New guy, needs advice-

[vaportrail]

I bought a new 1996 F-150 with a 302 engine back in 1997.

I always changed my oil and filter every 3000 miles on everything I owned.

I started using valvoline synthetic blend oil in the truck in 1999, and continued changing the oil and filter every 3000 miles.

Switched to Mobil 1 full synthetic in 2003, and started running 5000 miles between oil and filter changes, when the truck wasn't in storage.


The truck now has 100,000 miles on it, and I'm putting a lot of high speed, desert driving miles on the old truck.


I'm at 5000 miles on the oil and filter. The truck is right at a quart low.


Should I go ahead and change the oil and filter, change the filter and top off the oil, or just top off the oil?

How many miles should I run the oil?


I still like the old ford, and want it to last forever-

 

[Clevy]

M1 has their own warranty for engines and the m1 line is supported by Mobil stating 10000 mile drains. The EP line says 15000 miles.
We have a member doing 10000 mile drains of Mobil super 5000 iirc.
How's the oil look?does it smell strongly of fuel. How does it feel between your fingers.
I'd just add a quart and go personally.

 

[SatinSilver]

From the thread title I thought you were going to ask for love advice for some reason.

 

[Errtt]

Originally Posted By: satinsilver
From the thread title I thought you were going to ask for love advice for some reason.

Then it should be posted in another section like - Power Sports or Question Of The Day

 

[SatinSilver]

I saw it under the "Recent Topics" section. So really didn't look at what section it was in. Anyways, carry on...

Power sports...

Weak coffee this morning! Took me a second or two.

 

[Astro14]

High speed desert driving? I wouldn't go anywhere near 10K without a used oil analysis to show what your silicon levels are...10,000 miles of street driving is far different than 10,000 miles of hard off road driving in desert heat...

So, my recommendation: change the oil &filter now and get a used oil analysis while you're at it....

 

[gaijinnv]

Originally Posted By: vaportrail


The truck now has 100,000 miles on it, and I'm putting a lot of high speed, desert driving miles on the old truck.


I'm at 5000 miles on the oil and filter. The truck is right at a quart low.


Should I go ahead and change the oil and filter, change the filter and top off the oil, or just top off the oil?

How many miles should I run the oil?


I still like the old ford, and want it to last forever-



Desert (read dusty) miles and high speed in the heat tell me that you should go ahead and change the oil and filter.

Since your goal for your truck life is "forever," then I'd stick with the Mobil 1 and filter changed out at 5,000 mile intervals going forward.

Sounds like you're having fun.

Good luck.

 

[KCJeep]

Originally Posted By: Astro14
High speed desert driving? I wouldn't go anywhere near 10K without a used oil analysis to show what your silicon levels are...10,000 miles of street driving is far different than 10,000 miles of hard off road driving in desert heat...

So, my recommendation: change the oil &filter now and get a used oil analysis while you're at it....


X2 my thoughts exactly. Could be a lot of grit in that oil.

 

[vaportrail]

I should have said...

Most of my miles are logged cruising 80 mph through the desert, but I try to keep it on the pavement.

Temps usually hover around 110 degrees in the afternoon and evenings this time of year, but my engine temp gauge stays in the normal range, so not sure if it really makes any difference.


Things do get dusty around here, especially when a haboob blows through-

http://www.weather.com/video/amazing-time-lapse-haboob-37834

Also, not sure what I need to do to keep the dust out of my engine, other than replacing the air filter...

I'm guessing a used oil analysis is an oil test.

I might consider doing that...

Do you have a link for a low price oil test service?

 

[Clevy]

So basically highway miles,maintaining a cruising rpm,for an extended amount of time thereby evaporating any fuel contamination in dusty conditions.
A top quality air filter is very important. I suggest the amsoil dry element filters. They are fantastic and can be blown out with compressed air to clean them,no oiling. You could do 5000 mile drains with conventional with that duty cycle.

 

[Errtt]

Originally Posted By: vaportrail

Things do get dusty around here, especially when a haboob blows through-


HaBoob! Holy smokes! and I don't mean LA morning smog roll.

Yeah I'd not stretch OC and AF changes if those conditions are routine by any means (HaBoob & roasting temps).

 

[killswitch83]

Originally Posted By: vaportrail
I should have said...

Most of my miles are logged cruising 80 mph through the desert, but I try to keep it on the pavement.

Temps usually hover around 110 degrees in the afternoon and evenings this time of year, but my engine temp gauge stays in the normal range, so not sure if it really makes any difference.


Things do get dusty around here, especially when a haboob blows through-

http://www.weather.com/video/amazing-time-lapse-haboob-37834

Also, not sure what I need to do to keep the dust out of my engine, other than replacing the air filter...

I'm guessing a used oil analysis is an oil test.

I might consider doing that...

Do you have a link for a low price oil test service?


For the used oil analysis (Used Oil Analysis), use these guys (from the reports I've seen, they're very comprehensive and common-language, even to the point of providing pointers for OCI timing); the pricing is 25 for the standard test, 35 if you get your Total Base Number included (which essentially tells you how much add pack is left in your oil)

http://www.blackstone-labs.com/

I'm waiting on my used oil analysis results as we speak, can't wait.

 

[charbaby]

Originally Posted By: vaportrail
I bought a new 1996 F-150 with a 302 engine back in 1997.

I always changed my oil and filter every 3000 miles on everything I owned.

I started using valvoline synthetic blend oil in the truck in 1999, and continued changing the oil and filter every 3000 miles.

Switched to Mobil 1 full synthetic in 2003, and started running 5000 miles between oil and filter changes, when the truck wasn't in storage.


The truck now has 100,000 miles on it, and I'm putting a lot of high speed, desert driving miles on the old truck.


I'm at 5000 miles on the oil and filter. The truck is right at a quart low.


Should I go ahead and change the oil and filter, change the filter and top off the oil, or just top off the oil?

How many miles should I run the oil?


I still like the old ford, and want it to last forever-


When would you be changing the oil anyway?
If it's soon, then change it now and forget the extra qt.
If you were planning to change the oil/filter at, oh lets say at 7000 miles then, add the qt. No need to change the filter as most filters are(IMHO), under used!