New to me 2000 F150

[95busa]

All-
A few days ago I bought a 2000 F150 XLT, ex cab, V6, auto- 3:55-1 limited slip rear, 108K miles from an older gentleman, one owner- all maintenance records. Very clean, well maintained. I cleaned up the engine bay (he wasn't a detailer), seafoamed through the brake vaccuum line. She passed emissions like a champ. The original owner had run various brands of 5w30 the whole time. I plan to switch to 5w-20 per Fords 2001 TSB back speccing the engine for 5w-20. I bought some pennzoil high mileage 5w-20 because the engine has a very small rear main seal leak. In the military we would call it class one. Wetness, no drops formed or fallen. Any thoughts on this combo- the truck, etc? My first Ford truck since I sold my '88 F150 in 2008. So far I like it- nice rig.
Also- I am pretty sold on 5w-20 and Fords reasons for using it and back speccing it. I clearly understand the CAFE benefits, but I also feel Ford has the best interest of the consumer in mind, otherwise why would the worry about back speccing? It does not help there CAFE score at all in 2001 to back spec vehicles going back to 1991 for 5w-20 (lincoln with the 4.6).

 

[Turk]

Should be ok, but using High Mileage oil combined with a thinner oil may cancel each other out. I would have just stuck with 5w30...

 

[wog]

+1 get leak stopped first then try 5-20. good luck.

 

[Cooker]

+1

Persoanlly on an engine with 108k I would not switch to a 5w20 even though for back spec'd it. While 108k is not a lot of miles IMO, I would run at least one change with 5w30 to see what your consumption is like before going to 5w20

 

[Astro14]

Sounds like a nice buy - well-maintained used vehicles are hard to find, adn a great value when you do find them.

If it's a bit wet, then the seal conditioners in the HM should swell it enough to stop that leak.

5W20 vs. 5W30? I wouldn't sweat it either way in this engine. You could use either safely. Personally, I would stick with 5W30. Just pick your favorite brand HM, see in what grades they sell it, or see what AAP has on sale...

 

[TFB1]

Originally Posted By: 95busa
I clearly understand the CAFE benefits, but I also feel Ford has the best interest of the consumer in mind, otherwise why would the worry about back speccing? It does not help there CAFE score at all in 2001 to back spec vehicles going back to 1991 for 5w-20 (lincoln with the 4.6).


I understand Ford DID get a CAFE credit for models three years old or less... In '01 would have looked silly back specking 5W-20 to '98 when virtually the same engines had been produced since '91...

I'd go with a HM, oil in 5w30 flavor...

 

[4ever4d]

Sounds as though you got your self a good ride. The 4.2 V6 is a good little engine and should give you good service as well as good fuel mileage. I would try 5w-20 Valvo Maxlife or QS Defy and the FL-400s filter.

 

[johnsmellsalot]

I would only use oil that is recommended by the owner's manual. Most manuals say to only use oils with the API starburst symbol and if I recall, high mileage oil isn't certified by the API.
Originally Posted By: 95busa
All-
A few days ago I bought a 2000 F150 XLT, ex cab, V6, auto- 3:55-1 limited slip rear, 108K miles from an older gentleman, one owner- all maintenance records. Very clean, well maintained. I cleaned up the engine bay (he wasn't a detailer), seafoamed through the brake vaccuum line. She passed emissions like a champ. The original owner had run various brands of 5w30 the whole time. I plan to switch to 5w-20 per Fords 2001 TSB back speccing the engine for 5w-20. I bought some pennzoil high mileage 5w-20 because the engine has a very small rear main seal leak. In the military we would call it class one. Wetness, no drops formed or fallen. Any thoughts on this combo- the truck, etc? My first Ford truck since I sold my '88 F150 in 2008. So far I like it- nice rig.
Also- I am pretty sold on 5w-20 and Fords reasons for using it and back speccing it. I clearly understand the CAFE benefits, but I also feel Ford has the best interest of the consumer in mind, otherwise why would the worry about back speccing? It does not help there CAFE score at all in 2001 to back spec vehicles going back to 1991 for 5w-20 (lincoln with the 4.6).

