So we purchased a 1997 Ford Motorhome, with only 8100 miles. Oil change with conventional by former owner, thoughts on changing to Amsoil full synthetic? Sitting for 2 years with small trips to fuel up and running generator.
1997 with 8100 miles, change to synthetic?
- Thread starter kd2acu
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How many starts did the previous owners do in a week my friend bought a 98 or 99 chevy off of a 90 year old man with only 14,000 miles but this guy started it twice a week so the battery did not die..Its very sludged but still runs ok
When was the last OC?
Fill cap pics?
Nick1994
$100 site donor 2024
It's probably sludged up.
Sounds like a job for conventional oil changes every 500 miles.
Sounds like a job for conventional oil changes every 500 miles.
Nah, conventional is good enough.
No issue whatever changing to Amsoil at this point.
Originally Posted By: Nick1994
It's probably sludged up.
Sounds like a job for conventional oil changes every 500 miles.
Really? Sorry but I can't agree - oil has been changed at least once in 8100 miles....any modern oil can do a 4000 mile OCI even short tripped.
Originally Posted By: Nick1994
It's probably sludged up.
Sounds like a job for conventional oil changes every 500 miles.
Really? Sorry but I can't agree - oil has been changed at least once in 8100 miles....any modern oil can do a 4000 mile OCI even short tripped.
Nick1994
$100 site donor 2024
Originally Posted By: Kuato
No issue whatever changing to Amsoil at this point.
Originally Posted By: Nick1994
It's probably sludged up.
Sounds like a job for conventional oil changes every 500 miles.
Really? Sorry but I can't agree - oil has been changed at least once in 8100 miles....any modern oil can do a 4000 mile OCI even short tripped.
It's almost 20 years old and it's been short tripped. Even your beloved Amsoil would probably be sludged.
No issue whatever changing to Amsoil at this point.
Originally Posted By: Nick1994
It's probably sludged up.
Sounds like a job for conventional oil changes every 500 miles.
Really? Sorry but I can't agree - oil has been changed at least once in 8100 miles....any modern oil can do a 4000 mile OCI even short tripped.
It's almost 20 years old and it's been short tripped. Even your beloved Amsoil would probably be sludged.
If it's a 460 Big Block Ford, Replace all the Exhaust Manifold Bolts with ARP Chrome Moly.
The real issue is whether the engine go up to temp to burn off any condensation or water vapor in the crankcase? If not, and it was a bunch of starts to bring batteries up to charge and shut down, it could be sludged... Worst thing you can do. Worse than short tripping...
Take it out for at least a 1/2 hour drive when charging and get a load on it, get some heat in the motor
Put some solar panels on the top to keep the batteries charged...
As far as oil, I'd first run a HDEO 10w30 and a new filter. Run it for a 1,000 miles and send it in for a UOA. Pull the PCV valve and look at it. Look in the breathers and oil caps on the valve covers. Try to determine the engine condition BEFORE spending big $$ for Amsoil.
If all that stuff looks good and the UOA comes back OK, then put in teh Amsoil and run it for 7,500 miles or maybe three years whichever comes first
Take it out for at least a 1/2 hour drive when charging and get a load on it, get some heat in the motor
Put some solar panels on the top to keep the batteries charged...
As far as oil, I'd first run a HDEO 10w30 and a new filter. Run it for a 1,000 miles and send it in for a UOA. Pull the PCV valve and look at it. Look in the breathers and oil caps on the valve covers. Try to determine the engine condition BEFORE spending big $$ for Amsoil.
If all that stuff looks good and the UOA comes back OK, then put in teh Amsoil and run it for 7,500 miles or maybe three years whichever comes first
4WD
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Or, once you follow Broc's plan and ready to drain HDEO - get one of 5 great synthetics for $23/jug at Walmart ...
So it was drove 2 miles once a month to gas station otherwise ran in yard. I drove it home about 1/2 hr. I will get photos of the cap. He said last year he took about 2 hrs away to camp but otherwise it was parked in RV spot in yard (not grass)
2 yrs ago
I don't think synthetic is necessary unless yall are retired or something and plan on traveling full time otherwise I'd just keep conventional in I and take a 20min drive or so on the highway every couple weeks and change the oil either according to around 5k miles or a year. Which ever comes first.
I'm sure the oil had some moisture in it if it sat for 2 years but I net a couple short intervals with supertech and then back to a normal schedule would be fine.
You could peak inside the valve cover or take them off if ya can't see in. That would give ya an indication of what it looks like on the other side too.
I'm sure the oil had some moisture in it if it sat for 2 years but I net a couple short intervals with supertech and then back to a normal schedule would be fine.
You could peak inside the valve cover or take them off if ya can't see in. That would give ya an indication of what it looks like on the other side too.
I'd stick with conventional and a good filter and just change it more often.
Especially since you really don't know its history.
Especially since you really don't know its history.
Originally Posted By: Nick1994
It's probably sludged up.
Where did you come up with this nonsense? I guarantee that engine looks brand new inside. It only has 8100 miles!! EVEN if it had the original, factory fill 19 year old oil with only 8100 miles on it, it wont even be close to "sludged up". The RV has likely been sitting for most of its life with new/like new oil in the sump.
It's probably sludged up.
Where did you come up with this nonsense? I guarantee that engine looks brand new inside. It only has 8100 miles!! EVEN if it had the original, factory fill 19 year old oil with only 8100 miles on it, it wont even be close to "sludged up". The RV has likely been sitting for most of its life with new/like new oil in the sump.
Originally Posted By: Kuato
No issue whatever changing to Amsoil at this point.
I HIGHLY disagree. As in HIGHLY!!!
I absolutely would not put synthetic oil in a low mileage, 20 year old engine such as this. You will have oil leaks galore.
I'd run Maxlife 10W30/10W40 or 15W40.
No issue whatever changing to Amsoil at this point.
I HIGHLY disagree. As in HIGHLY!!!
I absolutely would not put synthetic oil in a low mileage, 20 year old engine such as this. You will have oil leaks galore.
I'd run Maxlife 10W30/10W40 or 15W40.
My vote is for Supertech synthetic or some form of semisynthetic such as Maxlife.
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