Valvoline Maxlife Synthetic Blend

[87Sturd]

Is it safe to use the synthetic blend in my engine? I know its not full synthetic, its like 30% synthetic. Mileage is unknown but im guessing over 200,000 miles. Engine has a rear main seal leak. Just wondering beacause ive heard its bad to switch to any snythetic with a old engine with leaks. Anyone else use it in their old ranger?

 

[yodaman1151]

use a thicker oil like 10w40 or 20w50 and it will slow the leak down. as long as you change your oil every 3-5k like you are supposed to then it won't matter THAT much just as long as you use a good brand oil i.e. not penzoil or cheaper stuff. you would be alright with reg. valvoline

 

[exbass94]

It is NEVER too late to switch to synthetic. You can absolutely use Maxlife. And I defintiely wouldn't use a 20w-50 oil, that is WAAY too thick for a 2.9. See if the Maxlife helps, but you'll most likely have to bite the bullet and just change the seal.

 

[Ozwynn]

I use it on my minivan...... got 162,xxx on the clock

 

[nitrofan1]

If I'm not mistaken, the tightness of the journals may hinder a thicker oil. This is an opinion, not a fact. I would stick with the weight you have been using and get around to replacing the rear main.

On the blend side no issues. The higher the content of synthetic the better. I've used Mobil 1 5w30 since new and have 188,000 on my 4.0L that runs as good as new with zero issues and hope to see it go another 100,000 before it needs a re-freshening!

Using thicker oils leads to less oil getting to the head and causes dry starts which leads to more wear.

 

[COPPERHEAD85]

Think with your dipstick....................jimmy!



Sorry couldnt resist...............

 

[87Sturd]

Thanks for the info guys. I changed the oil once since I got the truck and I used 10w-40. Should I stick to the 10w-40 or use 10w-30? Big difference or what?

 

[exbass94]

You can keep the 10w-40 in there this time, but next oil change I would go back to 10w-30.

 

[87Sturd]

You can keep the 10w-40 in there this time, but next oil change I would go back to 10w-30.

Thats good to hear because I already have a 5quart bottle of 10w-30 standing by. If you dont mind me asking...why would I want to use 10w-40? Why do some people prefer thicker running temperature weights?

 

[gw33gp]

I ran 20W-50 Valvoline synthetic oil in my 89 Ranger with the 2.9l engine for almost 200,000 miles. I did it because I towed with it a lot and did a lot of driving in the desert. That engine ran as good as new when I sold it in 2002 and it is still running strong.

It turned over slow after sitting overnight if I was in an area that got below freezing but it still started. I would not recommend that grade of oil if you live in an area that gets very cold but it worked fine for me in So Cal.