OIl changes, and oil types - Diesel Forum

70boss · 09-13-2003, 03:48 PM

I just bought a 2000 Ex. LTD. PSD, with 40,000 miles. The truck runs and pulls great, but i have a few questions. Obviously the dealers want you to change the oil every 3000 miles....what are most of you doing for oil? I see people are waiting 5000, or 100000 miles or more. What changes or oil should I be using?

Thanks,

Rob

ScaldedDog · 09-14-2003, 10:33 PM

I change mine every 5000, and use Shell Rotella. You'll get lots of different optinions on this, though. You might post your question in the 7.3 forum. It gets more traffic than this one.

Mark

rxbike · 09-14-2003, 11:37 PM

5000 miles and Rotella-T or Delo 400 is all you'll need unless you are running the vehicle extremely hard and towing quite a bit then check your oil for foaming . In this case, change at 3000 miles. Remember that the oil change is more expensive than a gasser due to the 16 qts of oil to be used. Walmart has been the cheapest around here including motorcraft filter /shell rotella T for 43.99
Dan

crumm · 09-15-2003, 04:02 AM

I change the oil in both my PSD's at 5000 miles and use Mobil Delvac 1300. I use to use Cat oil since I was buying it in quantity for my Cat engine but since I sold my truck I have switched over to the Delvac because I heard that Mobil makes Cat's oil. If you are doing a lot of heavy pulling or extended idling it would be a good idea to change it at 3000 miles. You can get oil filters on ebay for $9.00 if you don't have a wal-mart handy.

pabrannan · 09-15-2003, 10:22 AM

Using Rotella and changing at 3 or 5k.

jschira · 09-15-2003, 10:49 AM

I got some Purolator filters at Sears for $2.99. I also use Motorcraft FL-1995 from Walmart at $9.95.

I use Walmart Tech-2000 15w-40 oil. I bought QuakerState once because it was only $0.05/quart more that Tech-2000. So long as they are API CH or CI rated, they meet OEM requirements.

I only use my X to tow, mostly in the summer. I usually change after a tow, which is 2500-3000 miles, just because I like to do it and it doesn't cost that much. Makes me feel better, but probably isn't needed. Besides, working on my truck out in the barn is very therapeutic for me. Been married going on 19 years.

Ford recommends 5000 mile intervals. In everyday driving, there is no reason to change any sooner.

I had a 1999 GM with the "Oil Minder". It usually went off at around 4400 miles.

I lease 2 Volvos. OEM recommends 7500 mile intervals. I let them go 7500 miles because I am giving them back.

Bruce1954 · 09-15-2003, 04:42 PM

I change it every 4,000 I have a digital pressure gauge with the sender at the rear main port, last and lowest pressure place in the system as I understand it. I have the alarm set to go off at 20 or 22 PSI, can't remember, anyway it never goes off until I get up around 3800 or so on the oil, then the idle pressure definatly drops off. This tells me the oil does start breaking down at about this time. Interesting thing though if I use all Shell Rotella or mix in 2 gal of the Shell Synthetic it does not seem to make any difference. I mix in the synthetic in the winter. I use one gal in the colder temps then the Jan change I use 2 gal, then go back to just one.
The way it works out I don't even have to remember to change it the pressure alarm lets me know. Time to do the 64K change, guess I will do the trans again also.

I have seen it as low as 18PSI on a hot day with old oil and it has a peak recorded of 102PSI on start up.

Bruce

Ken1 · 09-15-2003, 07:26 PM

I changed at 4,700 miles with By Pass filter system installed. I change full filter every 10K with each oil sample, The "X" not has 85,000 miles on truck and 80,000+ on one oil change.
PS
I also add a quart of oil about every 4,500 miles
Ken

shamuex2000 · 09-17-2003, 10:22 AM

Get the Motorcraft filter at Wall Mart. I took apart the Purolator from Sears and the Motorcraft, and they are not the same inside so I use the Motorcraft. I vote for Chevron Delo 400 oil over Rotella. Bruce, with your pressure set-up, would you be interested in trying Delo and see if the alarm goes off at the same time as the Rotella? My opinion is that Delo will hold its viscosity and anti-foam properties longer than Rotella. I seldom see any significant drop in viscosity after 5K miles on my Blackstone report. Also the pour point temp is lower for 15W-40 Delo than it is for 10W-30 Rotella, so I don't have to switch oils in the winter. For more info on oil, you can go to the oil analysis tables on this site, or go to this site for some interesting reading, http://bobistheoilguy.com/ and consider sending a sample of your oil to Blackstone Labs (they'll send you a sample kit free) and for $18, see how your engine is doing. Dale

Bruce1954 · 09-20-2003, 12:42 AM

Might be worth a try,
I have not been to concerned about engine life as I my last 302 and the 351 in the van went 178 and 192K with no problems and very little oil consuption. I saw my old van around town the other day still no blue smoke at all and it must have close to 1/4M on the original untouched engine! I talked to the guy a while back it had 225k on it and he had not done anything major to it.