majik755

When moving from regular to synthetic oil, should the system be flushed or do you just start using the synthetic at oil changes? My car only has 5K after 8 months, and has had one oil change at 3 months from the dealer, so it should be relatively clean. I don't drive it a lot, but I do take one or two 800 - 1000 mile trips on Interstates, so from time to time. I'm sure I am cooking that oil at 70 -80 for hours at a time. My understanding is the synthetics will hold up better at high temperature drives. Obviously by my question I'm no mechanic and would appreciate comments.

Nuke

Another issue where you'll get dozens of different opinions. Here's mine:

Your car comes from the factory with synthetic blend and is good for 7500 miles according to Ford. I believe 7000 miles is more appropriate unless you're doing a lot of stop-n-go driving, in which case 5000 mile oil changes are called for. Today's dino oil, belnds and full syns protect your engine equally well. Dino oil will break down SOONER (hence the recommended 3000 mile oil change frequency) then blends will. Synthetics break down slower than blends. Unless you intend to go beyond 8000 mile oil changes, stick with the blend.

howarmat

you mean you dont "flush" the oil when you do an oil change?

Nuke

Of course, the OP knows to drain... Please, Matt, let's not convince him to do the "garden hose flush". I still have nightmares about that thread...

Synthetics, blends and dinos are compatible. Personally, I don't care to mix them; not even 2 different brand synthetics (which is what I have in the Stang now despite my own opinion). NO FLUSHING REQUIRED WHEN GOING FROM ONE TO THE OTHER.

highline

me too

Norm Peterson

I don't remember reading that particular thread, but just reading about it is like being forced to sit and listen to fingernails scraping on a chalkboard. Where's the "I'm-gritting-my-teeth" smiley when you need it?


OP - don't worry about whatever oil doesn't drain out. Just let it drain until it stops dripping if you're concerned. The concentration of whatever is left in the 6 quarts total that your engine takes isn't worth agonizing over, and I'd be more worried about the concentration of whatever fluid was used to do the flush anyway.

Edit - FWIW I used up the last half quart of 5W20 Motorcraft semi-syn when I started using the 5W30 full syn (also Motorcraft) at the last oil change.


Norm

majik755

Don't worry, I'm not a master mechanic, but I wasn't talking the garden hose... lol

Just didn't know if there was something other then draining that needed to be done. Thanks for all the info, appreciate all your time and all the good info shared around here.

Blacksmoke

Just some food for thought.

I have heard from a number of Ford mechanics that once
you get some good mileage on these cars...40k or above, if you
switch to full synthetic then you need to STAY at full synthetic or
it can cause some REAL problems.

I have no idea why or how but I have heard that from 3 different Ford mechanics
when I thought about using full synthetic at an oil change.

bluovalguy

That was a great thread

On topic, I am just gonna stay with the motorcraft and change at 5000. These are pretty solid engines.

yourmyboybh1026

I once read a thread where the guy couldn't get the drain plug out so he just unscrewed the oil filter, turned on the car and revved the engine till the oil was out. Thats a good idea right?