Lawdog Dago Dom Posted March 26, 2019 Share Posted March 26, 2019 Proud owner of a 1994 F-150. Straight 6 cylinder. Got it from a municipal auction about ten years ago with 64K on it. Now has around 116K. I've been using conventional motor oil, and change every 5K. I have had no mechanical problems other than routine maintenance. Not burning oil. Truck does no towing or plowing. Just light errands. Was told I should consider running a synthetic blend or full synthetic oil because of the age of the engine. Was also told keep going with regular motor oil. Ideas? Thank you. LDD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diamond Curly SASS#57086 Posted March 26, 2019 Share Posted March 26, 2019 I am old school. If the engine is happy with it's current oil why change. I still change my oil every 3K just because it makes me feel better. I have read that almost all oil contains some synthetic anyway. I have a case of non-detergent oil that I used in my Model A Ford. May buy another A sometime. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Riot Posted March 26, 2019 Share Posted March 26, 2019 I would just keep running conventional. I owned a 93 F150 short bed 5 speed with the 300 straight six. Gawd I kick myself for selling it. It was my favorite truck. Easy to work on and tough as nails. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Utah Bob #35998 Posted March 26, 2019 Share Posted March 26, 2019 MY F250 has about 175,000 on it now. I use Pennzoil High Mileage Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Riot Posted March 26, 2019 Share Posted March 26, 2019 Oh yeah, don’t switch to a detergent motor oil if you have never run it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tex Jones, SASS 2263 Posted March 26, 2019 Share Posted March 26, 2019 If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Major E A Sterner #12916 Posted March 27, 2019 Share Posted March 27, 2019 The semi synthetic "High Mileage" oils have additives that condition the seals to keep them soft and pliable to help slow down oil loss/consumption. I use it in my 97 Dakota, my 05 Magnum RT,my wifes 96 300c and my Moms 05 Saturn Vue. It's good stuff and will help the engine last longer and run better. I found out about it when I was running a Valvoline Oil change shop, I had customers that used it with over 300,000 miles on their engines and no mechanical problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackwater 53393 Posted March 27, 2019 Share Posted March 27, 2019 Ol' Green is a '97 Chevy 3500 HD Dually with a few miles short of 385,000. I used Kendal 20W50 in the winter and 60W in the summer until Kendal sold out. Their new oil isn't anything like the original. I now use Valvoline 20W 50 in the winter and their racing 60W in the summer. Considering that I've abused the HELL out of this old truck, I'm satisfied with the results. I used Kendal 70W in my old Harley because it uses roller bearings throughout the reciprocating assembly. I now use Pencraft 70W racing oil. It is what used to be Brad Penn and before that it was the Kendal racing formula. It's damned expensive and hard to find around here, so Ol' Green gets the Valvoline and the Harley gets what it needs!! My rat rod is powered by an old 153 inch Nova four banger! It has the original hydraulic flat tappet camshaft and lifters. I use a zinc enriched oil in it because the new synthetic motor oils do NOT have zinc and don't protect these older, non roller cam assemblies. That old truck will need a dose of some zinc additive to enjoy a longer, more harmonious existence!! You can buy the additive at most parts houses and I'd say, give it a dose every other oil change. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Sage, SASS #49891 Life Posted March 27, 2019 Share Posted March 27, 2019 Don't do it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Widder, SASS #59054 Posted March 27, 2019 Share Posted March 27, 2019 Don't switch. I ain't a mechanic but I will share a PERSONAL story from 3 previous vehicles: 2 cars, 1 truck. For the first 50+K miles, I used convention 10w30 and 10w40 HD Pennzoil. NO PROBLEMS. On all 3 vehicles, I switched to Mobil 1 synthetic and within the next 10K miles, I was burning oil. Nothing major, but I was having to check my oil every couple 'K' and add about a pint of oil (a quart every 5K). My 276K Toyota Tacoma only gets conventional, and I have NO issues with it. My new 2017 Tacoma came from the factory with synthetic and recommends synthetic oil only..... so thats what it will get. ..........Widder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tennessee williams Posted March 27, 2019 Share Posted March 27, 2019 I don't blame you for bragging about getting 116k miles on a ford. A guy explained it to me this way. Those