Maxlife syn blend or MC syn blend

[dradave]

I have a '98 Explorer with 115k miles that does not leak or use oil. I have used conventional Valvoline conventional since I bought it with 75k miles on it but I am now considering going to a syn blend oil. I am not sure if I need (or should use) the Maxlife syn blend or would the MC syn blend be better. My daily driving habits have changed to multiple short trips of 4 miles or less with an occasional highway run every week or so.

TIA for all opinions and suggestions.

 

[mechtech2]

Either will be great.
I use MC in my cars.

 

[drewjp]

Either oil is great.........I would prefer Maxlife just because of the added detergents.

 

[Steve S]

What are you expecting to gain from the oils?

 

[bmwtechguy]

-peace of mind, it sounds like. I say Maxlife in the 5qt jugs. This line of oil has impressed me, especially in older cars.

 

[02zx9r]

The MC has been showing wonderful used oil analysis. I have heard more talk about maxlife than MC but I would run either with no worries. At the walmarts here the jug of MC is just over $10, the maxlife is just over $11

 

[mitchcoyote]

I think Maxlife would be a better choice....

 

[Triple_Se7en]

I have never seen Motorcraft High Mileage oils. Must be an Oklahoma-area thing. All we get closest to it here -- is it's sister Kendall High Mileage semi-synthetic.

 

[Dyoel182]

There isnt a difference you would normally notice. Here the label looks exactly the same except for some added text.

 

[Hokiefyd]

I don't think the original poster indicated the Motorcraft oil was a "high mileage" oil; just that it's a synthetic blend. I think the 5W-20 and the 5w30 MC that's sold at my local Wal-Mart says "Synthetic Blend" on it. I don't think the 10w30 says that, but I could be wrong.

 

[dradave]

Thanks for all the replys. My quandry was do I really need a High Mileage oil (Maxlife) since my Explorer does not use/burn any oil. Would Maxlife be beneficial for this application or would a non High Mileage (MC) oil be more appropriate. My concern is that if I went to a high mileage oil it may start consuming some oil which I would prefer didn't happen. The reason why I want to use a syn-blend is to keep the OCI around 5k AND peace of mind as another poster suggested.

 

[glennc]

I don't think you would find that. I think the contention of the High Mileage oil makers would be that their oil promotes seal and gasket health throughout the life of the engine, and I do not see any reason not to accept that as valid.

However the MC oil is excellent as well.

 

[Hokiefyd]

My '97 Northstar engine consumed less oil on High Mileage oil. I ran it on conventional for a while, and oil consumption was in the neighborhood of about a quart every 3000 miles. With the High Mileage, that slowed to around a quart every 6000 miles, which was close to my OCIs anyway. I highly doubt you'd see HIGHER consumption on a High Mileage oil. That said, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". I'd run the heck out of it on the Motorcraft until it DID start using some oil, or leaking, or both...then maybe I'd try some High Mileage types.