What engine oil y'all running now?

[Bill]

Kirkland 5w-30. I used to use Castrol Edge or Motorcraft. However, the cost of name brand oils have gone up.
I was using Motorcraft filters I bought at Walmart, but for some reason Walmart no longer has good pricing on Motorcraft oil and filters. But, I managed to find a good deal for a case of Mazda oil filters when Advanced auto closed. So, I've been using them.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Kirkland 5w-30. I used to use Castrol Edge or Motorcraft. However, the cost of name brand oils have gone up.
I was using Motorcraft filters I bought at Walmart, but for some reason Walmart no longer has good pricing on Motorcraft oil and filters. But, I managed to find a good deal for a case of Mazda oil filters when Advanced auto closed. So, I've been using them.

Yeah, walmart has gone totally nuts on motorcraft filters, I have started using Wix instead.

I also like getting away from the crinkle grip area to something a filter socket will fit.

 

[Shran]

I heard that Wix quality went way down and I didn't mean to recommend them - I just have an old case of NAPA Gold 1515's that I'm working my way through.

As for Walmart I also quit buying Motorcraft filters there once they got up to about 8 bucks. I think they're like 12 bucks now, rip off. Supposedly the SuperTech filters are good quality - I've been using those on my wife's Honda and I used a shit load of them on her Prius before that. They are less than $4 so I will more than likely start using those once I have used up the 1515's on hand.

 

[superj]

I know there are some previous threads on this, but most of them are pretty old and there's been a plethora of oil related info that has hit the Internet the past few years. I know I've watched literally hours and hours of oil related videos on YouTube recently. With that, who is running what oil these days? I have a 1996 with the 2.3 with about 250,000 miles on it and I've run a good quality synthetic since early on. I'm currently running Pensoil Ultra Platinum 5-W20 and have for a while, with Purolator Boss filter. 5-W30 was the recommended oil from the factory, but a TSB came out several years ago suggesting 5-W20 so I rolled with that. However, after watching some of the oil related videos on YouTube I mentioned above, I think I'm going to switch back to 5-W30 and quite possibly go with a cheaper, high milage brand, quite possibly Walmart Supertech synthetic. No harder than I drive my truck and only putting maybe 2-3,000 miles a year at most, I don't feel I need to spend the extra money on PUP (which I use in my other newer vehicles and will continue to), and from the info I've gathered recently Supertech synthetic advanced and high mileage are very fine oils and the additive packages complete with many of the well known national brands.

i have no issue running supertech in my older engine vehicles. its probably whats in my 04 ranger with the 3.0

 

[sgtsandman]

I typically go with a good synthetic brand that is in sale with a decent filter. Most times, it's Valvoline and after some reviews I've seen on their Restore and Protect product line, I may switch strictly to them.

Oil change intervals, except for the Ford Escape, are every Spring and Fall and usually amounts to less that 5,000 miles. Since Jessica does home healthcare, every 3 months seems to work about right for the Escape.

The filters I look for are K&N, Mobil 1, Motorcraft, or if I can fine a Purolator Pure One or Boss filter. Being that Purolator went out of businiess, I don't think I'll be finding much more of those anymore.

With the new job, oil change intervals may have to be changed up. I'll have to see what amount of mileage I'm racking up. I do switch from one truck to the next every week. So, the mileage increase may not be that much but time will tell.

 

[Bigvman54]

My 1988 2.3 5spd ranger i had from 1989 to 1998..it had motorcraft oil filters, I used motorcraft 5-30 oil. That truck had 10,000 miles on it when I bought it. It had 270,000 miles when I sold it.

My 1994 3.0 5spd ranger i had from 1994 to 2025 I used motorcraft 5-30 synthetic blend and motorcraft oil filters. This truck had 0 miles when I bought it, and had 653,370 miles when it was totaled last summer...rip Ole friend

I now own a 1997 3.0 5spd I bought in 2025 it had 80,000 miles when I bought it and it now 86,370, for 6,000 + plus miles i have been using motorcraft 5-30 synthetic blend with motorcraft oil filters. I have no clue what kind of oil and filters were used from 1997 to 2025 when I purchased.

Im all about using motorcraft oil and filters. They are still affordable at Walmart, and at ford only if i need to go there. I can still get discounts on parts as needed..so I'm good with that.

Motorcraft oil and filters have always done my vehicles right.

Since 1989 on all 3 of my rangers I have always done 5,000 oil changes.

653,370. Man hope I can get that out of mine!

 

[mtnrgr]

653,370. Man hope I can get that out of mine!

