3.7 V6 Review
#221
Chrisj
My point related to you taking the dealers advice over just following the OLM. Folks have done used oil analysis at 10K miles on factory fill oil, which is typically the most contaminated oil in an engines existence, and found that 10K miles was fine. The OLM will allow that interval under certain usage.
Also, the OLM will count a year from the last change and notify you of that as well.
Also, the OLM will count a year from the last change and notify you of that as well.
All I know is the '94 4.9 I-300 motor in the truck I just sold had 220K miles on it and didnt burn a drop of oil, ran well for an old thing and I never never had a wet plug or had the need to add oil inbetween changes. I changed it at 3K miles for the whole 19 years I had the thing and never used synthetic oil. The gas mileage and power was the same at 220K miles as it was at new. I was a happy camper.
Im going to go to synthetic on my 2011 3.7 and change it at 5K and I will hear the same things........"You are wasting money" Its my money, and I recycle oil so its not wasted.
This 3.7 is such a good motor I just want to give it the best and hope it does as good as my last one
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dguzzi (01-21-2024)
#222
That's cool, I'm not criticizing.
My take is that; all evidence points to it being a waste of time and money, I'm posting that for clarity sake for others who are reading and thinking about the same thing. I put 23000 miles on last year, so doing oil changes every 5 is a colossal waste of time, money, and resources, and would effectively make it my new hobby.
I run Mobil1 0W20 and follow the IOLM. I figure if the IOLM is adequate, (with regular oil), that synthetic oil is my insurance, and also -30 starts are torture with dino juice.
Changing it more often is unnecessary, as suggested by Ford, and as proven by used oil analysis, beyond that, most debates get to excruciating minutia that is not required. I think quite simply, follow the factory recommendation, and use synthetic if you are concerned about........... whatever you are concerned may happen with dino juice. Beyond that, UOA has shown that even the cheapest SN classification oils are more than adequate, and are as good or better than some synthetic have been in the past.
A quick note on duty cycles as well. I would estimate in the first year of owning my truck, it has done in the range of 2000 or so shifts at WOT at 7000 rpm, and over 6000 miles of towing. I guess I will be the designated (or not) durability tester of the 3.7 / 6 speed combo.
Enjoy your truck, it is a good one.
My take is that; all evidence points to it being a waste of time and money, I'm posting that for clarity sake for others who are reading and thinking about the same thing. I put 23000 miles on last year, so doing oil changes every 5 is a colossal waste of time, money, and resources, and would effectively make it my new hobby.
I run Mobil1 0W20 and follow the IOLM. I figure if the IOLM is adequate, (with regular oil), that synthetic oil is my insurance, and also -30 starts are torture with dino juice.
Changing it more often is unnecessary, as suggested by Ford, and as proven by used oil analysis, beyond that, most debates get to excruciating minutia that is not required. I think quite simply, follow the factory recommendation, and use synthetic if you are concerned about........... whatever you are concerned may happen with dino juice. Beyond that, UOA has shown that even the cheapest SN classification oils are more than adequate, and are as good or better than some synthetic have been in the past.
A quick note on duty cycles as well. I would estimate in the first year of owning my truck, it has done in the range of 2000 or so shifts at WOT at 7000 rpm, and over 6000 miles of towing. I guess I will be the designated (or not) durability tester of the 3.7 / 6 speed combo.
Enjoy your truck, it is a good one.
#223
Chrisj
That's cool, I'm not criticizing.
My take is that; all evidence points to it being a waste of time and money, I'm posting that for clarity sake for others who are reading and thinking about the same thing. I put 23000 miles on last year, so doing oil changes every 5 is a colossal waste of time, money, and resources, and would effectively make it my new hobby.
I run Mobil1 0W20 and follow the IOLM. I figure if the IOLM is adequate, (with regular oil), that synthetic oil is my insurance, and also -30 starts are torture with dino juice.
Changing it more often is unnecessary, as suggested by Ford, and as proven by used oil analysis, beyond that, most debates get to excruciating minutia that is not required. I think quite simply, follow the factory recommendation, and use synthetic if you are concerned about........... whatever you are concerned may happen with dino juice. Beyond that, UOA has shown that even the cheapest SN classification oils are more than adequate, and are as good or better than some synthetic have been in the past.
A quick note on duty cycles as well. I would estimate in the first year of owning my truck, it has done in the range of 2000 or so shifts at WOT at 7000 rpm, and over 6000 miles of towing. I guess I will be the designated (or not) durability tester of the 3.7 / 6 speed combo.
Enjoy your truck, it is a good one.
My take is that; all evidence points to it being a waste of time and money, I'm posting that for clarity sake for others who are reading and thinking about the same thing. I put 23000 miles on last year, so doing oil changes every 5 is a colossal waste of time, money, and resources, and would effectively make it my new hobby.
I run Mobil1 0W20 and follow the IOLM. I figure if the IOLM is adequate, (with regular oil), that synthetic oil is my insurance, and also -30 starts are torture with dino juice.
