Which Brand/Viscosity Motor Oil Should I Use?

Chuck "Classic Ford" JR. · Feb 21, 2014

Rusty is due for an oil change pretty soon, and this will be the first one since I've owned the truck. Rusty's (original) 2.9L has well over 250k miles, and I can't tell but it looks like it's been a while since it's had an oil change. The only reason I haven't changed it yet is because I'm waiting until I install my new valve cover gaskets, as the old ones leak pretty bad. Since it's just going to blow it all out anyways, I haven't really paid attention to what viscosity oil I've run in it, I know that might not be a great idea, but I haven't the money to keep buying brand new oil for it all the time.

I checked out the 2.9L Tech Page, but I noticed it didn't list an oil viscosity, and my oil cap doesn't say it either. I need to know what viscosity of motor oil I should use, and whether or not purchasing "high mileage" oil is really worth it. What brand do y'all run in your 2.9?

pcollins · Feb 21, 2014

Pretty sure the 4.0L I had took 5w-20, so the 2.9 probably does as well, but I'm not 100% sure. Come to think of it the 2.3 4 banger I had took 5w-20 as well.

Personally I don't think High mileage oil is worth it. My 4.0L had 160k miles on it and I just used Quaker state, no issues.

Chuck "Classic Ford" JR. · Feb 22, 2014

pcollins said:
Pretty sure the 4.0L I had took 5w-20, so the 2.9 probably does as well, but I'm not 100% sure. Come to think of it the 2.3 4 banger I had took 5w-20 as well.

Personally I don't think High mileage oil is worth it. My 4.0L had 160k miles on it and I just used Quaker state, no issues.

I know that most Fords run 5W-20, but I wasn't sure whether or not mine does. Plus with it being as old as it is I didn't know if I should run something thicker or dump some Lucas in it or what I should do.

Schnot · Feb 22, 2014

The colder it is you want lighter oil not thicker.

I run 15w 40 rotella in mine since that's what I always have extra of since I have three diesels.

Sent from my iPhone.

Ozwynn · Feb 22, 2014

dude, you opened a can of worms. this topic is a beaten dead horse. A quick search would have told you that.

and engine with those miles I don't think it matters anymore. buy the cheapest or whatever is on sale in a 5w-30 or a 10w-30. My expedition gets supertech because it uses 2qt a week. My Excursion gets Royal Purple because it doesn't use a drop. save your money for a rebuild or 4.0L swap

Chuck "Classic Ford" JR. · Feb 22, 2014

BDAB said:
dude, you opened a can of worms. this topic is a beaten dead horse. A quick search would have told you that.

and engine with those miles I don't think it matters anymore. buy the cheapest or whatever is on sale in a 5w-30 or a 10w-30. My expedition gets supertech because it uses 2qt a week. My Excursion gets Royal Purple because it doesn't use a drop. save your money for a rebuild or 4.0L swap

I've noticed that everyone here is quick to tell you to "Ouick Search" something. I've tried it a time or two and the results usually don't answer my question satisfactorily, otherwise I probably wouldn't have created a new thread.

As far as the oil goes, I want the best performance possible out of the 30 year old 250,000+ mile engine as I can get. I understand that it's a Ranger and not a Mustang, but I still want it as good as it can get. 5W or 10W-30 sounds about right to me, which leaves the question of which brand is the best? I've heard just as many people singing Royal Purple's praises as I have their criticisms, and I've always used Valvoline or Castrol GTX High Mileage, but I'm not really sure which one's the best for my application.

Ozwynn · Feb 22, 2014

yep, and what I am telling you is unless you bought that from the original owner and know for a fact that it has always had synthetic oil then don't waste your money. use conventional oil (whatever is the best price) that is a 5W-30 or a 10W-30 and save your money for the inevitable engine swap (wether it be another 2.9L or a 4.0L or a V8 swap).

I run synthetic in my Excursion because it was on original owner thats always had synthetic and I use Royal Purple because of the lab results from when I owned my trucking company. I use supertech in my expedition because its beat to death and burns 2qts a week.

Point is use the cheap oil because that engine has already lived a long life and is not long for an overhaul. running synthetic in it is like putting lip stick on a pig.

adsm08 · Feb 22, 2014

pcollins said:
Pretty sure the 4.0L I had took 5w-20, so the 2.9 probably does as well, but I'm not 100% sure.

What 4.0s have you been working on? The 4.0 has always taken 5-30.

The 2.9 is recommended to use 10-30, however many of them run better and smoke less on 15-40 these days.

As for brand, just throw a dart at the wall of oil down at AutoZone. Brand isn't really important because they all come from the same tank anyway. Some have more additives, some have less. The additives just clean for the most part, so as long as you change the oil regularly it's not going to make a big difference. Filter brand is more important that oil brand. I will only use Motorcraft or Delco filters. Even working on a MOPAR I will only use Motorcraft or Delco.

Chuck "Classic Ford" JR. · Feb 22, 2014

adsm08 said:
As for brand, just throw a dart at the wall of oil down at AutoZone. Brand isn't really important because they all come from the same tank anyway. Some have more additives, some have less. The additives just clean for the most part, so as long as you change the oil regularly it's not going to make a big difference. Filter brand is more important that oil brand. I will only use Motorcraft or Delco filters. Even working on a MOPAR I will only use Motorcraft or Delco.

I've always used Motocraft on a Ford and FRAM on anything else. At work we use Premium Guard for all the used cars, but they just look cheap, so I doubt they're the best thing out there.

88SXT · Feb 25, 2014

I refuse to use Motorcraft on anything, I run Fram on everything bc they meet or exceed OE specs and have a nifty non-skid grip on the bottom so you dont have to worry about what size filter wrench to use or if your strap wrench will fit in there.

Hitchner2009 · Feb 25, 2014

I once ran 20w-50 oil in my 2.9 to try and bring back oil pressure, it helped for a while but then the problem came right back, i just run 5w-30 Dexos in my 2.9 because i get it for free at the shop haha. Really doesnt matter what you put in it, with the acception that it is an old engine and not new, then you would want to follow the Ford Specs of 5w-30 or 10w-30 depending on your climate.

Beef52751 · Feb 25, 2014

I agree with Adsm. Just buy the cheapest 10w30 and worry about the filter. Frams are junk, sorry to hurt everyone's feelings but I cut apart a couple hundred filters year and a Wix is the way to go. Wix makes napas filters btw. If I couldnt find a Wix or napa then get a motorcraft.

Which Brand/Viscosity Motor Oil Should I Use?

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