Up Date On Using 10W-30 Oil

[BlueJay]

I was told today at the dealership that they did not have anything in writing from Ford when the tech said that I should be using 10W-30 oil in my truck. They said that the tech didn't know that I am pulling a 5th wheel trailer. They (I'm using they because I don't want to use the persons name) told me that they called Ford on the hotline and was told just what it states in the owners manual when towing heavy I'm to use 15W-40. If not towing then to use 10W-30. I don't know how the tech missed the 5th wheel tailgate on the truck and the bed rails for the reese hitch. Oh well it took a lot of phone calls and going to the dealers today to get the answer. So it was a whole lot of nothing. I had made up my mine if I didn't see it in writing from Ford I was going to use 15W-40 oil as I have in the past. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img] Thank you everybody for your help on this.

[MoeB]

Glad to hear you got to the bottom of things. Maybe the tech thought the 5th wheel gate was to make it easier to load groceries in the bed. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img]

[malkiman]

Does this mean if we are going to tow before the first oil change we should switch to 15w-40 even if the 3000-5000 miles are not up?

[POS]

Why not just use 15-40 all the time?

[hitecdan]

My grocery getter does just fine on 15W-40. I've never used a 10W-30. Maybe if I lived somewhere in the great white north, then maybe. But in California for my daily grocery store runs, 15W-40 no problem.

[ipkyss]

Mine won't run is the winter on 15/40. Romps, smokes, all kinds of bad stuff. 10/30 and its good to go. Whats wrong with 10/30 and towing?

[Sotoman]

Haven't really looked at my manual yet as far as what oil to use, but for the last 9 years, I have always used 15-40W in my 7.3l. Unless things have changed with the 6.0 motors, I thought 15-40W was mandatory due to the extra detergent it uses that 10-30W doesn't have. Haven't needed an oil change yet, but I will double check the manual when I do.

[hitecdan]

Motorcraft and others do make diesel engine rated 10W-30 oils, CH-4 and CI-4. But unless you live somewhere where it's cold, it's almost impossible to find. Another alternative to 10W-30 is a 5W-40 synthetic. Ford does not list it in the owner's manual as a "recommended" oil, but others have used it.

[FamilyRide]

[ QUOTE ]
Does this mean if we are going to tow before the first oil change we should switch to 15w-40 even if the 3000-5000 miles are not up?

[/ QUOTE ]

Kind of ironic huh? Manual says no towing until after 500 miles, yet it also says to use 15w-40 if you're towing. So yep, it would mean changing then oil according to that!

FYI I have a friend who is a performance boat dealer. He has an '03 he used to go pick up a couple of boats, one of which weighed about 7500 lbs and rove it from California back to Texas. The truck was new but with the distance, he did have 500+ miles on it, but hadn't changed the oil.

Truck is still used as a shop truck doing the same things and runs great!

[OT]

Tks. for update. Amazing, eh. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img]

FWIW (old news)...I've only used 10W/30 solo. Towing/hauling 15W/40. 15W/40 caused (sometimes) rompin/more smokin. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img] 10W/30 no rompin/less smokin.

Changed factory 10/30 to 15/40 under 3K mi. due to temps were 90+ for my first tow trip. Long story/short.. OA showed 15/40 sheared, under 3K mi. was in 10/30 range. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img] Yeah, that was towing in hot temps. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/phoney.gif[/img]

What, if any effect o.shearing has on 6L remains to be seen? JMO!However, after reading about shearing didnt leave me w/good feeling.

Currently using Schaeffer S.7000 Syn.blend 15W/40 CI 4. Havent done yet, but OA I saw & BStone confirmed, it held grade (viscosity) & didn't shear down low like Delo.15W/40. & others, incld. some syn. 5/40 etc.

Unfortunately S7000 is causing the rompin/more smokin to start. Just changed from delo.10/30 which didn't. Reflash might fix, but dont like what comes with it. Still on orig. settings. Got d.10W/30 at local Chevron fuel dealer Berry Hinckley. As mentioned can be hard to find. Haven't seen it at usual outlets.

So the oil saga continues for me & I suspect for others also. S.7000 apparently more stable, but rompin/smokin. Not sure Im gonna continue with it. Certainly is $$$.
I can run dino.15W/40 year round here, but...

Now, if I can just figure out how to read the o.level correctly. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img] OT

[04crew]

every f-350 diesel i have owned has had 10-30 amsoil put in it as soon as i got the new pick-up home. there has never been any problems with any of these 3 engines, nor any oil burning problems. the first two used 1 quart every 2500 miles. the new 6.0 uses a quart every 4,000 miles. ever since cummins made a bunch of big diesels that didnt use any oil and they all needed new pistns and sleaves, i like a diesel that lets a little oil past the scrapper rings.

[malkiman]

Thank you. I think i'll use synthetic because i will need the truck to tow a 10,000 lbs trailer with ony about 600 miles on the odometer. Thank you for the input. I didn't realize the trucks came with 10w-30 break in oil. That's what is great about this site!

[MoeB]

Other than the fact that the factory oil usually sees the most break-in activity, it's not really a break-in oil...just plain ol' 10w-30. There's nothing wrong with dumping it right after the 500 mile mark and putting in 15w-40 if you'll be doing heavy duty towing. I would not put synth in it until after a few thousand miles, as it may retard break-in. (I don't know this for a fact, but just to be safe.)

[rfarrelly]

just did my first Oil change at 3400 miles. I went to 15/40. Not because of preferance, but because thats all the shop had in 4 gallons....used plain old rotella Diesel oil. Hasn't given me any issues. And was pretty cheap. I personally don't know of anything bad about this oil, or great about it...so if any one knows fill me in.

FYI. on the '05 350. A 5 gallon bucket slid under the truck behind coil overs fits nicely under oilpan w/o jacking. Use a bucket with a nozzle on the bottom ( like the ones used to brew your own beer). And use some 1/4" mesh riveted over the top to catch the plug. After refilling your beast with 15qt's use the drain nozzle to refill used containers...very nice set up. Bucket cost me $18 to make. And did an oil change with out a DROP hitting the concrete..

OK than.
ryan

[jbdawson]

I realize the 6.0 is a totally different beast but, with that said, I used Rotella 15W-40 in my 7.3 for 13 years without a hitch. The only oil I lost leaked out of the fron main seal which was replaced three times before I decided to just let it leak.