 

[95busa]

Originally Posted By: johnsmellsalot
I would only use oil that is recommended by the owner's manual. Most manuals say to only use oils with the API starburst symbol and if I recall, high mileage oil isn't certified by the API.
Originally Posted By: 95busa
All-
A few days ago I bought a 2000 F150 XLT, ex cab, V6, auto- 3:55-1 limited slip rear, 108K miles from an older gentleman, one owner- all maintenance records. Very clean, well maintained. I cleaned up the engine bay (he wasn't a detailer), seafoamed through the brake vaccuum line. She passed emissions like a champ. The original owner had run various brands of 5w30 the whole time. I plan to switch to 5w-20 per Fords 2001 TSB back speccing the engine for 5w-20. I bought some pennzoil high mileage 5w-20 because the engine has a very small rear main seal leak. In the military we would call it class one. Wetness, no drops formed or fallen. Any thoughts on this combo- the truck, etc? My first Ford truck since I sold my '88 F150 in 2008. So far I like it- nice rig.
Also- I am pretty sold on 5w-20 and Fords reasons for using it and back speccing it. I clearly understand the CAFE benefits, but I also feel Ford has the best interest of the consumer in mind, otherwise why would the worry about back speccing? It does not help there CAFE score at all in 2001 to back spec vehicles going back to 1991 for 5w-20 (lincoln with the 4.6).


Don't know about all high mileage oil, but the pennzoil 5w-20 HM I got at Wal-Mart the other day is API SN. It is not however "Resource Conserving".

 

[95busa]

Originally Posted By: TFB1
Originally Posted By: 95busa
I clearly understand the CAFE benefits, but I also feel Ford has the best interest of the consumer in mind, otherwise why would the worry about back speccing? It does not help there CAFE score at all in 2001 to back spec vehicles going back to 1991 for 5w-20 (lincoln with the 4.6).


I understand Ford DID get a CAFE credit for models three years old or less... In '01 would have looked silly back specking 5W-20 to '98 when virtually the same engines had been produced since '91...

I'd go with a HM, oil in 5w30 flavor...


I agree to some extent given the three year back credit, however comparing the 91 4.6 with the 01 4.6 is very apples to oranges. Different heads, cams, intake, oil pan, oil capacity, ignition system, etc. About the only things the same is the short block, (althought there are different blocks- [censored] block etc) and I bet the pistons, oil pump, etc changed somewhere along the line.

 

[mechtech2]

I'd stay with the 5-30.
Good point about the back spec'ing not being current CAFE, but who knows what gov't benefits were obtained by doing so?

And forgo the Seafoam in the intake for the future. Use water - it works better and is free.

 

[mobilaltima]

id stick with the 5W30

 

[DannyBoyG]

Like everyone else said, id just stick with a 5w30, High Mileage oil like maxlife/nextgen, pennzoil, mobil, etc.

 

[95busa]

Thanks for all the input everybody!

 

[TFB1]

Originally Posted By: 95busa


I agree to some extent given the three year back credit, however comparing the 91 4.6 with the 01 4.6 is very apples to oranges. Different heads, cams, intake, oil pan, oil capacity, ignition system, etc. About the only things the same is the short block, (althought there are different blocks- [censored] block etc) and I bet the pistons, oil pump, etc changed somewhere along the line.


Which is mostly what dictates oil grade...

I've personally checked '98 & '02 4.6 bearing & piston clearances, they are same... I use 5w30 in my 2V even my '07...

Now for the oops

I missed the fact you have the V6, but I'd still use 5w30... After 2000-2500 miles on 5W-20, the less than 100Kmi, '99 4.2 I used at work sounded terrible... After one round of that stuff, ran 10W-40 in it, was much quieter...

 

[95busa]

I am going to try the 5w-20 HM. If it sucks I can always swap to my second choice and ever superior Rotella 10w30 HDEO!

 

[95busa]

Well I put the HM 5w-20 in last night with a FL-400S. Sounds normal to this guy. We'll see how she works down the road.

 

[addyguy]

I would NOT run 20-weight in the 4.2 V-6.

The 4.2 was based on the 3.8, which was a 'German' engine design, like the 4.0L V-6. These engine are actually designed to use 30-weight oils, and in hard-working truck engine...I just wouldn't want to take the chance.

Good luck.

 

[WMSmotorhead]

5w-20 is what Ford says... I've found when I do what Ford says, I'm not disappointed.

I was a bit weirded out when they started on 5w-20... initially, it was hard to find locally, so I did 5w30 instead... then as soon as I could get 5w-20 I started on it... combined on 3 Fords I've got 285,000 on 5w-20... and all cars are showing no engine issues. the breakdown is 150k, 85k, and 50k.

 

[95busa]

Yeah....I am with WMS. The 4.6 was also designed with 5w30 in mind and I have run many thousands of very abusive miles in CVPIs with 5w-20 in 'em. I have found that Ford does their homework pretty well when they do stuff.