Originally Posted By: 2010_FX4
Originally Posted By: Bill in Utah
This is what I'd do [run the Motorcraft syn blend and Motorcraft filters]. 5w-20 and their filters will work as well as anything else in your truck.
Bill
PS:
Bill--many thanks for the welcome!
Any worries about sludge/varnish buildup when using a blend? I am assuming it is not a 50/50 blend of conventional and synthetic--correct? Back in the day, conventional oils allowed varnish and sludge to build up--is this still the case?
Following the 5k or 6 month service with the oil (and today pretty much everything is a "blend" in the 5w-20) will be fine.
Some oils are more of a mix. Don't get caught up on the syn vs blend vs conventional
drama and get caught up on DOING the service when its due.
When we had Fords in the fleet (been some time now) other than the loud power steering pumps they ran for a LONG time (close to 200k miles) with any oil changed (if they were lucky) every 6-7k. While the rest of the truck may have "issues" the power train is not a problem today.
I feel safe that ANY of today's oils outperform ANY syn of yesterday. And millions of vehicles yet went hundreds of thousands of miles with any oil of yesterday. With out the dreaded sludge or heavy varnish. I'd personally done 394k, 300K, 250k and so on with normal oils.
I like the 1k OCI then do another around 4k then get on the 5k schedule. Around 15k change out both diffs (and you'll be good for MANY miles unless you dunk them) and transfer case around 30-45k. Since you have an auto I'd just do a drain and fill every 30k and change out the filter around 60k. Power steering just suck the fluid out of the reservoir and replace every 15-20k.
Brakes get flushed every 2-3 years and coolant after the factory fill recommended interval every 3-4 years.
We don't have to worry about speedometer cables anymore!
With the modern FI and unleaded fuel, the engines are much better on oils. And oils are much better.
Enjoy the new truck and watch out for the idiot driver. Sadly more vehicles are taken to the early boneyard due to incidents or rust than ANY engine issues.
Take care, Bill