3.5L EcoBoost Engine Lube

[Bill Schell]

Do you use petroleum or synthetic oil?

I'm having my cam phasers and timing chain replaced on my 2018 and had meant to ask the Ford dealership which is the best option. With oil changes being quite important on the EcoBoost engines (often cited as a source of problem on cam phasers/timing chain), it seems synthetic would be a waste? But I have also heard that it protects these components better during the lubricants service period. If that were the case, given the significant issue Ford is having with this part of the engine, one would think Ford would revise the recommended baseline lubricant.

 

[Zig10]

I use the Motorcraft synthetic blend recommended in the manual. It'll be hard for them to complain if something goes wrong with that. I also change every 5000 miles regardless of OLM status. We don't put a ton of miles on it anyway, so it's not much of a cost impact.

 

[Dice Roll]

That’s me exactly. 5k on the factory blend. With all these failures and people running full syn, it seems to me slippery oil might be rolling right off the parts right after shutdown. Always heard how hard this engine is on oil, so it’s getting changed at 5k no matter what I put in there. And that’s coming from a guy that thinks people change oil way too often.

 

[Fozzy]

Same here, I also take it to the dealer. So they can’t complain about something or someone else’s work. Just remember to mark your filter because some dealers or employees are shady.


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[Bill Schell]

Same here, I also take it to the dealer. So they can’t complain about something or someone else’s work. Just remember to mark your filter because some dealers or employees are shady.


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Never would have thought to do that (need to), but wouldn't that just be the *****!

 

[AAOO]

Same here, I also take it to the dealer. So they can’t complain about something or someone else’s work. Just remember to mark your filter because some dealers or employees are shady.


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I always scratch it somewhere with a flat head screwdriver in a spot I know the day I drop it off. Also mark tires with chalk when rotating.

 

[Artie]

The poll needs a ‘blend’ option, I marked ‘synthetic‘ but I think my dealer does blend. I, too, take mine to the dealer. If I did it at home I’d use whatever the manual stated.

 

[Fozzy]

I always scratch it somewhere with a flat head screwdriver in a spot I know the day I drop it off. Also mark tires with chalk when rotating.

I use a sharpie and put the mileage of the last service on it. Pretty much forces them to be honest. Tires, I number them 1-4 and keep track where they are at. So sad we have to do this. My Ford dealership is one of the super stores and does over 200 oil changes a day. Makes me wonder about the quality with that much quantity.


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[Craigga542]

I always scratch it somewhere with a flat head screwdriver in a spot I know the day I drop it off. Also mark tires with chalk when rotating.

At least you mark tires... years ago in my automotive days, had a guy who marked his hub caps and I didn’t catch it. I rotated tires as usual. He came back to pay a few hours later, went out to his car, and came back in yelling at me. Was a very hard argument for 15 minutes until I convinced him I rotate tires, not hub caps. Had to show him tread level, etc. He eventually came back the next day and apologized. Moral of the story, always mark the actual item you want to track

 

[BFD350]

I run Shell Rotella Gas Truck Synthetic on my Expedition. I chose it because I run Rotella T6 on my F-350. Even my Ford dealer uses T6 when customers ask for synthetic. The diesel forums rave about Rotella. So I figured it would be a good choice on the Expedition given stop and go driving and some towing.

I change my own based on OLM. It’s not much more than 5k miles anyway. And that way I know that the filter was changed and that the right amount of oil was added. With a Fumoto valve it’s an easy task.

Oil and air filter are always Motorcraft parts. Their oil filters are very good....there’s a good video out there comparing Motorcraft to other brands and the econo filters are really bad.



2018 Expedition Platinum
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[st381183]

I use Mobil 1, change it as I approach 5k miles usually at about 4500 miles. 2018 XLT, no cold start up issues..... yet, less than 19000 miles and will do my fourth oil change this week. I don’t think the type of oil is the problem, it’s the gunked up passage ways, stopping or delaying lubrication into the phasers and top end that are the problem. Frequent oil changes between 4-5k mile a must to keep the oil clean and fresh.

 

[Plati]

All engine oil is petroleum based ... correct? Synthetic oil is just more highly processed to remove undesired contaminants and add desired additives. Molecules are engineered to be longer chains and work better in numerous ways in an engine. How could you go wrong with synthetic oil? I've been told any decent oil is basically what would be called "synthetic" now.

 

[Oscar1]

A while back took my F150 for oil service . Next morning I checked the oil level . Found it way over filled . They didn't drain old oil & just put more in . They didn't know what to say except SORRY

 

[scotthere]

I've been using mobil 1 since 2004. Pricy but 160,000 miles without issues. I've read about some strategies that swap filter more frequently 3,000 miles and 1 qt. top up then change oil every third filter 9,000 miles. Oil does not really wear out, it becomes contaminated with combustion byproducts and gets carbonized from over heating. An oil cooler can help the latter greatly. That is why I'm shopping for used expy with HD towing for extra cooling. Tranny fluid same concept minus combustion. Some manufactures are starting to install externally accessible tyranny filters. Allison's I think.

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[MAC1]

I have been using full synthetic on all of my vehicles for the past 20 years; I change the oil and filter every 7K miles, so my annual cost is the same.

 

[Dice Roll]

I've been using mobil 1 since 2004. Pricy but 160,000 miles without issues. I've read about some strategies that swap filter more frequently 3,000 miles and 1 qt. top up then change oil every third filter 9,000 miles. Oil does not really wear out, it becomes contaminated with combustion byproducts and gets carbonized from over heating. An oil cooler can help the latter greatly. That is why I'm shopping for used expy with HD towing for extra cooling. Tranny fluid same concept minus combustion. Some manufactures are starting to install externally accessible tyranny filters. Allison's I think.

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I’ve used the filter change routine on other cars with success. Oil can generally go much longer than people let it mile wise. Depends a lot on if you get it up to temp most every trip with the car. You can get some breakdown after time though, so I change filter early, top, and do full change at one year. My diesel I literally didn’t do a full change for years with full syn. I even quit doing the oil sample testing.

I’m hesitant to do that with the expy due to the beating the turbo can put on the oil. Also not going to risk the extended warranty with ford over a few extra changes.

 

[osteodoc08]

Mobil 1 5w/30 with Mobil 1 filter

8200 miles on oil change yesterday.

oil to be sent to Blackstone and will be my third or fourth UOA.

 

[Fozzy]

Mobil 1 5w/30 with Mobil 1 filter

8200 miles on oil change yesterday.

oil to be sent to Blackstone and will be my third or fourth UOA.

Post your results and if you run a catch can or not. Have you found fuel in your oil? Thanks.


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[lbv150]

Every 3,000 miles with MotorCraft Synth blend and filter. Turbos are hard on oil, you should see how dark and smells of fuel the oil is at 3K....

 

[rjdelp7]

Ford requirement is xo-5w20-qsp is syn blend. Not sure what petroleum is, oil wise. I personally believe this engine should use full synthetic and get changed every 3,500mi. The oil breakdown from turbo heat and fuel dilution, is probably why there is so many problems. Going between 5000-7500mi on bad oil, would explain it. Using improper/cheap oil filters is another reason. Ford doesn't want to anger/lose potential owners, who will balk at spending $65 for a dealer synthetic oil change every 3,500mi. People spend $70K on the new vehicle, but cheap out on a $19.99 oil change.