Semi or Full Synthetic

[Bogdon]

16000 miles on my 2008 ranger 2.3l. Tired of paying the dealer for oil changes and as far as I have been told doing my own oil changes will not void any warranty as long as I can prove they were done on time.

Owners manual calls for 5w-20 semi synthetic. I installed Mobile full synthetic a week ago. Now the truck seems to run quieter, has more power, and idols much smoother. Can anyone share a reason why I should not be running a full synthetic oil in this engine before I have to tell the dealership I am doing it?

Thanks in advance for the input.

[fastpakr]

Won't hurt a thing.

[exbass94]

The owner's manual just suggests semi-synthetic, it doesn't require it. Semi-syn is basically nothing more than a high-quality conventional oil anyway. As long as the oil meets Ford's requirements (meets API SM, and Ford MSC-something) it's fine. Furthermore, even if you used a non-approved oil, the dealer has to be able to prove that the unapproved oil caused the damage before they can deny warranty coverage.

[fordboi415]

Full synthetic offers way more protection and is more resistant to breaking down

[GreatWhite]

I would think it would be cheaper and save you time just having the dealer do it unless your dealer rips people off because its only like $19.95 for an oil change and I guess a tire rotation for what they tell me I'll have to see when I take it in for the first oil change at 5k.

[Sidewalk]

Read the owners manual. See what oil range is required, use that oil. If it requires 5W-20 then it doesn't matter how much synthetic stuff is in there.

You are not going to notice a change in engine performance fro an oil change. Unless you go from 50W deisel grade oil to a 10W racing oil, and even then you probably won't notice it.

[Uncle Stumps]

I was doing the same thing as the OP, going to the Ford dealer every 3,000 miles for oil changes. Once I reached 15,000 miles I started doing my own, with Mobil 1 5W-20 and MotorCraft filters every 5,000 miles. Mobil 1 is pretty expensive nowadays, but I intend to keep the Ranger until it dies so maybe this will help it to have a long life.

[Bogdon]

I would think it would be cheaper and save you time just having the dealer do it unless your dealer rips people off because its only like $19.95 for an oil change and I guess a tire rotation for what they tell me I'll have to see when I take it in for the first oil change at 5k.

Last oil change by the dealer was $147(CAD) after the taxes. Even the quick change places around here (Toronto) are at about $70 for a basic oil change and filter using semi-synthetic. the days of $20 oil changes are a long long long time ago. Hell the filter alone is like $10 at Partsource or Napa

[fastpakr]

Wow. You can definitely still pick up oil changes around here for $20. That's crazy.

[Sidewalk]

$20 is hard to find around here, but not impossible. What is the current exchange rate?

Wal-Mart has oil filters for $2, Rotella for $15 a gallon. Works for me.

[wv_snranger]

27.99 for oil change and a filter at the drive-thru oil change in town. Pennzoil 5w-20 oil. The nearest Ford dealership wants 40 bucks and they are 20 miles away.

[08RangerXLT]

penzoil is about the worst oil you can buy, leaves a lot of sludge build up

[exbass94]

penzoil is about the worst oil you can buy, leaves a lot of sludge build up

No it's not, and no, it doesn't. This is a very common myth that originated in the 1970s, when 10w-40 oil first came around. Back then, 10w40 (and ONLY 10w40, not the other viscosities) Pennzoil sludged up due to the amount of viscosity index improvers in it. It has been reformulated dozens of times(along with EVERY oil from EVERY manufacturer) since then. So take any oil myth/rumor that started 10+ years ago and forget it already. It's no longer valid.

[Dar70]

Ford sends me a coupon everytime my change is due.

[88gt]

Read the owners manual. See what oil range is required, use that oil. If it requires 5W-20 then it doesn't matter how much synthetic stuff is in there.

You are not going to notice a change in engine performance fro an oil change. Unless you go from 50W deisel grade oil to a 10W racing oil, and even then you probably won't notice it.

i beg to differ ont hat one there buddy. switching fomr a conventinal or semi-conventional oil to full synthetic oil will give you a smoother running engine. i switched mine at 150000 miles and the difference in the engine vibration is night and day. synthetic does a better job all around and stands up better to breaking down and thermal protection. that why you change regular oil every 3000 and synthetic every 5000, 10000, 7500 or 15000. synthetic oil IS that good!

[fastpakr]

Yes, it lasts longer. Sidewalk would agree with that, I suspect. It does NOT generate more power or run smoother than any other oil (especially not to a degree that a human could detect).