Don't hate me. Another engine oil post

[airline tech]

GMs 3.4 had the reputation of being an oil leaker

I never had any issues with oil leaks until I swapped the Oil, owned it for 13 years bought it used with 71 k on it and sold it when I got the Ranger it had 200k when I sold it.
Still ran great and the only issue was the cold start lifter noise, lifters bleeding down overnight.
I deduced that the Syn viscosity of the oil and an increase in oil pressure created the leaks, I was actually amazed they did not continue after switching back.

I do have a correction as I actually checked my maintenance records.
I switched to Syn Blend, and this was done @ 189k miles, so it was NOT Full Syn as I previously stated. This is the reason for me keeping detailed records on everything I do to the vehicles, it might help if I actually doublecheck before I post incorrect info on a - Touchy Subject
Either way the older 3.4 did not like Synthetic of any kind in her and she scolded me for it.

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[Oddball]

Troy,
From the research I've done, is the understanding that modern vehicles are engineered more for full synthetic in mind such as changes to seals, etc., whereas older vehicles were not as much designed for full synthetic and this occasionally created some issues when used in them?

I don't claim to be someone who knows everything about cars, so i can't comment on the thought pattern but here is somethings I do know:

In my time, I have never seen anything but improvement by switching to equivalent synthetic oil from conventional.

The only thing I could see being possibly detrimental is that some synthetic oils have additives in them that make seals and o-rings swell slightly more. I'm not sure I have seen a conventional oil with that additive in it, but even if it did, as I mentioned before, it wouldn't last as long anyways. With that in mind, you could see older model year cars having premature seal wear if it didn't take it into account, possibly?

Or, more likely, the tolerances are so close now-a-days you need the synthetics to keep the viscosity in acceptable ranges without metal on metal contact happening

 

[ctechbob]

Here's some explaining on the topic.

 

[Dereku]

How's your tranny doing?

Its is a transmission sir. Tranny is a loaded word anymore.

 

[JohnnyO]

Full syn every 5000 miles, usually Valvoline. Engine seems to be quieter with Valvoline.
I started using the FL-400S filter instead, it's the same thread and gasket size but a little bigger.
At the moments I have the Mobil 1 equivalent filter, M1-209 I think.

A used oil analysis is the only way to know for sure.
Run the Motorcraft oil for however long, then a full syn for the same miles, and send them to Blackstone to see how they compare.
www.blackstone-labs.com

 

[OrangeStreak]

Full syn every 5000 miles, usually Valvoline. Engine seems to be quieter with Valvoline.
I started using the FL-400S filter instead, it's the same thread and gasket size but a little bigger.
At the moments I have the Mobil 1 equivalent filter, M1-209 I think.

A used oil analysis is the only way to know for sure.
Run the Motorcraft oil for however long, then a full syn for the same miles, and send them to Blackstone to see how they compare.
www.blackstone-labs.com

I noticed too that when I switched from blended to Motorcraft full synthetic the motor was less noisy and the tach remained more steady.

 

[Msfitoy]

Its is a transmission sir. Tranny is a loaded word anymore.

 

[Cabose-1]

Walmart straight 30 weight.
Works for my lawnmower too

 

[SigOris]

Engine oil choice is like religion to many. I've been 100% syn for at least 27 yrs.
I didn't read the OM before my first oil change, just the filler cap. "SAE 5W-30". So I've been using high quality full syn since. (Based on the cap some may have gone with mineral. No SE or other grade specified).
Recently I used up my Ford Pass points on a repair and had change left. So I bought my next oil change worth of oil and filter from the dealer with the left overs.
Ford 5W-30 Syn Blend. ...hmm. WTH, it's free so I'll use it.
...thinking Ford is a bit tight a*s. From what I gather the only advantage of syn blends is lower cost, but lacking in performance vs. syns.

OK, I threw down the glove. Tear me up.

I use VIRGIN Olive Oil made from UGLY Olives if that helps

 

[Chris M]

I use VIRGIN Olive Oil made from UGLY Olives if that helps

Doesn't that make it Extra Virgin?

 

[harringtondav]

Doesn't that make it Extra Virgin?

No. Extra Slutty.

 

[Kemo Sabe]

Doesn't anybody anymore save the oil from frying their turkey and use it for their next oil change, I usually add the giblets for an extended drain interval.

I wouldn’t worry. Be happy. You did right using your points for free change. You’ll have other opportunities to pay full price for synthetic.
I use Mobil 1 synthetic as heard it’s best fur turbo.
Good luck!
P S. I like oil threads.

 

[veedubtuner]

Now that my free oil changes are done, probably gonna start doing them myself. What's the normal capacity of these trucks? I trust you guys more than Google lol.

 

[harringtondav]

Now that my free oil changes are done, probably gonna start doing them myself. What's the normal capacity of these trucks? I trust you guys more than Google lol.

Six qts. ....not to be snarky, but it's in your owner's manual.
But you may want to Google the oil filter change. Some say no need to remove the LF wheel, but I found it's easier. You'll need to remove part of a rubber flap to access the filter. These aren't pull-out xmas tree rivets. They are expanding core rivets. Small phillips will back out the core and the rivet will pull out.
Oh, yea. The pan drain will dribble all over the skid plate unless you remove it or install a drain extension. ....oodles of posts about that on this forum.

 

[veedubtuner]

Six qts. ....not to be snarky, but it's in your owner's manual.
But you may want to Google the oil filter change. Some say no need to remove the LF wheel, but I found it's easier. You'll need to remove part of a rubber flap to access the filter. These aren't pull-out xmas tree rivets. They are expanding core rivets. Small phillips will back out the core and the rivet will pull out.
Oh, yea. The pan drain will dribble all over the skid plate unless you remove it or install a drain extension. ....oodles of posts about that on this forum.

No worries, I didn't want to be that guy but my OM is at home (somewhere lol) and I figured I'd ask while I was in this thread. I did search for a couple YouTube videos for a walk through to watch later to get familiar with what's all involved. Little different than the import world, at least what I'm used to lol.

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