What brand oil do you guys recommend?

[Airmaster]

Yeah, I know you should stay with the same brand of oil, but seeing as I just bought my truck used, I have no idea what the previous owner used.

I read the owners manual and it said 5W-20(I have the 3.0L). So now the question is, what brand do I get.

I'll be sticking with this same oil probably for the rest of the life of the truck, so make it good guys!

I also would like to know, how many miles should be driven between oil changes, my last car, which had over 150,000 miles, I had the oil changed every 3000, but seeing as my truck only has 40,000 miles I think I can wait a little longer between oil changes. Every 3000 seems like over kill, I heard new engines can go a bit longer.

When do you all change your oil?

Thanks in advance for answering any of my questions!

 

[Beef52751]

personally i would run 5W-30 Full Synthetic and change it every 5000 miles with a NAPA or WIX filter. Most people reccomened Mobile 1 Oil here.
Beef

 

[Blackedge03]

Motorcraft 5w-20 synthetic blend,motorcraft filter,3000 to 5000 miles. Mobil 1
full synthetic is probably the best but a bit expensive for me.

 

[betomonroy]

Personaly... I change my oil as soon as I see its starting to look dirty.
It doesn't matter if it has 3000 or 1000 miles. I don't even care if it is synthetic or conventional. I've used them both.
You see oil life is actualy affected by the hours of use/weather/driving conditions/style of driving and not the number of miles. Miles give only an average of hours of use.
So change it as often as your ego tells you to. Nothing but good will happen to truck.

 

[Ozwynn]

Personaly... I change my oil as soon as I see its starting to look dirty.
It doesn't matter if it has 3000 or 1000 miles. I don't even care if it is synthetic or conventional. I've used them both.
You see oil life is actualy affected by the hours of use/weather/driving conditions/style of driving and not the number of miles. Miles give only an average of hours of use.
So change it as often as your ego tells you to. Nothing but good will happen to truck.

if I did that I would be changing the oil in the diesel every day.


right now I am using Valvoline max life synthetic blend but I am going back to mobile 1 at the next oil change.

 

[Roadkill]

if I did that I would be changing the oil in the diesel every day.


right now I am using Valvoline max life synthetic blend but I am going back to mobile 1 at the next oil change.

So true. I think it takes about 20 minutes for the oil in the diesel to 'look' dirty. The 'look' of oil as far as 'dirty' or 'clean' means absolutely nothing. If you change your oil just because it 'looks' black or dirty you are wasting a lot of money.

The ONLY way to tell if your oil is truly worn out is by an used oil analysis. The TBN number is a prime example, along with the sediment amounts. Fleets run lots more than 1000 - 3000 miles between oil changes. I run extended drain intervals on my oil and get it tested regularly. I told an oil change jockey once because he tried to tell me I "needed" an engine flush because the oil was black. Probably works on the ignorant schmucks but he got an earful about ACTUAL oil testing.

 

[betomonroy]

I don't call it wasting money... is investing in my case because this is most likely to be my last truck. I plan to keep it 'til the end of my days.

 

[TomB1269]

my 2 cents: I have changed oils at 5k, and 3k regularly dpeneding on driving down. In northe central Mass. and Southern VA, 5k; lots of 45 to 55 mph driving. NJ, 3k do to lots of stop and go. Now in Capital district of NY (Albany), I do both............. My wife drives highway to work and does 5k in 3 to 4 months, I drive 4.5 miles to work and change truck at 3k or 3 to 4 months. Yes I could take the truck to 5k as I am usually doing 45 or better most of the time but they seem to sync together at 3 to 4 months and I do not mind changing truck at 3k becuase my drive is so short.......... PS: I now live in an Apartment which means I can not change my own at home as I have for the past 20+ years so I am paying extra for someone else to do it. It is not the cost but trying to maintain a good running truck/car for as long as possible.

 

[Toms01PSD]

So true. I think it takes about 20 minutes for the oil in the diesel to 'look' dirty.

Really? My buddy has a Cummins in his 02 Ram 2500 with over 140k miles and every time we have changed the oil in it, it looks the same when it comes out as when it went in.

To the OP: I use Motorcraft oil and filter. Seems good to me.

 

[Airmaster]

personally i would run 5W-30 Full Synthetic and change it every 5000 miles with a NAPA or WIX filter. Most people reccomened Mobile 1 Oil here.
Beef

Is there any problem in switching to synthetic as far as contamination goes. Isn't it bad to mix the two?



Another question, how do you guys feel about Penzoil, I saw a case for a good price and may end up going that route, unless synthetic or another brand truly is better. (Some people tell me synthetic is a waste of money)

If you mind me asking, what are the benefits of synthetic oil. Try not to give me the manufacturer's reasoning, cuz I can just check the website for that, what are the TRUE benefits?

Thanks again guys!

 

[Ozwynn]

Is there any problem in switching to synthetic as far as contamination goes. Isn't it bad to mix the two?



Another question, how do you guys feel about Penzoil, I saw a case for a good price and may end up going that route, unless synthetic or another brand truly is better. (Some people tell me synthetic is a waste of money)

If you mind me asking, what are the benefits of synthetic oil. Try not to give me the manufacturer's reasoning, cuz I can just check the website for that, what are the TRUE benefits?

Thanks again guys!

where do you think synthetic blend comes from. I wouldn't mix different brands because the additive package is different and never mix different weights but mixing petro and synthetic is no problem.





I got a Cummins N14e in a 98 T800 that has by-pass filtration and Royal Purple. I only change the oil when the lab says I have to and it got 110,000 miles on the oil in the engine right now and it looks black as coal. it needs to be changed at the next change but I got 110,000 miles on synthetic, best I got was 30,000 out of rotella.

 

[Rearanger]

Is there any problem in switching to synthetic as far as contamination goes. Isn't it bad to mix the two?

No

how do you guys feel about Penzoil, I saw a case for a good price and may end up going that route

Use any oil you want - best price works, as long as you change it regularily you'll be fine

unless synthetic or another brand truly is better. (Some people tell me synthetic is a waste of money)

You'll need test results to prove synthetic better than dino. My 1983 Mazda went 200K on dino oil and Fram filters, never having the heads removed - and I didn't get rid of it because of engine failure. I think using syn oil without also using long drain intervals IS a waste of money. I've proven, through used oil analysis, that using expensive synthetics, such as Amsoil, is not worth the extra expense over off the shelf synthetics.

what are the benefits of synthetic oil.

Better low temp flow, higher resistance to heat breakdown. I use synthetic oil with 6K oil changes because I got tired of having 4 vehicles and always seemingly doing oil changes. If you really want a better way to protect your engine use better filtration.

 

[Ozwynn]

you can use penzoil if you want but i don't own a piece of equipment that I hate that much I would want to punish by using penzoil.

 

[exbass94]

you can use penzoil if you want but i don't own a piece of equipment that I hate that much I would want to punish by using penzoil.

Please explain why Pennzoil is so bad.

 

[Ozwynn]

I have just had bad luck with engines and penzoil. something in it clogs oil galleys.