E350 box truck

[nickaluch]

I have a 2003 E350 ford box truck with the 5.4 motor.Truck has 130000 miles on it and has the famous chain rattle at start up.I would like to change the oil now before it gets to cold and run it thru the end of march.The truck goes about 85 miles aday in stop and go with a good highway run in the morng.Any good ideas on a syn.Not crazy about the 5/20 weight,seems to burn a quart every 1000 miles.Had better luck with 5w30 or 10/30 in the summer.

 

[Colt45ws]

What filter are you using?

 

[nickaluch]

Motorcraft filter

 

[Scott88]

So that's roughly 6K miles if you are running it 5 days a week?

A 5w30 should work just fine as should the MC filter. Most off the shelf sythetics should do fine, but MC 5w30 blend probably wouldn't be out of its element either.

 

[OVERKILL]

Mobil 1 0w30, or, if it goes through that, Mobil 1 0w40.

 

[tig1]

Sounds like your engine has had very poor maintainence. These Ford Mod engines(4.6 and 5.4) are long lasting. It's my understanding(a friend works at a local Ford Dealership)that these engines, if well cared for, will not have timing chain problems. My 96 had 218K and was still very quite.

 

[OVERKILL]

My 5.4L has comparable mileage to the OP and is quiet as a mouse.

 

[nickaluch]

The engine is pretty well serviced.Ran the first 40,000 miles on motor craft oil and filters at 6000 mile changes from the dealership.From day one I would have to add a quart evey 1000 to 1500 miles and ford said it was normal for a commercial used truck.From 40,000 till now she has been running on any syn that is on sale in 5w30 weight.Still used oil but not as quick.Last oil change was a 10w30 syn wich has totally stopped the oil burn but the chain rattles on start up.Not sure if it,s the guides or the thicker oil?so at this point not sure what oil to use,5w30 or 10w30?

 

[abycat]

Does not that engine take 5W-20??

 

[nickaluch]

I used 5w20 the first 40,000 miles,the truck hated it, burned it like crazy.The truck carries heavy loads with 4.10 gears

 

[abycat]

It sounds like your engine didnt break in properly or a couple rings spun a bit or something. Sounds a little weird. Motor must have been made on a friday or a MONDAY.