2013 Ford F150 3.7L base V6 - fleet oil

[caravanmike]

i agree! at least it gets changed, no matter what grade. i have worked for private company fleets and some have horrible oil change intervals, in the range of 3 years.

fleet doesn't always mean regular service. their are humans involved.

 

[neilLB7]

They used to be terrible about intervals. We had some HEUI diesel injected trucks and equipment that had gone years without a change. Until they realized the reason they were barely running was because the oil was sheared apart and could barely function the injectors. Now they do a good job of mile/hour intervals. But still operate under the assumption ALL equipment needs one kind of hydraulic fluid, one ATF, and one oil. We have three hose reels: HYD, ENG, ATF. lol. 10w-30, 50wt manual trans, and 80-90wt gear are in drum racks with spouts. Im going to try to research this engine to see if I can better understand the lube system and if anything unique in there will suffer over time from using 10w-30.

 

[DuckRyder]

Is not this the same basic engine (IE: the same family) as the 3.5 EcoBoost? If so the EcoBoost calls for Xw-30 no?

I suspect it will be O.K. if not ideal.

 

[KD0AXS]

Sounds like someone needs to send those guys to some mandatory training, something they probably haven't had in years. It's not 1972 anymore.

 

[neilLB7]

From a google search, this 3.7L engine is also used in the Mazda-6 car as a front drive engine configuration. The Mazda folks say their manual states to use 5W-20. And if not available, use 10W-30, 10W-40 or 5W-40. So it seems like a maybe for me. The engine was changed substantially for rear drive in mustangs and pickups. From what I've read, this thing is BUILT to run HARD. 6 bolt mains even.

 

[RF Overlord]

Everyone runs around wondering how our deficit got so high. Here is one tiny example...add up all the examples from around the country and you have your answer.

(Not including the trade deficit, just the internal one)

@ the OP: Good on ya' for caring. You've done all you can do (and more) in this fight, so take heart. Too bad YOU aren't the fleet manager...those would be the longest-lasting vehicles they'd ever seen!

 

[neilLB7]

Convinced the "shop" to maintain a stock of 5W-20 for this 3.7L Ford truck (and the other new Ford 5.0L and Dodge 4.7L). Looks like it's going to be Valvoline "premium" conventional 5W-20 and not a synthetic blend like I asked for (and didn't expect to get). Probably as good as it's going to get.

Going with 4000 mile OCI's instead of using the oil life monitor. My usage is considered "severe" about half the time. Seems like the monitor showed about 60% remaining on my first 4000 mile change. But I hadn't really been using it like I normally do. Been kinda taking it easy on it since it's so new.

 

[REDDOG]

Good deal-I'd be happy with that.

 

[Coprolite]

I haven't seen anyone quote an F150 OLM % that didn't roughly work out to 10k miles. Perhaps it is just a mileage counter.

 

[neilLB7]

Our other 2013 F150 has the 5.0L V8. It so happened to have about 2000 miles on it when we bought it new. It was a loaner truck to the Indy 500 race track officials at some point this past fall for something. So it spent alot of low speed driving and idling. At 4000 miles that truck is showing 5% life remaining. So it's due by the OLM now. So it must not be just a mileage counter.

I changed mine early because I'm still old school and want the break in oil out sooner than the OLM says anyway.

 

[The Critic]

Why are you so concerned about your work truck? This discussion is borderline silly. Your responsibility of proper maintenance likely extends no further than your obligation to take it into the service department at the prescribed intervals. Don't you have enough things at work to deal with?

 

[Coprolite]

Neil, thanks for a datapoint that supports the idea that the OLM is not simply a mileage counter. I hope that it is true. I also hope that it applies to older vehicles, too.

Critic, I have no problem with the OP worrying about his work truck. It is commendable that someone takes car of their company vehicle as if it is their own. Just because he does this doesn't mean that he is obsessed and worries about it 24/7. When I had a company truck, it was my main vehicle and I treated it like my own.

 

[neilLB7]

"Why are you so concerned about your work truck? This discussion is borderline silly. Your responsibility of proper maintenance likely extends no further than your obligation to take it into the service department at the prescribed intervals. Don't you have enough things at work to deal with?" ~The Critic~

Looks like you're a little too used to your government there in California teaching you how to act. I'm in Indiana.

Never changes. I've belonged to the site for a few days...and here it comes. And I'll end up looking like the bad guy to some. But I'll stand up for myself.

My original question was basically whether anyone knew much about the new Ford 3.7L V6 truck engine and using a 10W-30 HEDO SL rated oil in such. It's pretty straightforward. Guess it doesn't meet your requirements for valid topics of discussion.

