I'm gonna change my oil for the first time in my 2003 F-150 tomorrow. I'm gonna use Mobil Drive Clean 5w-30 for this one and switch to Mobil 1 around 5000 miles. Does this sound like a good plan?
Gonna change my oil for first time......question......
- Thread starter youther
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Why the Drive Clean?
Shouldnt I wait before I put the Mobil 1 in since it's a new motor?
Mobil 1 is safe to use as a break-in oil in my opinion. Run the factory fill to 500-1000 miles before draining. Mobil 1 5w30 is factory fill in the Corvette, and 0w40 is factory fill in Mercedes.
Well I read on Mobil's site and Amsoil's site that syn oil can be used immediately. Unless anyone has some valid points I guess I'l use syn right off the bat.
what is wrong with drive clean..i use it?
youther,
I use a different approach to a new vehicle. I recommend that you use the Mobil Drive Clean until you reach 5K miles, drop the oil and get an analysis on it. I personally do this as I expect to use a synthetic oil more than the 3-4K miles that you see it being run in the oil analysis section. A few extended drains, but more 3-4K drains. Now at 5K you can see how your engine is operating and if the oil analysis show good numbers, you can now probably exceed that mileage of the analysis by 2K on the synthetic and then analize that oil. Plus you have the assurance that the engine is fairly broken in.
Old habits are hard to change for me, 5K, put in synthetic, but I don't sell oil either. You don't have a Porsche, Audi TT, Corvette ect with factory fill syn.
I use a different approach to a new vehicle. I recommend that you use the Mobil Drive Clean until you reach 5K miles, drop the oil and get an analysis on it. I personally do this as I expect to use a synthetic oil more than the 3-4K miles that you see it being run in the oil analysis section. A few extended drains, but more 3-4K drains. Now at 5K you can see how your engine is operating and if the oil analysis show good numbers, you can now probably exceed that mileage of the analysis by 2K on the synthetic and then analize that oil. Plus you have the assurance that the engine is fairly broken in.
Old habits are hard to change for me, 5K, put in synthetic, but I don't sell oil either. You don't have a Porsche, Audi TT, Corvette ect with factory fill syn.
in my 02 civic(5w20 go figure), ill be going a little over 5000(maybe 5200) when i change my oil for the first time bc ive driven my civic mostly highway and i don't drive in a lot of stop and go traffic. Id switch to a synthetic if it was available in 5w20 and in my area(im not using amsoils group 3 bs), but ill prolly be using drive clean or gtx for about 5000 then switch to the mobil 1 0w20 when it comes out. youther, id prolly wait till about the first 1000-1500 miles and switch to the mobil 1 unless your car came with a break-in oil like mine did.
Patman
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One way to tell is when the oil consumption slows to a steady level. At first it might burn a quart every 2k, but once you see the consumption rate get to a steady point, it's safe to say the engine is broken in.
Vetteman makes some good points. I'll use the Mobil Drive Clean until 5,000 miles.
...a quart...really..?? I bought my 02AcuraTL new with 11km on it, the most I have ever been able to add to it was 150-200ml for an entire season, until I put it away for the winter. Now I have 11k km on it and still doesnt burn hardly anything at all.
I did change the factory fill (break-in oil) before storing it, at 4750km. I THINK I would have liked to leave it a little longer, but the dealer advised me to change it before storage.
..Currently using Royal Purple 5W30 with K&N filter.
[ January 03, 2003, 08:55 AM: Message edited by: 2K2AcuraTL ]
Patman
Staff member
Not all engines will burn a quart every 2k during break in mind you, I was just giving an example. No car I have owned since new has ever burned any major amount like that, but some of them might have started out burning the equivalent of a quart every 4-5k until settling in to no consumption or very little. I don't recall my wife's Honda burning any oil at all even when new for instance.
I have only bought domestic cars myself, the Honda was our first import (although I did own a 95 Escort GT, which had the Mazda engine in it, my sister bought that new and I bought it from her two years after).
I have heard that many European cars will burn a lot of oil when new, is this true or just a rumor I've heard?
I have only bought domestic cars myself, the Honda was our first import (although I did own a 95 Escort GT, which had the Mazda engine in it, my sister bought that new and I bought it from her two years after).
I have heard that many European cars will burn a lot of oil when new, is this true or just a rumor I've heard?
I honestly don't think it will make much difference. Nothing at all against Mobil drive clean, I just think starting an engine early as possible on synthetic oil is desireable.
Here's my take on break in: Rotating parts are not really "broken in" by usage (anymore)- high spots, roughness, out of round, etc so nasty that needs wear-in is a defect!! The only real seating/sealing MAY be the rings in the bore - but here I say they will seat with synthetic oil as well as dino.
Shoot holes in my theory if need be. Thanks.
Here's my take on break in: Rotating parts are not really "broken in" by usage (anymore)- high spots, roughness, out of round, etc so nasty that needs wear-in is a defect!! The only real seating/sealing MAY be the rings in the bore - but here I say they will seat with synthetic oil as well as dino.
Shoot holes in my theory if need be. Thanks.
Patman
Staff member
Pablo, I agree with your theory, however I like to use dino for at least one or two oil changes on new cars I buy simply because I like to do those changes early, and I don't have the heart to drain out expensive oil so soon, and I don't quite feel comfortable leaving it in longer with such a brand new engine.
Well I bought everything I needed to change my oil, crawled under my truck to take the oil filter off and after I finally found it I became very agitated due to the location of the filter. GEEEZ! No way I could reach and loosen the filter. So I took it to Wal-Mart and got them to change my oil for me. They charged me $10.00 since I had everything already, which was 6 qts of 5w-30 drive clean and 1 bosch filter. After they finished they said that it was showing a quart low. I said huh?? Book calls fo 6 quarts. I told them I would check it at home and add if necesary. How may quarts do you guys add to your F-150's with a 4.6?
[ January 04, 2003, 01:23 PM: Message edited by: youther ]
[ January 04, 2003, 01:23 PM: Message edited by: youther ]
youther,
I had a 4.6L F-150 and came across your exact problem. Remember, the dipstick is a GUIDE to tell you how much oil you have in your engine, not an absolute. If the manual says 6 quarts...then put in 6 quarts.
I had a 4.6L F-150 and came across your exact problem. Remember, the dipstick is a GUIDE to tell you how much oil you have in your engine, not an absolute. If the manual says 6 quarts...then put in 6 quarts.
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