IAMCDN
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- March 3, 2001
- Messages
- 258
- Reaction score
- 0
- City, State
- Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- '94 XLT 4x4 4 Dr **sold**
Hey guys. I used to come to this site all the time when I had my Ex, but I sold it a few years ago. I have checked in occasionally over the last few years, mainly to get tips for my brother in law, who has a lifted Ranger, and just to check in on your rides.
I just bought a 84 Bronco II (2.8, 5 spd, carb'd)with high mileage(I suspect it is high, odometer says 51,000, but don't know how many times it was wrapped). Anyway, I wasn't sure when the fluids were changed last, so I changed all of them, diff's, tranny, transfer case, went to synthetic for all of them, mainly due to the benefits in cold weather (routinely gets to -40 here in winter, and synthetic makes a huge difference then). But I am holding off changing the engine to synthetic because there appears to be a slow leak coming from the front of the engine, either the crankshaft seal or the front of the oil pan. The rear seal may be leaking as well, there is old caked on oil on the bottom of the tranny, not sure if it is splash back from the front leak or a leaking rear seal. I don't want to make it worse by going to synthetic.
I usually use 5W30 all year round. Would going to a thicker 10W30 (synthetic) give me the cold weather benefits of a synthetic, but would not leak as bad as a 5W30? I would expect a synthetic 10W30 to flow alot better than a conventional 5W30 in the extreme cold, correct? Or should I just stay with regular 5W30? Would synthetic 5W30 leak too much?
And yes, I know that "just fix the leak and then go to synthetic" is a good answer, but I want to hold off doing that until I see how bad it is. If it is only going to leak a quart over an oil change, I will likely just leave it for a while.
Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.
P.S. I am aware that there is a Bronco II forum, but there is not near the amount of activity/info there as there is here.
I just bought a 84 Bronco II (2.8, 5 spd, carb'd)with high mileage(I suspect it is high, odometer says 51,000, but don't know how many times it was wrapped). Anyway, I wasn't sure when the fluids were changed last, so I changed all of them, diff's, tranny, transfer case, went to synthetic for all of them, mainly due to the benefits in cold weather (routinely gets to -40 here in winter, and synthetic makes a huge difference then). But I am holding off changing the engine to synthetic because there appears to be a slow leak coming from the front of the engine, either the crankshaft seal or the front of the oil pan. The rear seal may be leaking as well, there is old caked on oil on the bottom of the tranny, not sure if it is splash back from the front leak or a leaking rear seal. I don't want to make it worse by going to synthetic.
I usually use 5W30 all year round. Would going to a thicker 10W30 (synthetic) give me the cold weather benefits of a synthetic, but would not leak as bad as a 5W30? I would expect a synthetic 10W30 to flow alot better than a conventional 5W30 in the extreme cold, correct? Or should I just stay with regular 5W30? Would synthetic 5W30 leak too much?
And yes, I know that "just fix the leak and then go to synthetic" is a good answer, but I want to hold off doing that until I see how bad it is. If it is only going to leak a quart over an oil change, I will likely just leave it for a while.
Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.
P.S. I am aware that there is a Bronco II forum, but there is not near the amount of activity/info there as there is here.