Switching to synthetic?
12-01-2016, 07:48 PM
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Switching to synthetic?
Have a '99 F150, 5.4 Triton with 61+k miles. I'm thinking about changing over to synthetic oil. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
12-01-2016, 07:51 PM
#2
Senior Member
Thats a good question, I know that I've always been told that if you run synthetic oil that you should never switch to conventional oil, but have never heard vice versa. I know I have always bought new vehicles and the first thing I do is switch to full synthetic, so following this thread.
12-01-2016, 08:21 PM
#4
Junior Member
Thread Starter
12-01-2016, 08:24 PM
#5
There was a lot of myths about conventional vs synthetic oils in the early days.
Most debunked.
Ive run mobil 1 in most of my vehicles. 242000 miles on z71 before I got rid of it. 255000 and counting on Honda pilot, runs like new.
Engine longevity has more to do with quality of engine assembly and mfg than oil used though, as long as you change it often.
The usual thought is 3000 miles for conventional, 5000 for synthetic may be OK.
I suspect synthetic blend is OK. I read a test once that did compare full synthetic, and convetional with some synthetic. The conclusion was that a single qt of synthetic added to an oil change produced results about the same as full synthetic.
Im using motorcraft 5w20 synthetic blend, and changing every 3000 miles.
Most debunked.
Ive run mobil 1 in most of my vehicles. 242000 miles on z71 before I got rid of it. 255000 and counting on Honda pilot, runs like new.
Engine longevity has more to do with quality of engine assembly and mfg than oil used though, as long as you change it often.
The usual thought is 3000 miles for conventional, 5000 for synthetic may be OK.
I suspect synthetic blend is OK. I read a test once that did compare full synthetic, and convetional with some synthetic. The conclusion was that a single qt of synthetic added to an oil change produced results about the same as full synthetic.
Im using motorcraft 5w20 synthetic blend, and changing every 3000 miles.
12-01-2016, 08:29 PM
#6
Had a 97 with 4.6L that I used Mobile 1 since 28k, which was the miles when I purchased it, and sold with over 180k. Still ran great and didn't use any oil. Current 03 truck I have with 4.6L been using syn. blend since purchasing five years ago with 117k. Has a bit over 150k on the clock now, still runs great and doesn't use any oil so can't tell you which is better. Both full syn. and syn. blend seem to work good.
12-01-2016, 08:34 PM
#7
I would stick with the 5w20 Motorcraft that Ford put in when it was new. How often you change is really more about where, and how you drive. City stop and go, I'd go 3000 with the blend. My driving is mostly highway, so I go 5000 on the F150 with the blend, and 9-10K Synthetic on the Mazda. Motorcraft, and OEM Mazda filters.
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12-01-2016, 08:43 PM
#8
12-01-2016, 08:49 PM
#9
Junior Member
Thread Starter
I don't drive it as a daily driver. I'm retired and will use it to pull my popup camper and on occasion my 21ft pontoon boat. Living on the lake I may pull the boat to another lake, at the absolute most, maybe once a year. Otherwise a trip to LOWES once in awhile. I won't put 1500 miles a year on it.