It wasnt the original engine. I had the original rebuilt in 2002 at 300,000 miles at my friend's machine shop. In 2017 I purchased a good used 3.0 long block from a 94 ranger parts truck I had been using from my friend's yard. I designed and built that 3.0 at my friend's shop..it had almost 90,000 miles on when the truck was taken away from me due to an idiot. Always motorcraft parts, fluids, filters, etc.

Nothing on that truck was stock.

 

[Bill]

Being that Purolator went out of businiess, I don't think I'll be finding much more of those anymore.

Purolator didn't go out of business. They were acuired by MANN+HUMMEL, which also acquired Wix filters.

Most Motorcraft filters are made by Purolator.

Really, it isn't going to make much of a difference what filter you use unless you run extended oil changes.

 

[superj]

Thats exactky what i say /\

 

[scotts90ranger]

heck, I even run Fram here and there, I'm a cheapskate so you'll get that, the Lima's don't seem to give a flying F...

I'm moving the '97 Ranger to 5k changes, just makes the math easier, ideally I should do it this weekend but we'll see what I have time for... I ended up with a $4 5 quart jug of 0W20 royal purple at an estate sale, thinking of running the next 5k on the '97 with that, might split it with some 10W30 though, I'd be more comfortable with that...

 

[Li'l Work Truck]

Went to an oil change place that just popped up, and got 5W20 full synthetic for my '08 2.3. I don't know what brand. The truck ran quieter than it ever had before, with more power. Yesterday I got under the truck to check some things, and it's leaking from the oil plug. Doing my own change next time, but apparently it likes fancy oil and 100% dino fuel.

 

[ekrampitzjr]

Amsoil Signature 5W30 with Amsoil oil filter in the 4.0 SOHC, changed every 10,000 miles (the stated severe schedule for that oil).

 

[19Walt93]

I use Motorcraft 5w30 and a Motorcraft filter. Several years ago Ford recommended 5w30 for everything 96 and older. GM is currently having engine problems in trucks because 5w20 doesn't lube well enough under heavy loads. Multi viscosity oil doesn't change viscosity, it just is more stable- 5w30 for example doesn't get thicker than 5 weight when cold or thinner than 30 weight when hot. 10w30 wouldn't circulate as fast or lube as well when cold and would be equal to 5w30 when hot. If you've got a flathead with loose bearings, oil like 15w40 would work fine, in a modern engine it would cause cold start up wear and parasitic drag.
I used to occasionally run Napa Gold filters until the last one I got had "Made in China" on the side.
I won't buy anything Pennzoil sells- they own Jiffy Lube and the concept of Jiffy Lube would never occur to anyone if techs got 1/10th the respect they deserve.

 

[Shran]

heck, I even run Fram here and there, I'm a cheapskate so you'll get that, the Lima's don't seem to give a flying F...

I had a pile of Fram PH8's that I was burning up on junker trucks but I'm down to just one now and probably won't buy any more unless they're really cheap. I picked up a whole bunch of them from TSC on clearance for 25 cents apiece. It bothers me to run them, I should have disassembled one just to check, cardboard filter element or bypass stuck and not filtering at all seemed to be common back in the day. The silver and gold Frams were supposed to be better but I just figured avoid them all.

 

[cbxer55]

1998 Ford Ranger Castrol 10W-40, typically run 8000 miles in it.
2004 Ford Lightning Mobile One 5W-20 typically go 5000 miles.
2006 Suzuki M1800R, 2008 Suzuki GSSX1300 B-King and 2021 Honda CBR600RR all get Honda GN4.

Interesting thing is Honda says that GN4 10W-40 is good for 8500 miles in my CBR600RR, an engine with a 15,000 rpm redline. After a 9000 mile oil change recently, drained hot, the oil looked and smelled like it could go another 9000 miles. So, I switched the oil in my other two to the same.

Interesting thing. Back in 2009 my sister borrowed my Ranger, "for a year". Got it back four years later with over 40,000 more miles on it and the same oil I had last put in it. Fortunately it was full synthetic 20w-50. It did no harm to the truck at all. At that time, it had around 130,000 miles, it now has 206,500. Doesn't burn or leak oil. So, since that episode, I am more open to running oil longer in that particular vehicle. I'm more particular on my bikes, but if Honda says 8500 miles, I'll roll with it. ;-)

Next oil change on the Ranger, soon, I may try running that Honda oil in it. Motorcycle oil is an entirely different beast than car oil. Has more zinc, since the oil has to do transmission gears as well as the motor. The gears have a tendency to shear the polymers that give it viscosity. Hence, I drain my CBR at 9000 miles and the oil is still nice and syrupy. Bought a bike back in 88, changed the oil as soon as I got it home. When I pulled the plug, oil came out like hot water. That's what happens when you put car oil in a motorcycle. Destroys the oil in short order.