15W-40 or 5W-40 Synthetic?

Status
Not open for further replies.
S

-SyN-

Joined
Jun 20, 2005
Messages
908
Location
Tornado Alley
Ok Fellas I have a couple of Questions for U.

I just bought my first Diesel. Why? I have always wanted One and This Deal was too good to pass up.

The Truck is a 2001 Ford F250 SuperCab 4x4 7.3L PSD.

The body is in great shape only a few small scratches and no dents.

It was used as a shop truck. For a pressure control company--{Which my wife is an Accountant for}.

The truck has 250K miles on it. Yes alot of miles.

The company call it their Lemon *** truck.

They have replaced everything on the truck except the 7.3L and Turbo.

They are tired of putting money in it.

Took it to my good friend, who is a Diesel mechanic.

He ran a code scan and no codes came up.
We put it on the lift and the only thing he found was the trans needs serviced which will fix the leaking pan.

Everything else is sound. Yes there are a few small things that need attention but nothing major.

They just replaced the Glowplugs as well as the injectors.

Ok--Here is the good part--> I only payed $5,500 for the truck.

I have drove it for the last 3 days, with no problems. Truck is Awesome.

It is going in next week to have the trans serviced.

Ok--> my questions are!
With this many miles would it be wise to use a 15w40 or a 5w-40?--> {Synthetic}

I live in Oklahoma so it does get pretty cold, 5 months out of yr, but the truck will be kept in a garage overnight, in which i still can plug it in.

Or is the viscosity of both almost the same and it won't really matter. Yes I will use Synthetic.

Right now I'm leaning towards these.
1. AME--Amsoil 15w40
2. Delvac 1300
3. Schaeffers--15W-40 or 5W-40
4. Rotella T 5W-40 syn

I don't know if 10w30 or 5w30 oil will far well with 250K miles on this motor.

U all tell me.

Forgot to tell ya this.
The Turbo is still making great boost pressure.

Would like to run 10K mile OCI... if possible.
Once a yr. I don't think the truck will see more the 10K miles a yr.

Any advice would be appriciated.
Thanks.
 
I have a Cummins which are easy on oil. I have been running 50/50 mix 10W30 and 15W40 Havoline URSA dino in the winter and have had no problems in cold(er) New England. If you're going to keep it in a garage and plugged I see no reason to go with anything lighter than 15W40.

I might be in the minority, but I really don't see any reason to go with the expense of synthetic for your situation. Syn is great if you were in Alberta or Alaska and left it out unplugged, but you don't need the starting help. 250K is the considered service life of a Powerstroke. Many can and do go much further, but what are you gaining for you money? Personally I would run Delo at $7.50 a gallon with a good Fleetguard Stratopore filter and save your money for the rebuild. If you have your heart set, I don't see any reason to go with Amsoil or M1, Schaeffers would do fine.

Be careful to use diesel rated oil only. I am not aware of any 5W30 diesel rated and it is very difficult to find 10W30. I am using the URSA because I have a stash of 10W30 and 15W40.
JMHO

[ December 31, 2005, 10:52 AM: Message edited by: Russ300H ]
 
Thanks Russ:
U have a good pt.
Walmart has the Delo and it always seems to be instock.

Maybe if I can get 3 to 5 yrs out of the motor, say 30K to 50K more miles which i figure i can.

I will have the truck payed for, and can focus on a good rebuild.

Then switch to a good Syn and maybe a bypass system for many yrs of service.

The family has plans on buying a fifth wheel travel trailor and doing alot of camping once the kids are older.

Do You think the the delo can go for a 10K mile OCI... maybe change the filter at 5K miles?

in the meantime, I'm sure I will add a new 4" exhaust, and maybe a program chip to help with power and Mileage.

As for the 5w30 oil Amsoil has Great oil for Diesels, but it's so dog gone expensive.

Maybe after my rebuild I will look harder at it.

After looking through this DieselPower magazine I bought at walmart.
I'm amazed at all the aftermarket accessories for the Diesels.

Like a small boy in his first toy store.

Also my mechanic told me that these 7.3l PSD are very hard on the oil, since they work with the injectors in some way. They shear the oil he said very fast.

I have alot to learn.

Also: I will make an effort not to tow anything or put the truck through any heavy duty use until the rebuild.

