What type of oil for my Ford F250 Diesel?

I totally agree with your advice of changing both fuel filters often. OTOH, if you're getting so much water in your fuel lines that it'll freeze up and clog the line, I'd say you probably need to find another source for diesel fuel.

I would also suggest replacing the cheesy OEM drain valve for the bottom filter with one of these ..
Interesting. I carry a couple extra plastic versions with me. I didn't realize they made an aluminum version. I broke the first one and was not prepared with a large enough bucket to catch the fuel so ended up soaking myself and shirt and laying in a puddle trying to figure out a way to stop the flow until I could get a bucket. Now my little jar always has a bucket under it when I just want to drain enough to check for water.
 
Would be interesting to see the results of 10W30 after the last change just to see the comparison. I'm going to order an analysis kit for my next change. Looks like the extra $10 for TBN is well worth it if it can help extend the milage (currently every 5,000 for me) without basing it on a "hunch". I know the manufacturers recommendation says I can go longer, but I tend to accelerate my maintenance for everything vs what they recommend. Not very cost effective, but I'd like to have this truck in 20+ years like my last one.
FWIW, Blackstone says they are thinking of dropping the TBN as they don't feel it's all that useful. Or that is what they I remember was said in the last newsletter I got from them. I don't remember all the details, just that they didn't seem to feel the TBN was worth the extra dough.
 
I totally agree with your advice of changing both fuel filters often. OTOH, if you're getting so much water in your fuel lines that it'll freeze up and clog the line, I'd say you probably need to find another source for diesel fuel.

I would also suggest replacing the cheesy OEM drain valve for the bottom filter with one of these ..
I have no evidence of issues, either through experience or forums. Like the very high percent of owners, I have never seen a drop of water in the fuel/water separator or cloudy fuel when filter is drained. The filters can pull and hold water that may not be readily visible--around saturation. This would not be visible water in the lines (if you could see through them) and of course it would not be seen in the filter unless filter was dissected. This is why Ford dealers recommend more frequent (the sooner of once a year or XX miles) service than the manual. Of course, they many times make these recommendations in excess, partly to be OK with worse than average use and partly for increased profit.

Whether true or not, I have read that "fuel gelling" is more often caused by water than fuel solidification, because the water is an issue at near 32F where winter fuel is fine well below that. Another internet myth?

If my truck did not have CP4 I would be looking at this less critically. I do a number of things in excess to reduce chances of failure, and it gives me peace of mind.
 
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I agree with respect to the brand of oil, it shouldn't make a difference in warranty claims. I also keep all receipts and detailed spreadsheet of maintenance. I don't know why I've stuck to Motorcraft oil, it's just there on the shelf and easy enough I guess. I'll have to compare prices again. The last time I compared it was because my nephew said T-6 was cheaper, but he didn't account for T-6 being sold in 4 quart bottles (at the time anyway) vs 5 quarts for Motorcraft. So it was the same price per quart. Might not be the case today though. That was two years ago.

My 2022 actually did come with a printed manual in the glovebox. When I ordered the truck I did not expect to receive one based on what I was hearing but there it was. They must have made good on going exclusively electronic since then. I agree, the paper manual is just nice to have handy. Although it didn't help me pick the best oil viscosity in this case, I don't remember reading that at all at the time. :)

Edit: Ok, wow! Just checked pricing. Rotella and Motorcraft per quart are still priced equally for 10W-30. But move to 5W-40 and the price is a shocker! Motorcraft is $15/quart, and Rotella is $7/quart. That's enough to make me change brands.
Walmart (if a person is willing to deal with the issues) $24 for 5 quarts (thanks to Hoppy Frood for correcting me mistakenly saying gallons)
 
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I've gone 7400 miles on T-6 Rotella oil with good oil analysis.. Usually I change oils at 5 k miles.. Easy to remember .

When diesel oils became hard to find couple yrs ago , the Fjord Motorcraft diesel oil price was crazy when you could find it. I bought some Royal Purple Diesel oil during that slim pickens period on diesel oils
 
WIX UOA is about $31 and includes TBN. (tube is a little short so I use my own) Not saying it is a good as Blackstone but has been fine for me. Blackstone has some useful comments, and I do not know what I would get if oil was not changed when sample was submitted to WIX.

At this point I question if there is much value continuing unless something changes. I change oil once a year and hit time to change versus hitting the mile mark. Since truck is ending 5yr drive train warranty I could extend the time and run UOA, but at this point that is not my plan.

Use: High percentage highway towing 7200lb TT.
 

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The cap says 10w30 (Diesel), 15W-40, 5W-40 and 0W-40, but there's no mention of temperature ranges on it..

I used Shell Rotella in my 2018 RAM CTD, but I forget exactly which one.

I was just wondering what others use in their Fords, meaning do they stick with Ford's brand or use something else.
I stick with Ford's synthetic blend and I always get my oil changed at the Dealer. This way Ford has a record of my oil changes and they can't weasel out of covering my motor for the extended warranty.

If you watch the dealers around you, they will often have a sale on the 50/50 Diesel oil change. The Ford Diesel takes 13 quarts of oil. By the time you buy the oil and filter you are pretty close to the cost of getting it changed at the Dealer. If you don't want to use the Dealer, you can shop around for a good price at an oil change shop, just be certain they are using the Diesel rated oil.
 
