High Mileage & Fluid Changes

[VoodooRanger]

Good Morning all,

After returning from my PNW trip, my truck has surpassed the 80k mile mark on the odometer. Just last weekend I changed the oil and filled it with Pennzoil Platinum 5w30 as usual(used Ultra prior to the trip). This got me wondering if I should switch out my fluid to Pennzoil Platinum High Mileage. Then that sent me down the rabbit hole on whether I should change the types of fluid I use throughout the truck. I have replaced the differential, transfer case, and transmission fluids with the specified Motorcraft fluids.

Have those of you with high mileage Rangers deviated from the brand or weight of fluid you have used after reaching a certain mileage milestone?

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[shovelhd]

From my understanding, the difference with the high mileage versions is the addition of glycerin, or some other seal-swelling additive, to help prevent old seals from leaking. I'm a believer, and start using these formulas at the 75K mark. I would not change out, or throw out, perfectly good oil to get the high mileage oil in. Just delay it for one change.

BTW 80K may be "high mileage" from an oil perspective, but it's not from an overall vehicle perspective.

 

[Jason B]

Yeah, I wouldn't consider 80k "high milage", 250k? Sure.

 

[VoodooRanger]

I agree with you both that 80k is not what most would consider high mileage. As I have never owned a vehicle from new to this kind of mileage, I’ve never really gone off and changed brands of fluids or weight. That’s what got me looking into possibly switching the motorcraft stuff to Valvoline or Amsoil.

 

[JohnnyO]

The manual calls for conventional 80w-90 axle lube and whatever fluid for the transfer case.
I did the axles with Redline 75w-90 synthetic because it was the only synthetic that met the Ford spec in the manual (at the time, this was two years ago).
I used Redline D6 synthetic ATF in the transfer case for the same reason.

 

[Msfitoy]

Good Morning all,

After returning from my PNW trip, my truck has surpassed the 80k mile mark on the odometer. Just last weekend I changed the oil and filled it with Pennzoil Platinum 5w30 as usual(used Ultra prior to the trip). This got me wondering if I should switch out my fluid to Pennzoil Platinum High Mileage. Then that sent me down the rabbit hole on whether I should change the types of fluid I use throughout the truck. I have replaced the differential, transfer case, and transmission fluids with the specified Motorcraft fluids.

Have those of you with high mileage Rangers deviated from the brand or weight of fluid you have used after reaching a certain mileage milestone?

130K miles...I stuck with OEM fluids...for oil, I've using Mobil 1 high mileage...

 

[VoodooRanger]

130K miles...I stuck with OEM fluids...for oil, I've using Mobil 1 high mileage...

Ok, thanks for info. I figured I have enough oil at home to last me till the next oil change which would get me to just outside 90k miles. By then I may switch to Platinum High Mileage.

 

[RangerBill]

I would do 5.000 mile oil changes, not the manual recommended 10,000 miles.

 

[VoodooRanger]

I would do 5.000 mile oil changes, not the manual recommended 10,000 miles.

Well that’s where I’m at now. Other than during my drip where I racked up more than 10k miles, I have been regularly changing my oil with Pennzoil Platinum between 5k-6k mile intervals. I only surpassed that on the trip as I do not trust anyone changing my oil, let alone working on my truck.

I was just curious if those nearing and having surpassed the 100k mark if they changed brands or weights. I’ve been looking at the stuff from Valvoline and Amsoil for the transmission and gears since I returned.

 

[RangerBill]

Well that’s where I’m at now. Other than during my drip where I racked up more than 10k miles, I have been regularly changing my oil with Pennzoil Platinum between 5k-6k mile intervals. I only surpassed that on the trip as I do not trust anyone changing my oil, let alone working on my truck.

I was just curious if those nearing and having surpassed the 100k mark if they changed brands or weights. I’ve been looking at the stuff from Valvoline and Amsoil for the transmission and gears since I returned.

I only have 24,000 miles on my Ranger and use Motorcraft synthetic blend 5W-30 oil and Motorcraft filter. I also have a 2003 Ford Windstar with 179,000 miles and have always used the recommended Motorcraft 5W-20 synthetic blend and Motorcraft filter. It is still going strong.

 

[VoodooRanger]

I only have 24,000 miles on my Ranger and use Motorcraft synthetic blend 5W-30 oil and Motorcraft filter. I also have a 2003 Ford Windstar with 179,000 miles and have always used the recommended Motorcraft 5W-20 synthetic blend and Motorcraft filter. It is still going strong.

I had looked into the Motorcraft 5w30 synthetic blend, but Walmart sells the 5 quart jug for nearly the same price as the Pennzoil Platinum. That’s what pretty much pushed my decision towards the Pennzoil, plus I used it regularly in my WRX STI.

 

[Radioman]

I would do 5.000 mile oil changes, not the manual recommended 10,000 miles.

Wow. I'll have to recheck the owner's manual. I thought that Ford recommended to change the oil when the oil life indicator showed it was time BUT under no circumstances exceed 10,000 miles or 1 year. I didn't know Ford recommended waiting until the vehicle hit 10,000 miles.

 

[Dereku]

I change mine around 9k when the light goes off. Synthetic fluids have been pushing a 15k interval for years. Figure why not. Never will use high mileage unless I have a slight leak. Do not want extra additives to swell seals. Think of the turbo and VVT system. But alas new seal probably dont swell and high mileage is just a snake oil to make us feel good.

 

[ctechbob]

From my understanding, the difference with the high mileage versions is the addition of glycerin, or

Esters

Clean oil that meets spec is far more important than high mileage or not. Just use a good quality oil and change it on a regular basis. If you want to use a HM oil, go for it, nothing wrong with it.

I actually had a change or two early in my trucks life where I ended up using Havoline High Mileage instead of the LifeLong that I usually use. Didn't think twice.

 

[VoodooRanger]

Esters

Clean oil that meets spec is far more important than high mileage or not. Just use a good quality oil and change it on a regular basis. If you want to use a HM oil, go for it, nothing wrong with it.

I actually had a change or two early in my trucks life where I ended up using Havoline High Mileage instead of the LifeLong that I usually use. Didn't think twice.

Yes, the esters. I watched a video of Lake Speed Jr. where he compared Pennzoil Conventional, high mileage, and synthetic. The esters were what made the high mileage what it was. Amazing the kind of stuff you can kill time watching on YouTube.

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