Which brand and grade oil should i chose?

[leshan]

Hi,
This is my first post. I bought a used Ford taurus with 65K miles. I don't know which brand and grade the previous onwer used. So, i changed oil three times with castrol syntec blend oil. Now it has 74K miles, i want to use full synthetic oil, such Mobil 1. The user guide call for 5w30, but the mobil1's website tell me using 10w30. My car has no leaking with 5w30 castrol syntec blend. The oil level almost the same as that when i changed oil after 3K miles. This is my first car, i want to take care of it. I want to use full synthetic oil, but i really know little about engine oil.
Most trips are short, 3mile less.

[ October 20, 2004, 09:34 PM: Message edited by: leshan ]

 

[ToyotaNSaturn]

Welcome to the board!

Either choice of 5w30 or 10w30 will work, especially with M1. The 5w will pump a bit better at extreme cold temps---something we really don't see down here. Don't sweat it.

If you want to see what's going on with that oil, take an oil sample and send it off to Blackstone. Well worth the $$ to verify your choices to keep a car going for years to come. Also, I firmly believe in Fuel Power & Lube Control to keep it running in tip-top shape.

What size/type engine is in your Taurus?

 

[leshan]

Thanks for your reply.
My engine is 3.0 V6 vulcan OHV. VIN:'U'

By the way, i'm in AL.

I heard that if my most trips are short trips, it's better to use conventional oil and change oil frequently than using full synthetic oil and change oil every 5k miles. It that true? I like full synthetic oil more.

 

[oilpan49]

Hey Leshan, Welcome to Bobistheoilguy!

I 2nd what ToyotaNSaturn said about Fuel Power and Lube Control. Both great products and can keep your engine running at top efficiency. used oil analysis can tell alot about an engines condition, even if you don't know about it already. Examples, blown head gasket, poor air filtration, and help you pinpoint what oil to use at what interval depending upon your driving style and oil used.

Mobil 1 5w or 10w30 should work just fine no sweat in your Taurus. Alot of people use conventional oil and change every 3000 and some use synthetic and go 5K miles, sometimes longer.

Since you do alot of city driving and that you mentioned there mostly under 3 miles, synthetic would be very beneficiary for you. Synthetic lasts longer than conventional oil, keeps an engine cleaner, and can take more abuse than conventional. Try using Mobil 1 10w30 with a Motorcraft filter, go 5-6K miles do a used oil analysis.

Also check out Terry Dyson, Dyson Analysis. He can help you out what to use, what fits, what hits etc... for your engine. www.bobistheoilguy.com/terry.html

Here's some other helpful links.

www.lubecontrol.com

www.auto-rx.com


There's alot of good members on the board willing to help you out and again Welcome! AR

 

[leshan]

Thank you Airborne Ranger

I have used Auto-Rx once. I think i'll use Mobil 1 oil for next oil change. But i still can't decide which grade should i use. Is the Mobil 1 thiner than the same grade Motorcraft? How about the thickness of Motorcraft 5w30, Motorcraft 10w30, Mobil 1 5w30 and Mobil 1 10w30?

Mobil 1 5w30
Thanks for your information.

 

[mikemc]

I have a lot of experience with the Ford 3.0 V6, I have had that engine in 3 different Rangers. Mine have always thrived on 5w30 conventional. Motorcraft 5w30 would be a great choice.

 

[Bill in Utah]

Hi,

I had a 99 Ford Taurus that I ran on Pennzoil 5w30 durning the winter and 10w30 in the warmer months with GREAT used oil analysis.

UOA for 99 Taurus on Pennzoil

CLick on above for the UOA.

Enjoy the Taurus. Nice ride. Sold mine for more MPG on my 120 mile Daily commute.

Bill

 

[leshan]

Why don't you like synthetic oil? Just because of price or anything else?

 

[Bill in Utah]

quote:

---

Why don't you like synthetic oil? Just because of price or anything else?

---

I ran conventional oil for 2 reasons.

1. My car had oil leaks around the head gasket (even after replacing the heads at 62k) and the syn oil would leak more.

2. Pennzoil is .69 cents a quart and the used oil analysis showed that the 3.0 liter engine is not "hard" on oil.


If you want to go longer than 4k on an oil change, then go with syn. But in my head,

I'd rather spend $6.22 (5 quarts of Pennzoil plus a motorcraft filter) every 4k miles than $23 ($20 for 5 qts of Mobil 1 and filter) every 7,500 miles.

I like to get under the outfit and check things out!

Take care and enjoy the Taurus!

Bill

 

[leshan]

Great, i'll try Mobil 1. I think Vulcan engine is very good, not many Vulcan engine leak oil. They can run more than 200K miles if we take care of them.

By the way how can you know you engine head gasket leak oil?

 

[ToyotaNSaturn]

quote:

---

Originally posted by leshan:
Great, i'll try Mobil 1. I think Vulcan engine is very good, not many Vulcan engine leak oil. They can run more than 200K miles if we take care of them.

---

When I worked in Ford/L-M parts, we rarely saw the Vulcan 3.0L in the shop for engine work. Thus, we didn't stock many gaskets and parts for that engine. This is a good engine. The only real thing I heard of is excessive pinging. Someone here said that a 180degree thermostat took care of that. I think the standard t-stat is 192F.

Good luck!

 

[leshan]

My car dosen't pinging or mabey i don't know what is pinging. Today i replaced the thermostat, i forgot to look at degree of the factory thermostat. But the thermostat which the ford dealer sold me is 197F. Both of the ford dealers near me only stock this Motorcraft thermostat.