Oil for Ford Inline 6 (4.9 liter)

[Clubber_Lang]

I have a 96 Ford F150 with the 4.9 liter inline 6. Some of you may be familiar with this motor. This was the last year Ford offered it in vehicles sold to the public.

I'm looking for oil recommendations. The owners manual specifies anywhere from 5w30 to 10w-40. So far I have used mobil clean 5000 5w30 and Havoline 5w30 without issue. (both with close to 1 quart marvel mystery oil with very short intervals to clean up a previous owners infrequent oil changes. This motor holds 6 quarts and has about 155,000 miles.

What would be your choice for the old high torque timing gear driven inline 6?

 

[Zaedock]

The 5W30 Mobil 5000 is a good deal at Walmart. I would probably keep using that.

 

[901Memphis]

MMO is going to thin your viscosity. If you insist on using MMO I'd pair it with QS defy 10w40

 

[Clubber_Lang]

I take it you aren't a MMO fan? Keep in mind that I am only using 16% MMO oil, which is a 5W oil.

 

[UNC017]

Since a 40 is allowed and given the low-rpm lugging that engine generally does, I'd definitely run Rotella t6 5w40. Like a Jeep 4.0, the Ford 300 is a perfect application for a synthetic HDEO in a gasoline engine. NO ADDITIVES AT ALL.

 

[901Memphis]

I just don't see the need to use MMO.

 

[MinamiKotaro]

Dad uses Mag1 10-30 All-Fleet in his.

Delo or Rotella T5 10-30 would be similar.

Defy Xw-30/40 would be fine, too.

If you want a synthetic, might as well go with an HDEO like T6 or Delo 5-40. Mag1 has a 5-40 All-Fleet, too.

 

[Garak]

Use 5w30 year round. Forget the MMO. I had PO neglect in mine, and frequent oil changes are what fixed the sludge, prior to the rebuild, not solvents.

 

[rockydee]

They were good engines Clubber, we ran them hard, not too good on gas though. I ran mine on 5w30 and 0w30. I wish I still had a pickup with that engine.

 

[Clubber_Lang]

Originally Posted By: rockydee
They were good engines Clubber, we ran them hard, not too good on gas though. I ran mine on 5w30 and 0w30. I wish I still had a pickup with that engine.


I didnt want a full size pickup. But back in High School, I had. a friend with a 78 f250 and straight 6. That motor ran great--with 450,000 miles. It had never been gone through. Owners just changed the oil and kept it tuned up. This was in the northeast, so the truck was rotting around that engine that just puurred. Then i found this truck and got it for $1200. Im redoing shocks, all fluids, brakes, a/c system, ect. So ill have another 800 in it easily just to get it mechanically where i want it.

 

[Clubber_Lang]

Originally Posted By: rockydee
They were good engines Clubber, we ran them hard, not too good on gas though. I ran mine on 5w30 and 0w30. I wish I still had a pickup with that engine.


Shes not great on gas but i got 19mpg at 70-75mph hwy.

 

[rockydee]

Originally Posted By: Clubber_Lang
Originally Posted By: rockydee
They were good engines Clubber, we ran them hard, not too good on gas though. I ran mine on 5w30 and 0w30. I wish I still had a pickup with that engine.


I didnt want a full size pickup. But back in High School, I had. a friend with a 78 f250 and straight 6. That motor ran great--with 450,000 miles. It had never been gone through. Owners just changed the oil and kept it tuned up. This was in the northeast, so the truck was rotting around that engine that just puurred. Then i found this truck and got it for $1200.


They lasted and lasted for sure. I liked the GMC 292 I6 too, but the Ford 300 was always a fav of mine.

 

[Clubber_Lang]

Just hope the past neglect didnt drastically shorten this engines lifespan. Oil i initially drained was OLD.

 

[KD0AXS]

I had a couple of them. I ran everything from 5w30 to 15w40 in them, didn't seem to make any difference at all. I wouldn't worry too much about the past neglect. These engines are nearly impossible to kill.

 

[artificialist]

I would not use any oil additives, I would only use engine oil that meets the manufacturer specs. If you engine is very dirty inside, the safest thing to do is use high mileage engine oil, and change it at short intervals.

 

[Merkava_4]

10W-40 Maxlife in that.

 

[Garak]

5w30 MaxLife is a much better fit, Merk.

I speak from experience.

 

[Clevy]

I've got one of these in my work van fleet. I've done a few mmo vacuum line applications which definitely helped responsiveness.
When loaded down with framing tools for 5 men including a 5500 watt generator and air compressor you definitely notice little changes in how responsive the engine is.
Ours has 350k on the engine so far and doesn't consume a drop of oil between oil changes.
I use whatever synthetic 5w30 is on sale at the time of oil change.
Engines great,but I've burned through a transmission already.

 

[Lubener]

I have been using conventional 10w30 in my 4.9 since 1987. Most durable engine Ford ever put into a vehicle IMO.

 

[Lex94]

My neighbor has a 4.9 as well in a old F150. He has 800K+ miles on the original engine using Pennzoil/Quaker State/Castrol 10w30...whichever is cheapest at the time.

He painted it with Imron White and sandblasted/undercoated the chassis long ago. The truck looks as good as new with zero rust...Regular cab, long bed.