I've got a 94 Ford E150 Club Wagon (Van), 5.8L v8. 187,000mi with regular 3k oil changes with Castrol 5w30 and Napa Gold filter. Oil consumption has been about 1 quart every 3,000 miles. Lately, it's gone to about a quart and a half. I've been thinking about changing to a high mileage oil, but don't know if it really helps anything. What's the opinion on high mileage oils in general, and which ones should I consider, if I switch to a high mileage oil?
How do I know if I need a "high mileage" oil?
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Well [most] high mileage oils are thicker within there own grade. They also contain extra detergents and seal swellers.
Then there's Maxlife. . .
It maintains the same thickness in grade that its other oils have; but, it has 22% Group IV PAO added. Think of it as a Redline blend. I like it for its cleaning ability, not to mention that it's extremely slippery.
I'm going to say since your van has such high miles and is using 1 quart in every 3000 miles. . . Maxlife 10W-40!
Then there's Maxlife. . .
I'm going to say since your van has such high miles and is using 1 quart in every 3000 miles. . . Maxlife 10W-40!
1 qt every 3k miles just may be within specs...my 2001 F150 recommends 5W-20....and she uses 1qt every 3k....and dealer says up to 1.5qts is within specs.
1.5 quarts every 3k miles with v8 is not a lot IMO. Esp with 187k on board.
I'd stay with what your doing. If you want to try a HM oil, any of them is fine.
I've never seen the need for HM oils.
Unless your leaking a lot of oil I guess some of them help.
If I have a oil leak, I fix it, I don't go looking for oil to repair a leak...
Take care, Bill
I'd stay with what your doing. If you want to try a HM oil, any of them is fine.
I've never seen the need for HM oils.
If I have a oil leak, I fix it, I don't go looking for oil to repair a leak...
Take care, Bill
I used Maxlife simply out of curiousity; had no leaks, truck didn't/doesn't even use 1/8qt in 3k miles, even at 172k now.
I was simply curious; and it wheeled out fantastic UOA's. Don't know whether or not it assists with any need unfortunately, cause I didn't have any to start with.
I do know this is labeled as a HM oil that can and people do use it in new/used/rebuilt engines without issue.
I was simply curious; and it wheeled out fantastic UOA's. Don't know whether or not it assists with any need unfortunately, cause I didn't have any to start with.
I do know this is labeled as a HM oil that can and people do use it in new/used/rebuilt engines without issue.
Many times, oil consumption in higher mileage vehicles is a result of sticky piston rings and poorly operating PVC systems.
I would give AutoRX a try - the best product available for cleaning up ring packs.
And, its worth the effort to get a new PVC valve installed on that engine. This would rule out the possibility of oil mist vapor being sucked back into the intake manifold during high vacuum situations
My maxima with 120K consumes 1/4 Q of oil over 5K miles. Do you guys recommend moving to HM oils?
Correct me if i'm wrong but that doesn't seem abnormal at all.
I bought a used 98 madza 626 4 cylinder and it runs fine and only smokes during warm up. Its using a qrt of oil a week and it does not leak. I changed the pvc in it and not ran it long enough to see if that helps. mechanics said to do that firs and then we would check other options. pvc lines has vacuum and old pvc was oily but not clogged up that i could tell. I don't know if autorx will do me any good. car has 141,000 miles on it. i do have a 1506 code idle control thing that i would like to try to clean it up since they cost to replace it is 500.00 and i'm not paying that for a little part. Any one clean one up and it worked in turning off the engine light and keeping it off? mechanics said oil could be going to cat but it would smoke all the time if that was the case and then they said it could all be getting stuck up in the valve body but i can't see that either.
oh forgot and as much oil i keep adding the oild looks dirty black looking and should be clean makes me think its burning oil and i may have oil ring blowby compression issue but its not been checked yet for that. i went through a 1.5 qrt in a week and a half and then in two weeks i had lost 2.25 qrts.
If Max life has the same thickness as the other Vals. then why doesn't it earn the fuel economy rateing?
I think it may contain more ZDDP???
That "stealer" will tell you anything to keep you coming back. 1qt every 3000 is ridiculous.....no wonder they call it Fix Or Repair Daily....sheesh....
Quote:
excuse me? lets not generalize shall we?
some vehicles simply use oil, my Thunderbird uses a tad bit of oil between changes, not to significant for me to worry, my Explorer doesn't use any oil, at least not enough to show on the dipstick.
My dad's truck used to burn oil right after he got it when we switched to Havoline, after 2 or 3 oil changes it stopped. My brothers ranger burns about a quart ever 3 thousand but it also has almost 220k on the engine.
I've noticed that my old t-bird, it didn't burn oil until it had thinned out, same with my old F-150 with the straight six.
I used to work at a service center and most vehicles that came in especially the Pontiacs used a little oil as the dips sticks were somewhat low, but not out of the safe area.
That "stealer" will tell you anything to keep you coming back. 1qt every 3000 is ridiculous.....no wonder they call it Fix Or Repair Daily....sheesh....
"this is what i meant to say, got stuck in the quote and couldn't edit"
excuse me? lets not generalize shall we?
some vehicles simply use oil, my Thunderbird uses a tad bit of oil between changes, not to significant for me to worry, my Explorer doesn't use any oil, at least not enough to show on the dipstick.
My dad's truck used to burn oil right after he got it when we switched to Havoline, after 2 or 3 oil changes it stopped. My brothers ranger burns about a quart ever 3 thousand but it also has almost 220k on the engine.
I've noticed that my old t-bird, it didn't burn oil until it had thinned out, same with my old F-150 with the straight six.
I used to work at a service center and most vehicles that came in especially the Pontiacs used a little oil as the dips sticks were somewhat low, but not out of the safe area.
excuse me? lets not generalize shall we?
some vehicles simply use oil, my Thunderbird uses a tad bit of oil between changes, not to significant for me to worry, my Explorer doesn't use any oil, at least not enough to show on the dipstick.
My dad's truck used to burn oil right after he got it when we switched to Havoline, after 2 or 3 oil changes it stopped. My brothers ranger burns about a quart ever 3 thousand but it also has almost 220k on the engine.
I've noticed that my old t-bird, it didn't burn oil until it had thinned out, same with my old F-150 with the straight six.
I used to work at a service center and most vehicles that came in especially the Pontiacs used a little oil as the dips sticks were somewhat low, but not out of the safe area.
Forget what I said in my previous post. Valvoline MaxLife is now thicker!
They changed their recipe after I made that post. The new formula is dated Febuary 14, 2007 - Valentine's Day.
They changed their recipe after I made that post. The new formula is dated Febuary 14, 2007 - Valentine's Day.
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