96 Explorer

[jordanka16]

Hello, I have a 96 Ford Explorer Sport 4.0 V6 OHV with 163K on the odometer, I currently use Castrol GTX and a pureone filter and change the oil every 3K. I am considering switching to a full synthetic oil, and extending the interval to 5K. I mainly want added protection, to help the engine run as well as it can, as long as it can. I was thinking of using Mobil 1, I know the 5W30 meets ford's specifications, and the owners manual says synthetic is fine to use as long as it meets specs.

Is this going to be worth the added expense? Or am I better off with the conventional oil with the mileage already has high as it is? I drive about 75/25 Highway/City and live in Albany, OR. The explorer currently runs great, it has 0 problems, doesn't leak or use any oil, and I get about 23 MPG on average.

I'd appreciate any opinions, or recommendations for a better oil to use. Thanks.

 

[SatinSilver]

Find a coin and write "A" on one side and "B" on the other. Option A is conventional and option B is synthetic. Flip coin in air. Go with whatever the coin lands on.

 

[exranger06]

Before anyone starts recommending 5w20, I would like to remind everyone that Ford specifically did NOT back spec the 4.0 to 5w20. Use 5w30 only!

Any conventional can easily go 5k miles. If you're going to change it every 5k, you can just stick with conventional.

 

[eagle23]

The opinions will start oh, about now

Synthetic for 5k is generally too soon a change. I'd use a conventional for 5k given your highway miles, which are really easy on oil.

I'm biased toward Pennzoil conventional but in truth any SN rated conventional oil these days is like 10 times better than what was available 16 yr ago.

There isn't much reason to do any differently from what you're doing now other than going to 5k...it seems to be working well. Have you had the truck for a while?

There are lots of oils on sale (check that collection of posts), some for virtually free if you go for the mail in rebates. If you prefer to still do 3k on those, at least your cost would be almost nil.

If you decide to go synthetic, use it for 7-8k, minimum.

 

[Russ300H]

My daughter has a '97 Sport with the 4.0 OHC engine. It has about 155K and I have been changing the oil about once a year (10K miles) She bought it at 105K so I have changed the oil 6 times, ready for a 7th. The engine still does not use enough oil between changes to add any and the timing chain makes no noise. I have used whatever good brand was on sale. Pennzoil, Valvoline, and Castrol mostly. Lately, I have used Pure 1 filters. For the first few changes, before Pure 1 existed I used Mobil 1 filters. I have faith that with similar maintenance the engine will go another 100K easy. On the OHC, the timing chain is a problem with these engines. That is why I immediately started with Synthetic.

 

[jordanka16]

It sounds like switching to synthetic and changing it every 10K wouldn't really do much good then, is there any reason to go for synthetic and 10K versus conventional and 5K?

I've had the truck for about 40K miles, and it's never used any oil in that time. I'm very happy with how it runs, so I just want it to stay that way as long as possible.

 

[Brons2]

Originally Posted By: Russ300H
My daughter has a '97 Sport with the 4.0 OHC engine. It has about 155K and I have been changing the oil about once a year (10K miles) She bought it at 105K so I have changed the oil 6 times, ready for a 7th. The engine still does not use enough oil between changes to add any and the timing chain makes no noise. I have used whatever good brand was on sale. Pennzoil, Valvoline, and Castrol mostly. Lately, I have used Pure 1 filters. For the first few changes, before Pure 1 existed I used Mobil 1 filters. I have faith that with similar maintenance the engine will go another 100K easy. On the OHC, the timing chain is a problem with these engines. That is why I immediately started with Synthetic.


A 10,000 mile OCI seems excessive to me on conventional unless perhaps driving 100% highway long distance. Do you have UOA to support this regime, or are you just going by the sound of the engine?

 

[fordman65]

I go back to an old saying my father tells me. "Don't mess with success" If you are having good results with the dino old Castrol 10w30, then stick with that. Saves you $$ by not switching to full synthetic.

 

[Nickdfresh]

For a 5K OCI, I'd consider a good High Mileage oil synthetic blend like Valvoline MaxLife or Quaker State Defy 5w30...

 

[Norm Olt]

Uh, about those Firestone tires...