gaskets and seals get "used" to the oil you run. If you change over to synthetic, it will inevitably find a way through or around those gaskets. That makes sense. The why of it could be a couple things. Conventional oil is made from crude. Synthetic oil is made from an oil biproduct and contains esters(alchohol). Those are hard on gaskets and seals in older vehicles. On older vehicles, the gaskets arent as tight as well. Synthetic oil is really good at cleaning out sludge and grime and stuff. That sludge and grime and stuff can be acting as a sealant for the gaskets. When it's cleaned out, hello leaks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Original Lumpy Gritz Posted March 27, 2019 Share Posted March 27, 2019 Keep using what you are. Stay with the one brand name because different refiners use different 'chem-packs' and that will affect your seals. Might want to step up a grade weight because of mileage on the engine. What weight oil are you using? OLG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lawdog Dago Dom Posted March 28, 2019 Author Share Posted March 28, 2019 15 hours ago, The Original Lumpy Gritz said: Keep using what you are. Stay with the one brand name because different refiners use different 'chem-packs' and that will affect your seals. Might want to step up a grade weight because of mileage on the engine. What weight oil are you using? OLG 30 weight by Mobil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abilene Slim SASS 81783 Posted March 28, 2019 Share Posted March 28, 2019 If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sassnetguy50 Posted March 28, 2019 Share Posted March 28, 2019 Keep running it as you have. There is a reason the 300 I-6 has been around since the 60s. You could run it with vegetable oil and still get another 100k out of it (not a recommended oil in the Ford manual). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunner Gatlin, SASS 10274L Posted March 28, 2019 Share Posted March 28, 2019 No need to convert at this point - stay with the regular oil you have been using. I use full synthetic (factory came with semi-synthetic) in my V10, but started around the 20k mark. 165k and the engine's happy. I reckon yours is too on it's diet. GG ~ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rye Miles #13621 Posted March 28, 2019 Share Posted March 28, 2019 On 3/26/2019 at 8:16 PM, Major E A Sterner #12916 said: The semi synthetic "High Mileage" oils have additives that condition the seals to keep them soft and pliable to help slow down oil loss/consumption. I use it in my 97 Dakota, my 05 Magnum RT,my wifes 96 300c and my Moms 05 Saturn Vue. It's good stuff and will help the engine last longer and run better. I found out about it when I was running a Valvoline Oil change shop, I had customers that used it with over 300,000 miles on their engines and no mechanical problems. Exactly what my mechanic says! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLACKFOOT SASS #11947 Posted March 28, 2019 Share Posted March 28, 2019 Sounds like you have done well with it up until now. Don't try to fix a problem that doesn"t exist. Blackfoot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Original Lumpy Gritz Posted March 28, 2019 Share Posted March 28, 2019 15 hours ago, Lawdog Dago Dom said: 30 weight by Mobil Good choice, and stay with the same brand. OLG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Widder, SASS #59054 Posted March 28, 2019 Share Posted March 28, 2019 Speaking of Fords..... A friend of mine recently turned 80. He has always been a big Ford man. So, I bought him a nice 'Ford' pocket knife. Its a beautiful bluish, small folding knife with 'FORD' on it. Anyhow, when I went to buy it, the salesman ask me if I wanted an 'Extended Warranty' on it in case he keeps it longer than a year.......... ..........Widder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunner Gatlin, SASS 10274L Posted March 28, 2019 Share Posted March 28, 2019 2 hours ago, The Original Lumpy Gritz said: Good choice, and stay with the same brand. OLG Indeed! This ^ GG ~ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tennessee williams Posted March 28, 2019 Share Posted March 28, 2019 47 minutes ago, Widder, SASS #59054 said: Speaking of Fords..... A friend of mine recently turned 80. He has always been a big Ford man. So, I bought him a nice 'Ford' pocket knife. Its a beautiful bluish, small folding knife with 'FORD' on it. Anyhow, when I went to buy it, the salesman ask me if I wanted an 'Extended Warranty' on it in case he keeps it longer than a year.......... ..........Widder That's funny right there but quit picking on people younger than you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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