Best oil to use

[dh_stroker]

I'm new to diesels and I'm getting ready to change the oil in it for the first time and i was wondering what is the best oil to use. Motorcraft has the 15w-40 especially for the powerstrokes and i was leaning towards that one but i've heard a lot of people say rotella. And also is it better to go with a lighter weight of oil in the wintertime like 5w-40 b/c it gets below 0 here sometimes in the winter.

[eriol]

Best use what is in it.
I found that changing the make and type of oil during the lifetime of an engine is not a good thing.
I stayed with the one that was always put into my truck although it is expensive (About 200CAD per 20 liters) and difficult to come by (I have to order at least four weeks ahead to get it in).
I am running Esso XD-3 0W-30. (I bought the truck in Edmonton) I am happy with it and I am not going to change it although I moved to Vancouver Island and do not need this grade of oil for winter any more.

[SmokeyWren]

Brand of oil doesn't matter. One major brand is as good as another, provided it meets the API specs required by Ford. Your 2002 Diesel supplement includes:

"For normal or severe service, use Motorcraft oil or an equivalent oil
conforming to ... API Service categories CH-4, CH-4/SJ or CH-4/SL. "

That was several years ago, so the newer API categories of CJ-4/SL or later are also okay.

The Mortorcraft brand is fine. So are the two most popular brands of motor oil for our diesels - Shell Rotella T and Chevron DELO 400. Even Wal-Mart's house brand of SuperTech is fine as long as it meets API CH-4/SL or newer spec. Other major brands include Exxon, Havoline, Sunoco, Mobil, and Phillips. And you could probably name a dozen others.

Your Owner's Guide says you should use 15w40 viscosity when temps are above freezing, and 10w30 when temps are below freezing. It doesn't mention 5w40 synthetic motor oil, but that should be good for year 'round use.

If you didn't get an Owner's Guide and a Diesel Supplement with your truck, you should download them from here:
2002 Downloads - 1994-1997 Power Stroke FAQ

Synthetic motor oil is not cost effective, but lots of folks spend the money anyway. But be careful to get the diesel-rated motor oil. For example, Mobil 1 makes several viscosities of synthetic motor oil that do not meet the current spec for a turbo-diesel engine. They are "diesel rated", but only for thirty-year old diesels that were not turbocharged. But Mobil 1 (and Mobil Delvac 1) also makes a 5w40 that are rated CJ-4/SL or later. So pay attention to the API symbol on the jug if you want Mobil 1 or Mobil Delvac 1 (or any other motor oil, for that matter).

[Dirtbikindad393]

Originally Posted by eriol

Best use what is in it.
I found that changing the make and type of oil during the lifetime of an engine is not a good thing.
I stayed with the one that was always put into my truck although it is expensive (About 200CAD per 20 liters) and difficult to come by (I have to order at least four weeks ahead to get it in).
I am running Esso XD-3 0W-30. (I bought the truck in Edmonton) I am happy with it and I am not going to change it although I moved to Vancouver Island and do not need this grade of oil for winter any more.

I respectfully disagree eriol many people have changed oil brands with no ill affects.

Stroker I would go with a quality synthetic such as Amsoil and know that your extending the life of the engine by using a quality synthetic. If you going to go extended OCI then you will on the right path with synthetics too. An oil such as Amsoil would be much cheaper than what you are paying for your Esso which is also a good oil.

[NEVERSWEAT7]

I run Schaeffer Synthetic 9000. It is not the most expensive motor oil but in my eyes and comparing with other company MSDS sheets, one of the best. I also get extended oil changes which saves money in the long haul. It works well for me and that is my opinion.

[butchcassidy1]

Dirtbikindad393 forgot to mention the most important item w/ Amsoil and extended oil drains: always use an UOA report at scheduled intervals to see how the oil and engine is performing.

Doing extended oil drains w/o UOA is a very foolish thing to do.

I, myself have tried synthetic oil, I an not justify the extra cost, the limited availibility (a big issue).
I went back to 15-w-40 dino oil and filter every 5k intervals. I am happy w/ this.

Hopes this helps,

Butchcassidy1

[SmokeyWren]

Originally Posted by Dirtbikindad393

... know that your extending the life of the engine by using a quality synthetic.

Sales hype. Not proven in the real world.

The big boys with OTR 18-wheelers get about a million miles before the first major overhaul, regardless of whether they use dino, semi-synthetic, or full synthetic motor oil.

Synthetic motor oil is good stuff, but no reliable, unbiased, study has ever proven it to be cost effective. And believe me, the major trucking companies have tried to determine what is the most cost effective maintenance procedures to use. But almost none of them use synthetic motor oil because it has not proven to be cost effective in OTR diesel trucks.

Granted, some OTR owner/operators run synthetic oil, but about all they get is bragging rights for spending more money per mile on maintenance, with no payback when it's time for the first major overhaul.

So ignore the hype of the Amsoil salesmen. Look for reliable cost-effectiveness studies by the trucking industry associations. There may be some, but I haven't seen any yet.

[Dirtbikindad393]

Originally Posted by SmokeyWren

Sales hype. Not proven in the real world.

The big boys with OTR 18-wheelers get about a million miles before the first major overhaul, regardless of whether they use dino, semi-synthetic, or full synthetic motor oil.

Synthetic motor oil is good stuff, but no reliable, unbiased, study has ever proven it to be cost effective. And believe me, the major trucking companies have tried to determine what is the most cost effective maintenance procedures to use. But almost none of them use synthetic motor oil because it has not proven to be cost effective in OTR diesel trucks.