[ December 31, 2005, 11:27 AM: Message edited by: -SyN- ]
 
My school has a fleet of 29 bluebird buses on the International 3800 frames. They all have the T444E engines. The T444E is the same engine as the 7.3litre PSD. International recomends a 6 month, 350 hour, or 10,000 mile oil and filter change interal which ever comes first. I to have to say save your money and use what ever diesel spec hdeo conventional 15w40 oil and a motorcraft oil. I see no reason that this engine can not go 5,000 miles on a oci. Maybe 10,000 miles if you do a sample. But I suggest if you do try 10,000 miles pull a sample at 5,000 miles and send it in and see what they say first. I see no reason why you can not tow with it as is. That engine if taken care of should make easy 300,000 350,000 plus miles. No reason why you couldn't maybe even see 500,000 miles. And as been said before yes these engines are hard on the oil. They have hydrolic actuvated fuel injectors. The injectors use the engine oil pumped at very high pressures to actuvbate the injectors. This oil is provide via a two stage oil pump. The pump pumps oil to the bearings and and other parts of the engine at normal oil pressures and then the second stage of the pump pumpes oil at a very high pressure to the injectors. I also have to tell you that since this engine has a turbocharger that it has to be give an cool down idle before engine shutdown. This idle time can vary depending on how long the engine was running and the load put on the engine while it was running. I usually say to let it idle 3-5 minutes. This idle time is to allow the turbocharger to cool down before shutdown. The turbocharger has bearing in it and these bearing are cooled and lubercated via engine oil. And since the turbocharger is powered via exhust gases, which can reace temps of over 1,000 degrees at time. If the engine is shutdown without being idled for a few minute, The turbo will still be at these very high temps. And without the engine running the oil stops flowing and the oil around the turbo bearing with be baked and will dry to a sand material. And that there is what will kill your turbo.
 
I wouldn't use anything but synthetic in my 6 liter PSD. I have been using Mobil 1 the last 35K miles. I just put Shaeffer's 9000 in it and I like the way it runs quieter. I may be in the minority, but I do a lot of short trips and when I tow, I want the best protection I can get.
 
I agree with JR. Try Delo at 5K and see where you are. If it will go 10K then I would stick with that. If not, then I would switch to Schaeffers and see how that fares at 5K & 10K. Someone recently posted a used oil analysis where the Delo did better than Rotella Synthetic.

Scheid diesel (www.scheiddiesel.com) sells the Fleetguard for a great price. PS filters are much more expensive than Cummins for some reason, but you can't beat their price for a quality filter.
Amazing what you can to to "bomb" these things.
My '97 is srtictly mechanical, but they make a revised ($200) fuel plate for the injection pump where I can get a very streetable 330 HP and 750 ft.lbs torque. You need the 4" exhaust and BHAF (big honkin' air filter) to keep ther air flow up and the EGT's down. Once you increase the HP, you are putting more of a tax on the engine so you really need gauges also.
Good luck with your new truck, I will never go back to gas for a HD truck!
 
There was a 96 PSD that was just sold from the fleet of tow trucks. It was a car carrier type truck and had 382,000 miles on it, worked hard every day of it's life. All of our PSD run 10K OCI's and currently run Delo. My personal truck has samples taken every 4K and looks excellent to around 8500.

If you really don't want a dino HDEO you might consider the Motorcraft oil since it's a good syn blend at a good price.

You can tow with that now if you want. Driving it easy to get groceries is a sure way to end it's life early. Diesel's need heat, the fuel system has to be warm; the rotating assembly needs to be at op. temp to get good life.

I would recommend Banks for their exhaust. The fit, finish and function of Banks exhaust is excellent out of all that I have tried. Edge Products has a very good "chip" that is as safe as any aftermarket part when used properly and the price is good as well, IMO. BD power has quite a few PSD parts and their customer service has been the best of any aftermarket outfit I've dealt with. BD's transmissions are quite good and their retro fit parts (if not using an exchange trans from them) have given me excellent service.

Enjoy the truck, it should give you good service for many more miles.
Patrick
cheers.gif
 
Thanks Patrick: I forgot to PM ya, due to all of my excitement. To let ya know about what I found out and actions.

I will run either Delo of Rotella T..
Depending on what Walmart has in stock, or our other autoparts stores keeps on stock, maybe I can convince the Napa store or Autozone to order me a couple cases.

I live in a small town so my sources are limited.

Thanks too all of U for your time and advice.

Patrick I will keep in touch with U on my mods.

This will be a 2 too 5 yr project.

My wife is going to Love Me! lol.
 
