Real (stupid) oil question

[jyoutz]

When I bought my first diesel in 2002 (F350 Super Duty 7.3L) I remember the owner's manual stating that the oil change interval was 3,000 miles. Even living in Hawaii at the time, that would mean three oil changes a year! I used to buy regular dino oil, then switched to synthetic, added a bypass oil filtration system which would filter down to something like 1 micron, and played the game of sending oil out for analysis to see how long I could stretch the oil change intervals.

These days I'm still driving a 2002 Super Duty 7.3L but my regimen is much simpler. I use a good synthetic oil and change it every 10,000 miles or so. The truck has close to 177k at the moment and the engine runs so well. I'm sure everything else will fall apart before the engine does.

The 7.3 is the best powerstroke ever made.

 

[mcmxi]

Just pay attention to the viscosity at high temps when you get it tested. The mighty 7.3 uses HEUI injectors.

I'm not in an oil testing program any more. I just run WIX 51734 filters and Schaeffer oil and change every 10k miles or so.

 

[The Evil Twin]

I'm not in an oil testing program any more. I just run WIX 51734 filters and Schaeffer oil and change every 10k miles or so.

You might want to test a sample at 10k just to see where your are at. The 7.3 injectors are sensitive to oil quality.

 

[mcmxi]

You might want to test a sample at 10k just to see where your are at. The 7.3 injectors are sensitive to oil quality.

That's a good idea.

I've noticed that the 7.3L more than any other vehicle I've owned gets noticeably quieter after an oil change. Those injectors are fired via the HPOP at some ridiculous pressure so you're absolutely right about having good, healthy oil in the engine.

 

[Fordtech86]

The 6.0 will run circles around the 7.3, and it’s backed with a better trans. But carry on

 

[AM28]

My dad is the manager and lead chemist for an oil analysis lab. I have free access to as much oil testing as I want.

I have nine Dodge Caravan/Chrysler Town & Country minivans for my company. 80% of the driving is highway. I have been using these vans for the last 24 years.

I use 100% synthetic, Amsoil signature, 5W-20. I change oil between 20, 000 and 25,000 miles.

Regular oil testing and analysis showed no wear, no oil viscosity breakdown, but a little bit of fuel dilution at 27,000 to 28,000 miles.

All of my vans have lasted over 400,000 miles without one single engine failure in 24 years. I currently have 4 vans over 350,000 miles and a 2008 Chrysler Town & Country with 570,000 miles on it and it still runs strong. The most common reason for getting rid of one of my vans is electrical or transmission issues.

 

[Moose7060]

The 6.0 will run circles around the 7.3, and it’s backed with a better trans. But carry on

It may run circles around the 7.3, but it will leave a trail of oil to follow

I traded my 2004 F350 Lariat Crew Cab Long Box at 1200 miles (1800km) because it was such a piece of.......

Never had issues with my previous 7.3's.

 

[Runs With Scissors]

Truck gets WIX filters, and Rotella every 10K.

I am rolling up on my 28th oil change and I have never had an "oil related" engine problem.

Wife had 300K + on her Jetta TDI, same 10K schedule and sold it "running like a top"

Wife has 190K on current van, same 10K schedule with Wally World synthetic; As of yesterday, at 1600, still no "oil related engine failures"

Just sayin......

 

[WI_Hedgehog]

The warranty comes into effect if failure occurs "because Shell Rotella® heavy duty diesel engine oil failed to provide proper lubrication."

Under the conditions: "3. SOPUS Products requires you to change your vehicle's oil and oil filter at least as often as recommended by the vehicle manufacturer." (other conditions must also be met)

If someone thinks their Econoboost is going to last 500K miles without burning out a bunch of turbos because they switched oil see me in 70K and we'll look at your new turbo together. (They were failing every 30K though have improved and are now getting 70k out of them I hear.)

The oil's molecular chains break down from shear forces, heat, wear, etc., additives are consumed, oil gets contaminated with molecular-sized or smaller particles filters cannot catch, and so on, and everyone's use case can be different from the next guy (which is to say vehicles and how we use them plus driving styles differ), PLUS there's something called "confirmation bias," so what your neighbor is telling you he's seeing may differ significantly from what you see.

If you want a quick and dirty confirmation pull your dipstick and wipe it between your fingers, then pull your neighbors and do the same with your other hand and see if his feels near as slippery and smooth. If you wipe off watery gritty stinky slop you'll know how much he knows about oil.