Granted, some OTR owner/operators run synthetic oil, but about all they get is bragging rights for spending more money per mile on maintenance, with no payback when it's time for the first major overhaul.

So ignore the hype of the Amsoil salesmen. Look for reliable cost-effectiveness studies by the trucking industry associations. There may be some, but I haven't seen any yet.

Didn't want to start the great oil debate that can never be ended. I am a former OTR driver so I can speak a little to what I talk about. I have more miles than anybody else here I would bet since I am 50 and have been driving commercially since I was 18. But thats just a little backround.

If I showed you studies you wouldn't beleive it anyway. As far as sales hype thats not true its been proven in the real world....but again for those that don't think a synthetic oil, no matter what brand, is superior to dino then you will never accept any explainations or studies that prove it. I totally understand it took me 2 years to try it in my own cars. I grew up a 3k mile oil changer using Valvoline. I was hard headed too and didn't care to change or listen to anybody tell me it was better. Until we started racing motorcycles. Then I softened a bit when I saw what it did for us in the race bikes and my son was winning his races beating the crap out of his bikes but the engines were like new and no spooge out of the pipe (2 strokes). Then I had to convince myself so I did my own testing and UOA. I now use it in all our vehicles and won't go back.

So Smokey we agree to disagree and that is the beauty of our system. The point was trying to help a fellow poster asking questions and now he has a view from the far oil left and far oil right.

DBD

[HighwayPrisoner]

Originally Posted by Dirtbikindad393

Didn't want to start the great oil debate that can never be ended. I am a former OTR driver so I can speak a little to what I talk about. I have more miles than anybody else here I would bet since I am 50 and have been driving commercially since I was 18. But thats just a little backround.

If I showed you studies you wouldn't beleive it anyway. As far as sales hype thats not true its been proven in the real world....but again for those that don't think a synthetic oil, no matter what brand, is superior to dino then you will never accept any explainations or studies that prove it. I totally understand it took me 2 years to try it in my own cars. I grew up a 3k mile oil changer using Valvoline. I was hard headed too and didn't care to change or listen to anybody tell me it was better. Until we started racing motorcycles. Then I softened a bit when I saw what it did for us in the race bikes and my son was winning his races beating the crap out of his bikes but the engines were like new and no spooge out of the pipe (2 strokes). Then I had to convince myself so I did my own testing and UOA. I now use it in all our vehicles and won't go back.

So Smokey we agree to disagree and that is the beauty of our system. The point was trying to help a fellow poster asking questions and now he has a view from the far oil left and far oil right.

DBD

I would not be so sure of having the most miles on here. How about 3,600,000 commercial miles, of which 1,100,000 PSD miles.

[catch&release]

Originally Posted by HighwayPrisoner

I would not be so sure of having the most miles on here. How about 3,600,000 commercial miles, of which 1,100,000 PSD miles.

Hmmmm.........I'm only 43 and have almost 1/2 a million miles, have never driven commercially, and spent 6 years overseas and I'm not even counting those miles. I would think that most OTR drivers would have more than 3.6 million.

[Dirtbikindad393]

Originally Posted by HighwayPrisoner

I would not be so sure of having the most miles on here. How about 3,600,000 commercial miles, of which 1,100,000 PSD miles.

We might be close however I might have you beat only because I trained drivers when I leased my truck to England and for 3 years I had over 175,000 miles a year due to trainee's keeping the truck rolling. I didn't get much sleep though. We just kept droping & hooking no unloads. Thats is impressive though 3.6 mil miles is a ton of miles. Isn't time to take a break?

[dh_stroker]

Well, decided to go ahead and go with the Rotella 15-40 b/c i have heard a lot of good things about it.

[HighwayPrisoner]

Originally Posted by Dirtbikindad393

We might be close however I might have you beat only because I trained drivers when I leased my truck to England and for 3 years I had over 175,000 miles a year due to trainee's keeping the truck rolling. I didn't get much sleep though. We just kept droping & hooking no unloads. Thats is impressive though 3.6 mil miles is a ton of miles. Isn't time to take a break?

Yes it is about time to take a break. I have been running less the past two years. I took a few breaks from driving, but just could not stay away for more than a couple of years. It is a terrible addiction. The trainer job sure would be full of challenges, and the patience of a Saint would be a great attribute.

[shkeller61]

So I'm seeing that it looks like rotella may be the way to go. So question is at what intervals should you change your oil. Mine every day driving nothing heavy, no pulling or towing to speak of recently. I've heard 5k, 7k, 7.5k and 10k????

[SmokeyWren]

Originally Posted by shkeller61

... question is at what intervals should you change your oil.

The only way to know for sure is to change it at around 5,000 miles, and while it's draining grab a mid-stream sample of a coupla ounces. Send that sample to Blackstone Labs for analysis. In addition to their normal used oil analysis (UOA), ask them to tell you a good oil change interval (OCI) based on your actual driving conditions as evidenced by that oil sample.

Blackstone will recommend an OCI for your truck. For your next oil change, change it at the recommended OCI and send another sample to Blackstone and repeat the request for them to verify your OCI. They might change it by 500 miles or so, or they might not.

After three oil analysis, you'll know your OCI. After that, you'll need a new UOA only once a year or so.

My OCI has been 5,500 or 6,000 miles for almost 10 years. But most folks that rely on Blackstone will have a longer OCI - maybe 6,500, 7,000 or even 7,500 miles. But guessing, or rules of thumb, won't do. Get the oil analyzed and then you'll know for sure.

Blackstone Labs