All of the oils noted are excellent and will work just fine.

I use Shaeffers 9000 5W-40 in my 05 PSD. I have not seen a used oil analysis that will do any better than Shaeffers 9000.
 
Patrick:

Let's say I do within the next 6 months invest in a exhaust 4" to 5" and an Edge Chip.

Would it be wise to add an aftermarked Air Intake as well...To help the 7.3L breath?

There are so many of them to chose from.

I know the more Fuel and Air the PSD receives the more power, and it all as too work together.

Well I just read a large article in DieselPower magazine about adding a Air Intake System.

The editor states they don't do that much, it's all about Air Density... And hot air under the hood isn't very dense.

Long article... I don't think i will invest in one of these. Just invest in a good OEM Filter.

[ January 01, 2006, 11:26 AM: Message edited by: -SyN- ]
 
Mettech:

If my truck was New?
I would be all over the Shaeffers 9000 5W-40.
But since its's seen a few miles-->250K i will stick with Delo or Rotella T.

Maybe I can get 500K miles out of the Girl.

Once I rebuild.
You can bet Shaeffers 9000 5W-40 or Amsoil S3000
HD5w30 will go right in. Since I have used Amsoil over many yrs. I know it's a Great Oil.

That is a few yrs down the road so I have a while to make that decision.

[ January 01, 2006, 11:19 AM: Message edited by: -SyN- ]
 
offtopic.gif


The best Air Cleaner for your truck is the AIS sold by Ford and now by Amsoil also. We have a member on the board that has one in his garage not being used. (Hammer where are you?) This is what I use in my 01 PSD: AIS Air Cleaner

I recommend a 4" exhaust. In fact above that is just a waste of money unless you like the looks.

Chips, Edge is great. If you want the best, a Jody Tipton tune is tops.

I use Fuel Power FP-60 in my diesel fuel year around. One ounce to 5 gallons of fuel.


All JMO
-



This is a TYMAR Air Cleaner (Take Your Money And Run) on my 95 PSD and when moving about 30-35 MPH, there is only about a 5-10 degree difference between under the hood and outside. So not a big deal on temps unless you idle in traffic quite a bit.


-


[ January 01, 2006, 01:23 PM: Message edited by: 59 Vetteman ]
 
Sweet! thanks VetteMan!
All advice is wrote down.

Looks are nice! But I want to spend my hard earned money on equiptment that is more functional. So I;m sure the 4"exhaust system will suit my needs well.

As for the Best? I really don't have to have the best... I just want something that is reliable and still adds to the performance of the truck... and still not have me sleeping on the couch.

Thank You.

Is there a place on the net... I could go and put in the vin# of this truck and find out.

What rearend is in the truck?
Gears within the rearend?

I have no info on this.

[ January 01, 2006, 02:37 PM: Message edited by: -SyN- ]
 
At 250K your engine and truck will last many-many more miles....I would think at least another 100 to 200K. Forget adding anymore power enhancers...they run good enough now. Use the Amsoil 30 Weight Synthetic oil, Powerservice Diesel Fuel Additive with Cetane Improver on every tank filled, Use Fleetguard Coolant additive, and change the Air and Fuel Filters twice a year. With the Amsoil and EA or Fleetguard filter setup 10,000K OCI's are easy to do. Here is a good place for you http://www.ford-trucks.com/
 
quote:
The best Air Cleaner for your truck is the AIS sold by Ford and now by Amsoil also. We have a member on the board that has one in his garage not being used. (Hammer where are you?) This is what I use in my 01 PSD: AIS Air Cleaner
Click to expand...
That AIS I have is spoken for by a local person...supposedly will be picking up tommorow.

Hammer
 
Well Thanks to U all for all the helpful ideas and advice.

I will not post in this thread again.
If I have anymore questions, I will PM those whom I feel can help me the most.

Thanks again!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

A
Thoughts on the use of NAPA branded 5W-40 heavy duty full synthetic
2 3
Replies
49
Views
1K
GW.
5
Advice for friend looking at 15w-40 oil
2
Replies
21
Views
2K
53' Stude
M
John Deere Synthetic 5w-40 oil
Replies
11
Views
938
martinq
V
Hard to find a CI-4 5w40 in Sweden
Replies
12
Views
447
Snagglefoot
W
Why doesn't Mobil have a 5w-40 that meets Ford spec?
Replies
19
Views
2K
johnmyster
Back
Top Bottom