Synthetic Vs. Standard?

[dave d dizzo]

So I am getting ready to knock out my first oil change on my 08 ST. Every car I've had prior to this ran on synthetic oil, and it always seemed to treat me right. As this one came from the dealer with standard oil already in it, I am thinking of transitioning over to synthetic oil.

What are your thoughts on running synthetic vs standard oil?

Are there any things I should be looking out for/wary of in the switch?

I've heard once you go synthetic, there is no turning back. True? False? Other? Also, I would imagine it would take a good 2-3 oil changes before the engine was 'fully' on synthetic oil. Is that an issue?

Any tips or tricks for the oil change on the 08 ST 4.0? Any preferences on oil?

Thanks a lot!

 

[techieman33]

Actually it probably has a synthetic blend in it right now. But yes you can switch over to synthetic with no problems, and switch back to regular oil without any issues if for some strange reason you choose to.

 

[aldive]

By all means make the switch.

 

[BigV]

You should not switch to synthetic until your motor breaks in using regular oil then yes you can switch to synthetic. I would go 3 regular oil changes then go synthetic on the 4th.

 

[techieman33]

By the time your ready for your first oil change the motor should be "broken in" and I've heard it argued more than once that the tolerances on modern engines are so close, that there isn't really much need for a break in period.

 

[dave d dizzo]

I've heard the same thing about break-in, but I've also heard that's kind of a holdover from older engines. Tough to find anything decisive out there about it! Damn.

I do appreciate the inputs. Advance had a great deal on synthetic oil and the filter, so I picked some up just now and will be knocking it out shortly!

Again, thanks for the inputs!

 

[aldive]

What brand oil/filter are you going with?

 

[BigV]

Let me be more specific it's not the motor it's the rings they need to seat/break in properly with the regular oil. I'm not an oil expert but the way I look at it is this 3 oil changes with dino oil won't hurt the motor better to be safe then sorry. This has been discussed on my car site SVT performance, again this is just information I have heard.

 

[BigV]

Motorcraft is made by puralator I run a pure one by puralator it filters great never use fram there crap.

 

[dave d dizzo]

What brand oil/filter are you going with?

I went with Valvoline SynPower for the oil. The deal came with a Fram ToughGuard Oil Filter, but I am going with K&N.

Opinions?

Again, thanks. I am new to the Ford world, so bear with me!

 

[aldive]

It wouldn't be my choice, however, its better than dino oil.

I use Amsoil Signature Series 0w30 and an Amsoil EaO filter.

 

[dave d dizzo]

Man, getting that filter off is a pain in the a$$!

 

[JohnnyO]

Fords come from the factory with Motorcraft Synthetic Blend, which is very good. Valvoline Synpower is a very good oil. Fram ToughGuard is a good filter, it's the regular orange can Frams that are crap, but the ToughGuard is no better than a Motorcraft filter and costs about double. New cars these days do not have "break-in oil" or need regular oil to seat the rings.
Myself, I do the first oil change at half the recommended interval with regular oil, then at the first normal interval and after with synthetic.
All the oil and filter info you can stand is at www.bobistheoilguy.com.
On mine I'm using Mobil 1 0w-30 Fuel Economy Formula with a Mobil 1 filter because I plan on running it for the full 7500 mile interval. I will get a used oil analysis to see how it does.
Mobil 1 and K&N oil filters use a synthetic filter media which allows a more precise and uniform porosity. Most filters use paper media which is fine except that the porosity is random. Mobil1 and K&N also cost about $11.

 

[dave d dizzo]

WOW! Johnny, thanks for the great info. LOTS to read.

 

[SafetyGeek]

Ya but....

I got 160,000 + miles out of my Gen 1 (2001) V6 ST using "Dino Oil"...changes at 5000-6000 mile intervals and not all easy miles. And at 160,000 + the engine (which had absolutely NO problems...it was the transmission and rear-end raising hell) was running fine.

Soooo...

What advantages are there to switching to the more expensive Synthetics???

 

[SafetyGeek]

Y

 

[aldive]

Ya but....

I got 160,000 + miles out of my Gen 1 (2001) V6 ST using "Dino Oil"...changes at 5000-6000 mile intervals and not all easy miles. And at 160,000 + the engine (which had absolutely NO problems...it was the transmission and rear-end raising hell) was running fine.

Soooo...

What advantages are there to switching to the more expensive Synthetics???

By changing the oil at those short OCIs, you are wasting money, plain and simple. With synthetic you can easily extend the OCI and therefore save money.

Further, additional savings in fuel costs will be an additional benefit.

 

[SafetyGeek]

Can someone show a Return on Investment (ROI) calculation on regular motor oil versus synthetics for a 150,000 mi. ST life?

 

[Richie18]

By changing the oil at those short OCIs, you are wasting money, plain and simple. With synthetic you can easily extend the OCI and therefore save money.

Further, additional savings in fuel costs will be an additional benefit.

5000-6000 miles is a short interval for regular non-synthetic oil? That would be news to me.

 

[BigV]

I use synthetic in my cobra because of it being Super charged and change it every 5000 miles. I use dino oil in everything else mobile 1 5000 mile and change it every 5000 miles. Changing oil at 3000 miles is throwing away money. Oils are so much better now then when the 3000 mile 3 month rule was in play.