Help me choose an oil for 7.3 PSD

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I recently aquired a 01 f250 that was due for an oil change so I used Delo and felt ok with that. After some reading on here many have said that the 7.3 HPOP will shear a 40 down to a 30 rather quickly and sort of stabilize there. So that being said some have claimed it is better to start off with a 10w30 HDEO to start with even claiming the 7.3 "likes" this oil better. I just wanted some more input on this from the resident oil gurus. Thanks in advance for any help.
 
id recommend, the rotella 15W40, all my buddies run them in there 7.3's with no problems at all, either that or the ford motorcraft oil. they get the rotella free off the tugboats they work on.
 
SubyRoo: IMHO you can use Rotella-Delvac-Delo-Conoco Phillips-ect with a MotorCraft oil filter or equivelent, and keep 5K to 10K mile OCI---->{As well as having a good Air Filter System-and-keeping that system clean}...Your PSD will probably out last all of us...

As for Viscosity--->Faster startups-quieter idle-seemingly better throttle response...

After reading here about T5 10W-30,I switched to it for my winters oil change... The 7.3L really liked this oil right from the start...Really Nice Fast Startups-Idle was about the same as 5W-40-Throttle response was really evident... I really liked this viscosity...BUT with 285K miles the engine is a bit worn, and the 7.3L really liked to drink it...I poured back in close to 1&halfgal over a 5K mile OCI...With the 40wt oils I only poured back in 1/2gal with a 5K mile OCI...

I would still be using the T5 10W-30 if my PSD had fewer miles and less wear... It's a great fit for the 7.3L...And it holds up very well in the summer months with heavy towing and excells in the cold winter months---->{Many UOA have proven that}...

Pick your oil and viscosity and run it... Then do a UOA and judge for yourself... Listen to your 7.3L!!

Now I run a mix of 2gal of Delvac 15W-40 & 2gal of M1 TDT 5W-40...The 7.3L responds well to this combo...
 
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Thanks for the replies. The truck has just over 173k miles. The only reason I was hesitant to use the T5 next time is by then we will be in the hottest part of the year and I wasnt sure how it would hold up in the summer heat. The hardest towing I do is hauling a few horses.
 
My 2002 F350 has almost 95000 miles, and runs great. I have used Motorcraft 15w40, Rotella 15w40 and presently running Delo 15w40 for the last 2 years. All are great choices. I have never ran Mobil,Delvac Valvoline Blue which are also good oils. I always use the Motorcraft oil filter, can't go wrong with that filter. I am thinking about going back to the Motorcraft 15w40. Can't go wrong with the 5 quart jugs for $14.00. An oil change would cost less than $55.00 can't beat that. Conoco-Phillips makes the oil for the PSD, good oil.
 
My last bit of simple advice: Your PSD is barely even broken in... If it was well cared for?..

My opinion is try a 10W-30...Keep track close track to see if it uses any oil...

Or maybe try 10W-30 in winter and 15W-40 in summer... I feel confident that you could use 10W-30 yr round, if not alot of oil usage between oil changes...

Try to avoid short trips,where nothing really has time to heat up before shut down... This plays a major role in oil life...

Good Luck to you and your oil quest.
 
It seems to have been well cared for. The previous owner said he used Amsoil. He said it was due for an oil change when I got it but the oil didnt even look dirty.
 
Quote:
you can use Rotella-Delvac-Delo-Conoco Phillips-ect with a MotorCraft oil filter or equivelent, and keep 5K to 10K mile OCI-
+1
But, any top brand oil filter.
 
Your 7.3 isn't too picky with oil. Any of the national brands (Delo, Rotella, Delvac) should take great care of you. In the summer a 15w-40 is fine and in the winter you can get by with a 15w-40 but your injectors and hpop would prefer a 10w-30 or a 5w-40.

I would not worry with a 10w-30 in the crankcase, ford says you can use them up to 90* so in most of the rust belt you could run a 10w30 year round. In my 2002 manual it does recommend a 40wt for heavy towing over 50*...but they don't define heavy. I would run rotella or JD 10w-30 and push it hard without fear IMHO.

For cost purposes I run a 15w-40 in the summer and I can't decide if I will run a 5w-40 or 10w-30 in the winter...we will see how my wallet feels about it at the time.

IMHO it is hard to beat the FL-1995...18 microns for like 10 bucks....good stuff! The Donaldson ELF is better but it is three times more.
 
Would one expect the Rotella T6 5w40 to provide a little better gas mileage than a 15w40? The viscosity is the same at operating temp, no? Shell says the T6 5w40 provides better economy versus the Rotella Triple T 15w40. That's if I'm reading it properly.

http://www.shell.com/home/content/rotella/products/t6/

Suby... I got my '02 F250 7.3L a month or so ago. A buddy went out and bought a '00. We absolutely LOVE the trucks. With all of the diesel particulate nonsense these days... I won't sell it unless I absolutely have to.
 
I have a '97 7.3 PSD and I currently run delo 400 which I got on sale for 8.50 a gallon (way back when WM had it on sale). Now I have a stash of 4 gallons of delvac (9.87/gallon plus mobil rebate) and also a stash of valvoline premium blue which was on sale at Oreilly for 9.99 a gallon. To sum it up, I buy whatever major brand is on sale.
 
Originally Posted By: jmimac351

Suby... I got my '02 F250 7.3L a month or so ago. A buddy went out and bought a '00. We absolutely LOVE the trucks. With all of the diesel particulate nonsense these days... I won't sell it unless I absolutely have to.

How many miles are on your 2002 F250?
I've got an 02 also and haven't turned 50k yet.
 
Sweet. I had a 2006 6.0L that I couldn't keep out of the shop. Got tired of paying the 100 dollar deductibles and traded it in on this beauty I landed.

I'm like you. I absolutely LOVE my 7.3L. Hopefully have it forever.
 
Dude, I just checked your smugmug page. I don't see your 1992 LX 5.0L listed in your signature, but that is ONE FINE MACHINE! DEAR GOD!!!
I came SO close to buying a black 5 speed 5.0L LX coupe back in about 1996-1997 when I was in college, but after test driving it, it had way too much slack in the rear end and had been dogged.

Gosh I wish I had that car.

RL
 
Originally Posted By: FiremarshalRob
Dude, I just checked your smugmug page. I don't see your 1992 LX 5.0L listed in your signature, but that is ONE FINE MACHINE! DEAR GOD!!!


Thanks Rob. Ran out of room in the signature line. The cars are fun for sure.
 
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