 

[Vlach7]

Truck gets WIX filters, and Rotella every 10K.

I am rolling up on my 28th oil change and I have never had an "oil related" engine problem.

Wife had 300K + on her Jetta TDI, same 10K schedule and sold it "running like a top"

Wife has 190K on current van, same 10K schedule with Wally World synthetic; As of yesterday, at 1600, still no "oil related engine failures"

Just sayin......

If you ever have a vehicle with the sludging issue, you will want to change your oil more often, I have had to change the piston and rings in a Prius because of poor oil circulation with the oil rings, I know other vehicles have had the same problem and frequent oil changes help.

 

[mcmxi]

The 6.0 will run circles around the 7.3, and it’s backed with a better trans. But carry on

Maybe, but I'll never own one! I hope the 6.7L is as good as it's reputed to be. I'm going to keep the 7.3L until I croak, but plan on getting a new (used) F450 in a couple of years for towing duties.

 

[Mitjam]

The 7.3 is the best powerstroke ever made.

100 agree. I miss the 7.3 and the 5.9 Cummins days for sure.

 

[mcmxi]

100 agree. I miss the 7.3 and the 5.9 Cummins days for sure.

The M1078 that I have has a turbo charged 6.2L Caterpillar inline six cylinder engine that is purely mechanical, and the sound of that thing is awesome.

 

[Mitjam]

The M1078 that I have has a turbo charged 6.2L Caterpillar inline six cylinder engine that is purely mechanical, and the sound of that thing is awesome.

Yes it does. I remember when I was a kid dad had an Oliver that I would pull the little hay rake with. When we were bailing square bales. I would never wanna get off that thing. Maybe that’s why I can’t hear s$$t now. There was something about 2 stroke diesels now have to go to country fair tractor pulls to get my fix.

 

[jyoutz]

100 agree. I miss the 7.3 and the 5.9 Cummins days for sure.

I still own a truck with a 5.9 Cummins.

 

[The Evil Twin]

All ICEs will be gone in a decade at the current rate of EPA regulations

 

[Mitjam]

I still own a truck with a 5.9 Cummins.

You are lucky. There is a guy in town here he has his original 1995 ford f250 7.3 manual 4x4 8ft box Supercab it only has 48,000km he pulls his holiday trailer and golf cart to lake then parks truck never winter drove nothing. He gets stopped everywhere asking to buy his truck. But if you knew this guy he still has the leather hat that salesmen threw in with the truck haha. That truck will be worth more now than he paid

 

[mcmxi]

You are lucky. There is a guy in town here he has his original 1995 ford f250 7.3 manual 4x4 8ft box Supercab it only has 48,000km he pulls his holiday trailer and golf cart to lake then parks truck never winter drove nothing. He gets stopped everywhere asking to buy his truck. But if you knew this guy he still has the leather hat that salesmen threw in with the truck haha. That truck will be worth more now than he paid

I wonder how much he paid for the truck back in 1995.

I bought my first diesel in 2002 and paid $34k for it. I bought it from a fleet dealer in CA and got the EAA discount which was significant. It was an F350 Super Duty XLT 7.3L 6-speed dually long bed. In today's money, that's more than $60k, and closer to $70k if looking at the MSRP at the time.

Here's the F350 the day I picked it up from Matson in Hawaii. I do wish I still had that truck.

 

[Mitjam]

I wonder how much he paid for the truck back in 1995.

I bought my first diesel in 2002 and paid $34k for it. I bought it from a fleet dealer in CA and got the EAA discount which was significant. It was an F350 Super Duty XLT 7.3L 6-speed dually long bed. In today's money, that's more than $60k, and closer to $70k if looking at the MSRP at the time.

Here's the F350 the day I picked it up from Matson in Hawaii. I do wish I still had that truck.

View attachment 134707

That is a nice truck. When they were trucks that is.

 

[Runs With Scissors]

I wonder how much he paid for the truck back in 1995.

I bought my first diesel in 2002 and paid $34k for it. I bought it from a fleet dealer in CA and got the EAA discount which was significant. It was an F350 Super Duty XLT 7.3L 6-speed dually long bed. In today's money, that's more than $60k, and closer to $70k if looking at the MSRP at the time.

Here's the F350 the day I picked it up from Matson in Hawaii. I do wish I still had that truck.

View attachment 134707

OMG driving that thing in Hawaii; It must have been like "Godzilla stomping through a city".