not as hard to meet as say a 5w-20, which has to be a blend to meet specs. So with the dino option, you are going to get whatever 5w-30 the dealer has in his 55 gallon drum.
I suspect that your oil change light will come on between 5000 and 7500 miles if you are doing very much towing or idling. The Ford IOLM does not distinguish between dino and syn. So although the syn might be perfectly fine for 7500 miles, if the system says to turn on the light at 5500 miles, that is what it will do. So do you want to have the possibility of driving around with the oil change light on for 1000-2000 miles before you are allowed your next service?
If you go with the dino option, there is no guarantee you will get a blend. It might be pure dino. The specs on 5w-30 are not as hard to meet as say a 5w-20, which has to be a blend to meet specs. So with the dino option, you are going to get whatever 5w-30 the dealer has in his 55 gallon drum.
I suspect that your oil change light will come on between 5000 and 7500 miles if you are doing very much towing or idling. The Ford IOLM does not distinguish between dino and syn. So although the syn might be perfectly fine for 7500 miles, if the system says to turn on the light at 5500 miles, that is what it will do. So do you want to have the possibility of driving around with the oil change light on for 1000-2000 miles before you are allowed your next service?
Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2002
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From: Mansfield, TX USA
Ford is only going to recommend Motorcraft oil in the OM.
More Turbo
Joined: Jun 2020
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From: Texas Hill Country
My quote is for 8 years/100k miles, 5k intervals using “Synthetic Blend” for $1970 after the $200 discount code. It does specify the blend.
Im just trying to decide if full synthetic is worth it over the blend. Part of it is the fact full synthetic IS specified as an option on many Ford trucks, including the 6.7. But, it’s strangely omitted as an option for the 7.3. If Ford’s cost was somehow an issue, it wouldn’t be listed as an option on anything, especially the 6.7. Weird.
Im just trying to decide if full synthetic is worth it over the blend. Part of it is the fact full synthetic IS specified as an option on many Ford trucks, including the 6.7. But, it’s strangely omitted as an option for the 7.3. If Ford’s cost was somehow an issue, it wouldn’t be listed as an option on anything, especially the 6.7. Weird.
More Turbo
Joined: Jun 2020
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From: Texas Hill Country
I'm still trying to resolve this and checked the recommendation for the 6.2 liter. It has the same recommendation of the blend with no option for full synthetic. Aren't there tons of folks using full synthetic in 6.2s? It doesn't make sense unless Ford believes there's zero benefit to full vs blend, but that defies the common belief of what full offers. I hate mental dilemmas
Logistics Pro
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From: Mansfield, TX USA
Do I think 7500 with syn is plenty good enough? Yes. Yes I do. But I am not the IOLM.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2019
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From: Livingston Tx
I'm still trying to resolve this and checked the recommendation for the 6.2 liter. It has the same recommendation of the blend with no option for full synthetic. Aren't there tons of folks using full synthetic in 6.2s? It doesn't make sense unless Ford believes there's zero benefit to full vs blend, but that defies the common belief of what full offers. I hate mental dilemmas