Who of you are running synthetic oil in your tow vehicle, do you find it helps with diesel/gas mileage like they claim? Also do you use any additives that help with diesel/gas? We are planning a long trip in our F350 towing a 34ft 5th. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Harry, Karen, and Mom
Sandy, Sassy, Missy, and Candy
Ford F350, Ext CC, PSD, SRW, LB
99 Mobile Scout 33RLTS
Inquisitive wrote: Who of you are running synthetic oil in your tow vehicle, do you find it helps with diesel/gas mileage like they claim? Also do you use any additives that help with diesel/gas? We are planning a long trip in our F350 towing a 34ft 5th. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Better mileage, runs cooler, runs stronger.
I use Royal Purple, everything else is just crude. Royal Purple Link
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I've ran synthetic for a lot of yours, all the way from my trucks, to cars, and large farm tractors. One main reason I run it is for less wear on the engine, and extended oil changes. I still change the filter at about 3000 miles. I really haven't paid much attention as whether it helps with mileage or not. As far as fuel additives we always run Stanodyne in our 6.0 diesels, and farm tractors. We also do this for longer life of injectors and pumps. I'm not sure it would help on mileage, but can't hurt. I also know it helps with pump lubrication, as well as keeping it all clean.
I really think the best way for all of us to help on mileage is to slow down. I usually run 70. I've been thinking about trying 60. Sure will be hard. Our biggest problem in the Texas Panhandle is wind. It just destroys mileage. We can lose 1-3 MPG, pulling the 5th
I run Amsoil in all my engines, even the Honda lawn mower.
I get better mileage in my gas engines than I did using dino oil.
As for my CTD, haven't noticed any better mileage yet, but it only has 11,000 miles on it. It does run quieter & cooler, though.
There are more advantages than just mileage in using a quality synthetic oil.
As they say, IMHO.
Oh, my lawn mower is just as hard to push, even when using synthetic; go figure.
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I dunno about the mileage claim, I've never noticed that.
But...
We run synthetic in out tow vehicles solely for the cold starting during the winter. In the winter at -30f, or even -10f, you can start a vehicle with dyno oil. Have the oil changed to synthetic then the next day start the vehicle, you wouldn't believe the difference. It's truely amazing.
For a low tech comparison take 2 quarts of oil, 1 dyno and 1 syn, get the same weight of oil for a true apples to apples compare. Toss them both in the coldest deep freeze you can find. After 24 hours pull out the oil and pour each of them into a different container, you'll see what I mean by being different.
I use Shell Rotella Syn in the engine and BG syn in the trans and differential on my TV. I use Amsoil in my gen set on the fiver and in my gen at the house.
Inquisitive
I frequent several commercial/hotshot webs and with the price of diesel threatening to put these folks out of business this question gets asked almost daily. Just about all responders report no gain in mpg's. Some like to use it with extended oil change service and others claim the higher price of the synthetic negates any saving vs regular dino as we will see here. As with any product I would try it in your particular vehicle and see for you own satisfaction if you have any gain that actually saves money through more mpg's.
Jim
'03 2500 Dodge/Cummins HO 3.73 6 speed manual Jacobs
'97 Park Avanue 28' with two slides
I have been using synthetic in my cars, trucks, and even the lawn mower for years.
To be honest I have never notice any mileage difference. If it is there, it is very small. The two things that make me a user of synthetic are, 1st, already mention, is the cold weather operation. Oil gets to all of the moving parts much quicker than with dino oil.
The 2nd and most important to me is the oil's ability to hold its viscosity better (longer) which also keeps it from frying (burning) sooner. I always feel better knowing that the oil should hold up to the higher temperature that the turbo creates in my CTD. I know you should give the turbo a cool down period, but even still it's nice to know that the synthetic oil can take that punishment better and help save and protect the turbo.
The heat element is why I am a true believer in using in lawn mower which is air cooled and runs hotter than a liquid cooled engine.
If you have to ask why I drive a Diesel, then you will never understand.
I have used Mobil 1 in my vehicles since way back when. Mobil makes a 5w40 for Turbo Diesels which is what I have used in my truck for about the last 120,000 miles. I don't know if I get better mpg on syn oil. In 1994, I had a '90 mercury cougar (3.8 liter) with 110,000 miles on it. My DW had a '94 T-bird with the same engine. My engine was running just as strong, and I was getting the same mpg as T-bird. I suspect the oil was helping it last. A number of people had head gasket problems with this engine. I didn't have a problem with either engine. I sold my cougar with 175,000 miles, and it was still running strong.
I use Mobil 1 to help my engine last. I figure I would rather pay a little more at each oil change than replace the engine. I change my own oil and it runs about $100. $5.50 * 15 quarts and $10 for a Mobil 1 oil filter and change every 5,000 miles vs. $2.50 * 15 Quarts and $5 - $10 for an oil filter and change oil every 3,000 miles.
I guess we all have our preference , and that is why they make so many brands of oil.
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