First oil change?? Mud flap??

[Marty Legarth]

How many miles do you guy's have before the first change? I drive mostly highway. How about suggestions for mud flaps.
Sorry for all the questions lately.
Marty

[johnnyk]

Marty, Here is what I did for mud flaps. I wish I had a pic for you as I think they turned out great and they have saved my vans from rusting out. I went to a truck supply store and bought some plain (no lettering) mud flaps. Then I took a utility knife with a new blade and with a straight edge sliced the mudflaps in half lengthwise. The bottom corners of the flaps can be rounded off with the knife too. Then you have to determine where on the body line you want to mount them. The top edge of my flaps are at the indentation (notch?)of the body line that runs horizontally to the rear of the rear wheel well ( approx. at the top of the tire on a horizontal line) When that is determined, you then mount a 3/4" X 1/8" strap from the outer wheel well to the inner wheel well and attach the top edge of the flap to that with 1/4" bolts. ( 3 or 4 should do ) Then using some self drilling/ tapping screws with washers, attach the flaps to the body with these screws.(starting at the top, so the flap follows the contour of the body) You are probably cringing about drilling thru that new body, but what are you going to do? I live in Ohio too and they use a lot of salt around here! You can do the same for the front but if you are going to use running boards like I do, then what I did was have the boards installed, then remove the front metal flap and mount the rubber flap to that with contact cement and then re-install the metal/rubber unit back onto the running board. Then run a 3/4' X 1/8" strap across the top edge from the outer wheel well to the inner wheel well and attach the top of the flap to that. The flap will follow the contour of the body and it seems like it will be too close to the tire but it works fine. (225/75/16" tires) Again I wish I had some pictures. By the way, if you have had running boards for a long time and then try to get in another van without them, it sure is awkward! I hope this helps, Johnny

[Yardbrew]

Marty,

I use Rotella T and change oil and filter every 3000 miles.

I send in a sample to Blackstone Labs every other oil change.

So far, the results are pristine. However, I only have 49K on my van at this time.

I change my own oil. It is a snap once you have the right containers and filter wrench.

My gut instinct says that synthetic oils are probably better. Also, some of the folks who frequent this forum have setups that allow them to sample their oil, send it in for analysis, and change when they need to. The people at Blackstone tell me that I can run my oil longer than 3000 miles, but habits are hard to break. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]

Yardbrew

On edit: I missed your question, sorry. I changed the first time at 3000 miles.

[2003E350]

I changed mine after the first 1K then every 5k. 4 gallons of Rotella and a Motorcraft filter. I do mostly highway. I also rotate the tires at the oil changes. I have 42k miles since new 10/02. I do not use oil between changes and I am on track to getting 60k out of the tires. I found custom molded mud flaps for the rear at Pep Boys and they fit perfect. No one makes them for the front. I bought a set of standard ones from Ford for $18 an cut them until they fit. They rub a little when I cut the wheel all the way but I don't care. It saves the paint.

[samsneaderoy]

[ QUOTE ]
I changed mine after the first 1K then every 5k.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm picking up my new 2003 E350 7.3 PSD in 10 days. Please help me sort out conflicting advice regarding the first oil change. Some say change at 1000 miles. Others say it comes with special additives in the oil for break in and the oil shouldn't be changed until 3000 or 5000 miles.

Which is correct?

Thanks. Arturo

[msnunes]

Ford claims you can wait until the 5k mark, others like to do it sooner, but I don't think it makes a difference. I changed first at 4200. Probably wouldn't hurt to do it earlier but I might wait until after the first 1000 when the rings have had a chance to seat... At the very least, you need to wait for that were you to change to synthetic oil - FYI.

[Yardbrew]

Cochise told me to leave it in until I changed at 3K. Said that it was "breakin" oil and was designed to help with the engine breakin.

I didn't ask what would happen if it stayed in my crankcase until 5K.

Yardbrew