Oil/filter recommendation for a Newbie

[robbobster]

Hi! Just joined this most excellent forum. Can't believe I just recently found it... I'm looking for some advice - I hope someone can offer some good stuff. I have a 1997 Expedition 2WD with the 5.4L engine and 80K miles. I commute two miles each way, 5 days a week. Perhaps once a week, plus weekends, the car gets driven sufficiently - like on the highway - enough to warm up completely. Other than that. it's all in-town stop & go. I've been getting my oil changed every 3500 miles, and currently burn no oil. At any rate, up to this point I've been using Valvoline or Castrol (whichever Jiffy Lube has on the shef) 10W30 and their generic filter. I just got a house with a garage, so now I'll be changing my own oil. I plan on using Mobil 1 10W30, as well as a Mobil 1 filter. Does this plan sound reasonable to you guys? Would you recommend Auto-RX or something else to clean out my engine? How many treatments? Any other suggestions would be most appreciated! [ June 06, 2003, 03:37 PM: Message edited by: robbobster ]

 

[94 saturn sl1 2000 saturn sc2]

Thats sounds like a good combo to me. I run a K&N oil filter with M1 5W30 in my Saturn. I was thinking about the Mobil Filter myself. I see no problems

 

[Jimbo]

Welcome! IMO Mobil 1 is a waste of money for your situation. I would continue to use name-brand 10W-30 dino. Jiffy Lube probably used filters made by Fram. Anything else will be an improvement. For the money, I would use Motorcraft filters in your Ford. Long Beach never gets below freezing and it looks like you do not tow trailers to Arizona in the middle of summer. With all of the short trip driving, you do not want to extend oil drain intervals. It probably takes you six months or longer to accumulate 3500 miles.

 

[Amkeer]

Go with the M1! Since you do repeated short drives and stop and go driving in town calls for severe service schedule. You will benefit by using M1! Go with 10-30 and change it every 5000 miles or so depending on your situation. No need for additives in the oil. You don't consume oil.

 

[cousincletus]

Sounds reasonable to me, but I would use a Wix filter (also known as NAPA, Carquest house brands). I wouldn't go longer than six months on an oil change, though, regardless of mileage.

 

[Al]

Mobil 1 (or Amsoil)10W-30, all year round. I like K&N filters because they are the best balance of efficiency and flow (IMHO). They are good for at least 8K. I'd suggest going the 6,000 oil change (with an oil analysis) and go up from there after that. I know the AutoRX is good stuff. But I really don't have any recommendations one way or the other about it.

 

[robbobster]

quote:

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Originally posted by Jimbo: Welcome! IMO Mobil 1 is a waste of money for your situation. I would continue to use name-brand 10W-30 dino. Jiffy Lube probably used filters made by Fram. Anything else will be an improvement. For the money, I would use Motorcraft filters in your Ford. Long Beach never gets below freezing and it looks like you do not tow trailers to Arizona in the middle of summer. With all of the short trip driving, you do not want to extend oil drain intervals. It probably takes you six months or longer to accumulate 3500 miles.

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Actually, I forgot to mention that we do tow a boat to the river (Colorado River) over the summer, probably about 5 or 6 times anyways. While my commute is short, I do rack up a few miles on weekends, so I end up putting about 1K miles per month my truck. Thanks for the suggestions. sounds like I'm on the right track... Would you guys fell OK about extending my drain intervals to 5K miles, not to exceed 5 months?

 

[Amkeer]

Just use the m1 and you will be fine with the 5000 mile drain interval. You can probably go longer than that with m1 but I tend to lean on the safe side. You may want to consider changing your first synthetic interval at 3500 miles. That may be something to consider. Then you would go with the 5000 or more changes. You will like the synthetics.

 

[Amkeer]

Oh, another thing to remember is the lube the grease fittings if you have them when you change the oil and keep lots of newspaper it comes in handy catching some of the mess that the collection container misses.

 

[robbobster]

quote:

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Originally posted by Amkeer: Oh, another thing to remember is the lube the grease fittings if you have them when you change the oil and keep lots of newspaper it comes in handy catching some of the mess that the collection container misses.

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Thanks for the tip, I'll have to find my grease gun. I bought a Fumoto oil drain valve (fumotovalve.com) with a nipple, so I can just attach a tube to the nipple and drain my oil and no makey messy Thanks again!