Pick My Next Oil

[PW01]

Every time I visit this forum I learn something, and become more interested in the subject of motor oil - my friends are starting to become concerned. However, compared to the folks here, I am a novice at best. That being said, I figured I'd go for broke and let you pick the next oil I use.

I drive a 2001 Ford Ranger 4x4 (4.0 SOHC V6, automatic) that currently has 74,000 miles on it. It is driven about 250 miles per week (mostly highway), never tows anything, and rarely sees any "hard" off road use. I've never noticed it leaking or consuming any oil (yes, I look for it) - always on the full mark before an oil change. I follow the "severe" maintenance schedule to the letter. I live in Louisville Kentucky, where temperature "extremes" are not too much of an issue. Yesterday it was 10 degrees F, but in July it could be 98-100 degrees.

The majority of it's life (60,000 miles, then I found this site) has been on Castrol GTX 5w30, changed every 3000 miles. The last 15,000 have been on Mobil 1 5w30 (yea I know, thats why I'm asking) changing every 5000 miles. I wonder about products like PP, GC, and Amsoil - also if a different viscosity would be beneficial. Cost is not really a factor in this decision, just performance and protection. Thanks, in advance, for any insight!

 

[hominid7]

I'd recommend Motorcraft 5w30. It's not expensive and is a very good product. It's not as 'swanky' as Mobil 1 but since you are changing your oil on a regular basis you would receive a much better value with the Motorcraft.

Tell your friends it's ok, all the guys are doing it, and you can stop at anytime

 

[Triple_Se7en]

Staying with a mostly Group IV synthetic????????

Amsoil
GC
Schaeffers

I really like the VOA on Synergy 3W-30 over at the Virgin Oil Forum. But no one is responding to it. So that one remains a big question mark.

Otherwise... P.Platinum or QS QTorque Power for best pricing on Group IIIs.

 

[PW01]

Thanks for the reply. I've always heard that Motorcraft was a high quality oil, but am more interested in a synthetic. Maybe even extending OCIs.

 

[badtlc]

If you are at all interested in supporting an honest, little guy who is American made, try out some Royal Purple. It is a texas based company and they have been very outspoken that their oil is a group IV synthetic. They use a grp I carrier oil which is common in just about any full synthetic oil.

Not saying it is the best by any means, but it feels good to support a company like them.

 

[TR3-2001SE]

For extended changes it is hard to beat the mobil 1 0w-40 for lower cost value. I run it 10,000 miles in my miata with great results. I also run the Mobil 1 Extended Performance in my Honda accord to 15,000 miles and see great results at 11,000 used oil analysis. Hard to beat mobil 1 for value if you can do extended changes in my hunble opinion.

 

[TallPaul]

Could go Maxlife Synthetic changed every 6 months, or Redline changed every 10-12 months.

 

[LouDawg]

If you're only interested in synthetic, I'd just get some PP either on the BOGO specials at AA when they pop up, the rebate deals at PB, or the daily 5 gal jug price at WM. The most you'd pay is $4.00/qt for a darn good GIII synthetic. My stash was $2.84/qt on the BOGO deal at AA. Not sure about PB, but even cheaper. And CSK's are great too, but I'm pretty sure there aren't any of those in Louisville (I lived and worked in the area most of my life).

Otherwise, I'd use MC 5W-20 like others have already suggested.

 

[Syntec-Man]

GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GERMAN CASTROL 0W30

 

[TallPaul]

Syntec, I guess you got me beat for being a brand fanatic.

 

[Triple_Se7en]

Quote:

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GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GERMAN CASTROL 0W30

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You still had room for several more "GC" in your last line so I fixed it for you. It advertises better now...lol

 

[TimVipond]

From the Amsoil site:

2001 FORD TRUCKS RANGER 4.0L 6-cyl Engine Code E SOHC

Engine Oil
Grade 1......API*
Series 2000 Synthetic 0w30 Motor Oil
SAE 5w30 Synthetic Motor Oil (my pick for you. Couple with the EaO 11 oil filter and you get a free parts and labor warranty for 25,000 normal/15,000 severe miles or once a year whichever comes first. This is the oil that all 3000 plus Texas State Police cars have used for the past several years with 20,000 mile oil changes.)
SAE 5w30 XL Synthetic Motor Oil
All Temps......5w30

Contact a site sponsor who helps pay for BITOG.

 

[JimKJSVT]

Those new Amsoil filters are the best. I have a Motorcraft on my Jeep right now. GTX actually gives as good as or better analasis than Mobil 1 in some Cases. I would use GTX, Schaeffers, or Motorcraft Synthetic blend. If you must go full synthetic I would use GC or Redline.

 

[Black_Thunder]

Do you have Havoline Partial Synthetic Deposit shield in your area?

 

[zrxkawboy]

I also vote for Motorcraft (or it's sister, TropArtic). They are high quality blends at a nice price. With your 3k-5k oci's, these oils would do a fine job.

 

[Steve S]

If you are doing 5,000 mile oil changes on syn oil you are wasting your money use conventional oil .If you use syn oil 10,000 + miles between oil changes makes more sense.