Husband asked me to get the oil changed in the truck. In the past, we have just gotten the routine oil change.
However, since I am going this time: I thought I'd ask for your suggestions. The reason we have gotten the routine in the past still holds true. We do not get out much, only a few times a year since we still both work and only go, at the most, 4 hours. But, the truck is a 2004 and I was wondering if we should be using the synthetic oil to prolong its well-being or should I wait until we tow more?
You can switch to a synthetic at any time, and it would ultimatly benefit the engine, but likely several hundred thousand miles down the road! For example we know a lady with over 200,000 miles on her Subaru, regular Castrol oil.
Consumer Report Magazine had done a survey of folks who owned their cars in excess of 200,000 miles in 2007. 7000 readers had vehicles such as a 1994 Ford Ranger with almost 500,000 (!) miles, '90 Lexus with 332,000 miles, etc. The only thing in common with these owners was the fact that they maintained their engines, not one of them mentioned using a synthetic. Go figure!
But then on the other hand, 500,000 miles on a big rig using Amsoil with NO oil changes has been reported also! Your call.....
I've got over 80,000 towing miles on my 04 F-150 and have always used the OEM synthetic blend as it comes from the factory. The 5.4 engine is designed to work with their own synthetic blended Motorcraft 5W20 oil and it's always done a great job for me.
2004 F-250 SCREW Long Bed (new)
OR 2004 F-150 HD (85,000 towing miles) Rockwood 8314SS 34' travel trailer
We have enough YOUTH...how about a fountain of SMART
Thanks to all. I talked to DH at work, he is awake now compared to last night after an allnighter on a flight from Europe.
Seems the people who he has been dealing with had the oil type right on the window and that he had spoken to them about what we do with the vehicle (occational towing, etc.) and they agreed on the type of oil so I ended up there again though I think they charge too much.
I run a DP motorhome and had wanted to use synthetic oil because I felt it would be of more benefit to the engine and I could extend the change interval. I went to a Cummins engine seminar in which the speaker said you should change your oil at the recommended interval regardless of the type of oil used, so why spend the extra money for synthetic. Made sense to me; I use regular dino oil (Shell 15W-40)and change at 15K miles as Cummins recommends. Hope this helps.
2000 Expy with 270K miles on it. Mobil 1 oil and Mobil 1 oil filter every 10K miles. I have never been into the engine, trans or rearend. (Mobil 1 there too) I like the Mobil 1 filter because of the extra filter media it contains. Next time you are in AZone/Advance/PBoys look at and feel the weight difference between the Mobil 1 filter and the Fram/Wix/Purolator/STP branded filters for the same application. Now the big decision is weather to buy a new set of Michelins, and try to keep it to 350K miles, or bite the bullet and get a new Ford Expy XL to pull with.
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