Changing it more often is unnecessary, as suggested by Ford, and as proven by used oil analysis, beyond that, most debates get to excruciating minutia that is not required. I think quite simply, follow the factory recommendation, and use synthetic if you are concerned about........... whatever you are concerned may happen with dino juice. Beyond that, UOA has shown that even the cheapest SN classification oils are more than adequate, and are as good or better than some synthetic have been in the past.
A quick note on duty cycles as well. I would estimate in the first year of owning my truck, it has done in the range of 2000 or so shifts at WOT at 7000 rpm, and over 6000 miles of towing. I guess I will be the designated (or not) durability tester of the 3.7 / 6 speed combo.
Enjoy your truck, it is a good one.
#224
Here is something I dont' get....buying recycled oil, well refurbished oil. I wouldn't be against it, but and its a big one, how the hell are you going to charge me more or equal to a new qt of oil?
Makes no sense.
Makes no sense.
#225
0Wxx is a better oil in any cold climate than 5W, and as long as it is a quality synthetic, has nothing but benefits. I'm guessing it will be spec on most in not too long.
#226
Well I have put 140 kilometers, on it in 2 times mostly road doing around 65 and getting about 14.5 according to the computer on the dash. Overall i am satisfied with it so far. I exchanged in a 07 extremely team, with the 3.6 3v and seemed to be getting around the same mileage.
#227
Well I have put 140 kilometers, on it in 2 times mostly road doing around 65 and getting about 14.5 according to the computer on the dash. Overall i am satisfied with it so far. I exchanged in a 07 extremely team, with the 3.6 3v and seemed to be getting around the same mileage.
#228
3.7 MPG-- 2014 stx 4x2 3.73 wth tow pkg
Hi, just over 2000 miles
On a 220 mile trip from city fwy traffic up and back down the mountain,
( up mountain is about 20 miles of the trip )
Average was 22mpg including the traffic and up/dwn mountain.
I get 24 mpg on open fwy at 70 mph, try not to hurry and pass snails.
16 mpg city if i'm hussling around stop to stop.
17.5 hitting some green lights on the boulevard at 40 to 45 mph
took off the 265-60-18's = 30.5 inches
put on Bridgestone duellers 265-65-18's= 31.5 inches
* the weight of tires also makes a big difference, not just
diameter increase... so i paid attention to that this time around
and Bridgstone's tire was only 1 pound per each heavier.
Rather than bfg a/t ( enjoyed previously) but several pounds heavier.
* a 10 pound heavier tire is like carrying an extra 100 pounds on board!
* Thats 100 pnds x 4 tires... YEP
On a 220 mile trip from city fwy traffic up and back down the mountain,
( up mountain is about 20 miles of the trip )
Average was 22mpg including the traffic and up/dwn mountain.
I get 24 mpg on open fwy at 70 mph, try not to hurry and pass snails.
16 mpg city if i'm hussling around stop to stop.
17.5 hitting some green lights on the boulevard at 40 to 45 mph
took off the 265-60-18's = 30.5 inches
put on Bridgestone duellers 265-65-18's= 31.5 inches
* the weight of tires also makes a big difference, not just
diameter increase... so i paid attention to that this time around
and Bridgstone's tire was only 1 pound per each heavier.
Rather than bfg a/t ( enjoyed previously) but several pounds heavier.
* a 10 pound heavier tire is like carrying an extra 100 pounds on board!
* Thats 100 pnds x 4 tires... YEP
Last edited by f150funtastic; 11-14-2014 at 01:07 PM.
#229
(A random northerner)
when i owned my 3.7, as others have said, the mileage really improved once it had a few thousand miles on it. i did a great deal of mountain driving and going up the steep grades the select shift transmission was extremely valuable in maintaining smooth RPMs for me. using the select shift to keep my rpms in the perfect range made that truck rip up grades with pretty much no lugging at all, and the mileage was excellent.
when i moved to my 5.0, i made absolutely sure that my new truck also had the towing package so i could have a select shift tranny. i don't even want to own a truck that doesn't have it now.
when i moved to my 5.0, i made absolutely sure that my new truck also had the towing package so i could have a select shift tranny. i don't even want to own a truck that doesn't have it now.
Last edited by 3.7; 11-14-2014 at 07:32 PM.
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isthatahemi (11-14-2014)
#230
Senior Member
I have a 2012 Supercab, 3.7 with a 3.73 geared rear end. I work out every tank of gas by hand. and l have just over 56,000kms (about 35,000 miles). l have an overall mileage average of 18MPG (U.S. gallon) in that time. That includes my winter driving, stop and go city driving, and highway travel going 110 - 130 KPH (70 - 80MPH). Some tanks l have been easy on it and got up 23MPG, and others l have driven where the last consideration was mileage. I think an overall average with all those factures, of 18MPG is pretty damn good, for a full size pickup. I'm very happy with that.