What's the personal attack for! I'm borderline silly? YOU could be the foreman in charge of this shop I'm talking about!! You have an even MORE apathetic attitude than the guy in there now! The old..."who cares, not my job, when's breaktime, so what if we break it...it's not mine".

I'm here to discuss oil types for a specific engine/vehicle...on a forum dedicated to the discussion of (drumroll) OIL. Why are you here? Do 15,000 posts give you authority to condemn my questions or thoughts? Why did you even waste minutes of your life, that you'll never get back, reading and responding to a "borderline silly" thread?

The real question is why are YOU so concerned about what I'm concerned about? My responsibilies in life, where I work, and what I spend my time doing is WHATEVER I DECIDE. Not yours. Not listening to people like you telling me what to be concerned with is why I've done well in life, education and career. I go beyond the minimum required in anything I do. People who count notice. You know nothing about my job, my responsibilities and what I do in my professional life or my personal life. Or how I volunteer at least 20 hours a week to my community. I do my job and half of everyone elses around me. And certainly, your responsibility into my matters extend no further than your civil obligation to mind your own business. As you say...don't you have enough things in LIFE to deal with?

 

[SlipperyPete]

It is sometimes almost shocking how devoid of people skills some grown men around here can be, and this site has way more than its fair share of people who make comments way beyond anything that is any of their business. The up side is this is only place I've ever seen where you can read along while Hank Hill argues with Sheldon Cooper.

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: neilLB7
What's the personal attack for! I'm borderline silly? YOU could be the foreman in charge of this shop I'm talking about!! You have an even MORE apathetic attitude than the guy in there now! The old..."who cares, not my job, when's breaktime, so what if we break it...it's not mine".

I was not advocating for one to have an apathetic attitude. Instead, I was suggesting that you leave the fleet management duties to your fleet manager and let him be responsible for his actions. However, I am glad that you were able to convince your fleet manager to use the proper oil for the truck (just saw the post now). I usually avoid advising people how to do their jobs, especially if they've ignored me in the past, since it usually puts you in a person's "bad group."

Originally Posted By: neilLB7
I'm here to discuss oil types for a specific engine/vehicle...on a forum dedicated to the discussion of (drumroll) OIL. Why are you here? Do 15,000 posts give you authority to condemn my questions or thoughts? Why did you even waste minutes of your life, that you'll never get back, reading and responding to a "borderline silly" thread?

The real question is why are YOU so concerned about what I'm concerned about? My responsibilies in life, where I work, and what I spend my time doing is WHATEVER I DECIDE. Not yours. Not listening to people like you telling me what to be concerned with is why I've done well in life, education and career. I go beyond the minimum required in anything I do. People who count notice. You know nothing about my job, my responsibilities and what I do in my professional life or my personal life. Or how I volunteer at least 20 hours a week to my community. I do my job and half of everyone elses around me. And certainly, your responsibility into my matters extend no further than your civil obligation to mind your own business. As you say...don't you have enough things in LIFE to deal with?

My apologies - looking back, perhaps that reply was a bit more snarky than I had originally intended.

Originally Posted By: SlipperyPete
It is sometimes almost shocking how devoid of people skills some grown men around here can be, and this site has way more than its fair share of people who make comments way beyond anything that is any of their business. The up side is this is only place I've ever seen where you can read along while Hank Hill argues with Sheldon Cooper.

Hey, I was just trying to suggest that the OP let others be responsible for their decisions. I'm glad that he was able to get the proper oil for the truck, but I still think that it's best to let people do their jobs and not advise them on how to do it when they have historically ignored good advice from others.

 

[SwampDweller]

Neil, I have been running half and half 5/20-5/30 in my 3.7's for about the last year. No changes in engine power, smoothness or MPG. Personally, I would not hesitate to run the 10/30 you mention.
I am impressed with the power and economy of this engine.

 

[neilLB7]

No problem. I was probably in a less than better mood anyway. I just know what happens when things go wrong there. We suffer, not them.

Yes that 3.7 is pretty nice. I specifically ordered it as we never get V6s. I wanted to try it as I had read alot of good about it. But I'm not getting the MPGs I hoped for yet. But it's winter and I'm idling more than I typically do to keep the cab warm.

Its a well built high revver. I'm told Porsche had a hand in the bottom end and cosworth designed the heads. But I can't confirm. But it does have 6 bolt mains and can run 7000 rpm all day if you'd like. But I don't.

 

[neilLB7]

Oh...and the 10w-30 is still SL rated although most CI-4 HDEOs are SM. Not sure what SL might do to a SN requirement as far as converters and who knows what. I used to run ROTELLA 10W-30 in a 351W but those would take straight 30wt and like it just as well.