Motor Oil

I have just purchased a 2004 Ford Explorer XLT, and have promised to
take much better care of it than the Chrysler Voyager minivan it
replaced.

Of course, one of my resolutions is keep on top of oil changes, every
5000 miles per manufacturer schedule. I need to decide what type of oil
to use. Due to cost, synthetic is probably out of the question.

Rather than start a flamewar, does anyone have a link to a good
consumer-reports or similar type of site so I can compare types and
decide for myself?

All I currently know is what a trusted friend told me: don't use
Penzoil (though I have no idea why not).

Jason

DartmanX wrote:

> I have just purchased a 2004 Ford Explorer XLT, and have promised to
> take much better care of it than the Chrysler Voyager minivan it
> replaced.
>
> Of course, one of my resolutions is keep on top of oil changes, every
> 5000 miles per manufacturer schedule. I need to decide what type of oil
> to use. Due to cost, synthetic is probably out of the question.

I have found that using a synthetic "Mobil 1" is really cost effective
because how much farther and longer I can drive before needing to change.

>
>
> Rather than start a flamewar, does anyone have a link to a good
> consumer-reports or similar type of site so I can compare types and
> decide for myself?

As long as you buy an SAE marked oil that the required data that is found
in your user manual you can't miss.

>
>
> All I currently know is what a trusted friend told me: don't use
> Penzoil (though I have no idea why not).

Again if Penzoil is marked SAE and they have a product that meets your user
manual requirments for oil I see no reason to fear one brand over an other.

>
>
> Jason

On Tue, 29 Mar 2005 20:54:06 GMT, countryroadrage
<countryroadragespam-not@hotmail.com> wrote:

>
>
>DartmanX wrote:
>
>> I have just purchased a 2004 Ford Explorer XLT, and have promised to
>> take much better care of it than the Chrysler Voyager minivan it
>> replaced.
>>
>> Of course, one of my resolutions is keep on top of oil changes, every
>> 5000 miles per manufacturer schedule. I need to decide what type of oil
>> to use. Due to cost, synthetic is probably out of the question.
>
>I have found that using a synthetic "Mobil 1" is really cost effective
>because how much farther and longer I can drive before needing to change.

If you wish to keep the warranty in force, you CANNOT stretch the oil
change interval when using synthetic oil. Therefor with an engine
under warranty synthetic is somewhat more expensive. The most
important thing is to make regular oil, and filter, changes! I change
my diesel engine's oil ever 3K, the gas truck at about 4K and the
other cars at 3 to 5K.


>
>>
>>
>> Rather than start a flamewar, does anyone have a link to a good
>> consumer-reports or similar type of site so I can compare types and
>> decide for myself?
>
>As long as you buy an SAE marked oil that the required data that is found
>in your user manual you can't miss.

ANd you keep your warranty in force! <g>


>
>>
>>
>> All I currently know is what a trusted friend told me: don't use
>> Penzoil (though I have no idea why not).
>
>Again if Penzoil is marked SAE and they have a product that meets your user
>manual requirments for oil I see no reason to fear one brand over an other.
>

Gosh, not that debate again! <bg> Some love the stuff, some hate it.
Penzoil and Quaker State are usually 'lumped together' in the
love/hate war. I've used Quaker State more often in gas engines than
any other oil. Never had a problem. For diesel, I use Lucas in my
trucks, and try to sell others on it too. It is expensive, however.
I've torn down diesel engines that have been changed at 3K regularlly
and have seen no measureable wear in teh cyulinders. The factory
crosshatching is still perfect and even.


>>
>>
>> Jason

Virtually every 'bad' engine that I've met has died because the owner
didn't change oil as necessary. Either lazy, cheap, or just don't know
better. At 80K they smoke so much that they are a hazard, then the
people badmouth the maker saying they make crud for engines.

"Peter D. Hipson" wrote:

> On Tue, 29 Mar 2005 20:54:06 GMT, countryroadrage
> <countryroadragespam-not@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> >
> >
> >DartmanX wrote:
> >
> >> I have just purchased a 2004 Ford Explorer XLT, and have promised to
> >> take much better care of it than the Chrysler Voyager minivan it
> >> replaced.
> >>
> >> Of course, one of my resolutions is keep on top of oil changes, every
> >> 5000 miles per manufacturer schedule. I need to decide what type of oil
> >> to use. Due to cost, synthetic is probably out of the question.
> >
> >I have found that using a synthetic "Mobil 1" is really cost effective
> >because how much farther and longer I can drive before needing to change.
>
> If you wish to keep the warranty in force, you CANNOT stretch the oil
> change interval when using synthetic oil. Therefor with an engine
> under warranty synthetic is somewhat more expensive. The most
> important thing is to make regular oil, and filter, changes! I change
> my diesel engine's oil ever 3K, the gas truck at about 4K and the
> other cars at 3 to 5K.
>

Under normal driving conditions meaning not real dusty conditions it's a waste
of money and oil to change a late model engines oil under 7,500 Min. and most
user manuals state higher miles then back in the 40s and 50s where the 1000/3000
change got ingrained in people minds. The oil companies just loved people
changing their oil so often. $$$$ Using a quality synthetic oil is really cost
effective just do the math.

Unfortunately, I have to follow Ford's Maintenance Schedule, which says
oil change and tire rotation every 5,000 miles, or, as was pointed out
earlier, I'll void the warranty (which I paid a fair amount for).

If Ford changes their Schedule to say 7,500 miles, then synthetic might
be the way to go.

On Tue, 29 Mar 2005 23:37:10 GMT, countryroadrage
<countryroadragespam-not@hotmail.com> wrote:

>
>
>Under normal driving conditions meaning not real dusty conditions it's a waste
>of money and oil to change a late model engines oil under 7,500 Min. and most
>user manuals state higher miles then back in the 40s and 50s where the 1000/3000
>change got ingrained in people minds. The oil companies just loved people
>changing their oil so often. $$$$ Using a quality synthetic oil is really cost
>effective just do the math.


Your engine your choice(s). My engine my choice. May the best choice
win! If I spend 35K for a truck (my cheapest one, too.) I want the
thing to last... Saving a few dollars pushing oil changes to the max
(and beyond) seems to me to be poor economy.

"Peter D. Hipson" wrote:

> On Tue, 29 Mar 2005 23:37:10 GMT, countryroadrage
> <countryroadragespam-not@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> >
> >
> >Under normal driving conditions meaning not real dusty conditions it's a waste
> >of money and oil to change a late model engines oil under 7,500 Min. and most
> >user manuals state higher miles then back in the 40s and 50s where the 1000/3000
> >change got ingrained in people minds. The oil companies just loved people
> >changing their oil so often. $$$$ Using a quality synthetic oil is really cost
> >effective just do the math.
>
> Your engine your choice(s). My engine my choice. May the best choice
> win! If I spend 35K for a truck (my cheapest one, too.) I want the
> thing to last... Saving a few dollars pushing oil changes to the max
> (and beyond) seems to me to be poor economy.

Like you posted it's all about choice's some make poor choice's