2.3L Ecoboost on Conventional vs. Synthetic Oil

[carnut122]

I came across this article and thought I'd post it up as motor oil is the life-blood of any engine. Fun fact - both engines were run for 500,000 simulated miles. Enjoy: https://www.ford-trucks.com/article...=202496&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=content

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[Racket]

The video has a lot of neat details. Even though it's just two motors the fact they put half a million miles on them really highlights the benefits of synthetic. The difference in turbos was really stark especially considering one was replaced at 200K miles. For me the shot of them removing the EGR cover where I've added a catch can is validation.

I don't let mine go 10,000 miles between changes like they did - more like 7-8K and used Ford full synthetic since the first complimentary oil change at 300 miles. I'd be super happy to get a quarter million miles out of my truck - although currently I'm at 50K at five years of ownership. I should live so long ?

 

[Joeiconic]

The oil change interval in the engine with conventional oil should have been less than 10,000 miles. Although Ford specs a 10,000 mile change, the OEM oil is a synthetic blend, not conventional oil.

 

[Red5ThGen]

Very happy to see the 2.3l make it to half a million miles with no serious failures. I’m sure the controlled environment was marginally kinder to the engines than the environments some of these engines are actually operated in, but 500k is impressive regardless.

 

[landiscarrier]

Pretty cool! I’m at 90k trouble free miles. Using synthetic oil every 7k since new.

 

[Markubis]

I bet they wouldn't have made it to the 500k miles if they had included using the auto start stop feature in their test.

 

[dtech]

Always puzzled me why most mfgs don't differentiate oci between syn and dino. A few european makes I believe require syn . And then there is the continued price disparity at many lube places between syn and dino when syn nowadays doesn't cost a whole lot more than dino to buy. And then there is that 3k oci , now I'm rambling......

 

[shovelhd]

200K out of a factory turbo is really good, no matter what oil is in it. I agree with those saying that putting it through the ASS sequences all day might have changed the outcome.

 

[Old Red Replacement]

See project farm oil tests.

 

[5thranger]

Looked at the comparison photo of the two oil pans. Now I admit the one that has always had synthetic oil is cleaner, but I think the best reasoning is it has been blessed by the cross in it.

 

[Stevedbvik1]

The video has a lot of neat details. Even though it's just two motors the fact they put half a million miles on them really highlights the benefits of synthetic. The difference in turbos was really stark especially considering one was replaced at 200K miles. For me the shot of them removing the EGR cover where I've added a catch can is validation.

I don't let mine go 10,000 miles between changes like they did - more like 7-8K and used Ford full synthetic since the first complimentary oil change at 300 miles. I'd be super happy to get a quarter million miles out of my truck - although currently I'm at 50K at five years of ownership. I should live so long ?

Turbo wasn’t replaced just the external waste gate actuator per the article. That part isn’t affected by type of oil. But the compressor wheel on the conventional oil one is pretty gunked up. Most likely because of the piston ring issues and blowby that’s being re ingested via the top crankcase vent that goes into the hose between the air cleaner and turbo inlet. Having the Ford Performance catch can would probably have helped that situation. Wish they would have said what conventional oil was used. A comparison to the Motorcraft Synthetic Blend would have been more informative seeing it’s what the factory recommends.

 

[vanapagan]

I agree with @Stevedbvik1 that a third motor running the synthetic blend would be more informative and based in a real world application. That said, I guess we have to deduce that the results would be somewhere between the two but how close to one end or the other is the question. My wild @$$ guess is that the results would be closer to the synthetic only with minimal but noticeable varnish deposits.

 

[theprinceofsnj]

Almost 68000. Synthetic always and changed every 3000. I got 2 free changes from the dealer. That was when I first bought it.

 

[Langwilliams]

I watched that video too an agree with vanapagan that a syn blend would have been informative. I have some older garden tractors that I try to run conventional oil in an it's getting harder an harder to find it. If you do find it, it's about the same price around here. Lately I've just run Walmart brand syn in them. I've been running the ford syn oil with 5K intervals in the bronco an I doubt keeping it long enough to get anywhere near those mileage numbers. I ran syn in the ranger since I did tow an haul a little with it.

 

[Jason B]

What's the use in having an engine go 500,000 miles, when the trans will blow at 90K?
Ha Ha., anyway, it's a good experiment that shows results. Might just switch to full synth an get a catch can.

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