I stick with Ford's synthetic blend and I always get my oil changed at the Dealer. This way Ford has a record of my oil changes and they can't weasel out of covering my motor for the extended warranty.
The app for my F450 lets me create Owner Entries for maintenance. I'm pretty sure that's the same record keeping for maintenance that the dealer uses since I see their entries as well. The app will let you add pictures of receipts or whatever as additional proof of service.
By the time you buy the oil and filter you are pretty close to the cost of getting it changed at the Dealer.
The dealership where I got mine changed last wrote $216 as the cost, about half was labor & supplies. (it was free for me for an unrelated reason). That's with the Ford synthetic blend. And I had to make an appointment, drive over to the dealer, & sit and wait for someone I didn't know to work on my truck. :cautious:
13 quarts of T6 (not blended) and a filter costs me $110 .. well, plus rubber gloves & paper towels.
If you don't want to use the Dealer, you can shop around for a good price at an oil change shop, just be certain they are using the Diesel rated oil.
I have NEVER had good results at oil change shops. They cracked the case on my neighbors transmission by overtightening the plug and they left the filter loose on my friend's F350 when I tried to be nice and have the oil changed for letting me borrow it.
Plus they're going to use the same maintenance record logging as I can produce. And I have to drive there and wait as well.

OTOH, I'm probably more of a gearhead than most people. I have 6 motorcycles, 2 cars, a 349M, and a F450 to maintain. Plus I kind of like working on machinery and I'm semi-retired, so YMMV.
 
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The dealership where I got mine changed last wrote $216 as the cost, about half was labor & supplies. (it was free for me for an unrelated reason). That's with the Ford synthetic blend. And I had to make an appointment, drive over to the dealer, & sit and wait for someone I didn't know to work on my truck. :cautious:
13 quarts of T6 (not blended) and a filter costs me $110 .. well, plus rubber gloves & paper towels.

I have had Dealer oil changes on sale for $129.

Like I said, on sale, you can't DIY yourself any cheaper than the Dealer.

I too am a hands on person, however, I haven't changed my own oil in about 20 years. Ever since I figured out that specialty shops could do it for about the same price as I could buy the oil and filter for.

By-the-way, Ford has a "Quick Lube" program available at some dealers where you can simply pull in and get your service.

I just checked and a dealer close to me has a service special for a Diesel oil change for only $169. That price beats driving to the parts store, rolling around on the ground, getting dirty, cleaning up, and then driving to a place to properly dispose of the oil. I'm just saying...
 
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The app for my F450 lets me create Owner Entries for maintenance. I'm pretty sure that's the same record keeping for maintenance that the dealer uses since I see their entries as well. The app will let you add pictures of receipts or whatever as additional proof of service.
Well look at that! Two years and I never noticed I could add my own maintenance activities to the app. Thanks for the tip!
 
I have had Dealer oil changes on sale for $129.

Like I said, on sale, you can't DIY yourself any cheaper than the Dealer.

I too am a hands on person, however, I haven't changed my own oil in about 20 years. Ever since I figured out that specialty shops could do it for about the same price as I could buy the oil and filter for.

By-the-way, Ford has a "Quick Lube" program available at some dealers where you can simply pull in and get your service.

I just checked and a dealer close to me has a service special for a Diesel oil change for only $169. That price beats driving to the parts store, rolling around on the ground, getting dirty, cleaning up, and then driving to a place to properly dispose of the oil. I'm just saying...
My oil changes for my 2018 Cummins run about $10 for a filter and 3 gallons of oil is about $40, so I think I can easily justify about 30 minutes of my time for savings of at least $100. My auto parts store is next door to the local restaurant which we frequent, so there's no extra trip for the parts, and I drop off the used oil when I pick up the filter. I buy the oil at Walmart: Delvac 1300 super. And if you're "rolling around on the ground", then you're doing it wrong. :) The whole job takes about a half-hour and the Fumoto valve makes it a piece o'cake.
 
Pretty soon I'll need to do my first oil change on my 2023 F250 6.7L Diesel and I am a bit confused about what type of oil to use. The manual says to use 10W-30 for normal usage between O degrees F to over 100 degrees F.. Then further below it says to use Motorcraft® SAE 10W-30 Super Duty Diesel Motor Oil XO-10W30-QSDF that meets the WSS-M2C171-F1 specification.

Is this same 10W-30 that I'd use in my car of is this something different?

Your input is appreciated.
5w40 diesel oil that meets the WSS-M2C171-F1 specification, rotella is good, I like schaffers and amsoil. 2012 f250 with 183k on it.
 
My oil changes for my 2018 Cummins run about $10 for a filter and 3 gallons of oil is about $40, so I think I can easily justify about 30 minutes of my time for savings of at least $100. My auto parts store is next door to the local restaurant which we frequent, so there's no extra trip for the parts, and I drop off the used oil when I pick up the filter. I buy the oil at Walmart: Delvac 1300 super. And if you're "rolling around on the ground", then you're doing it wrong. :) The whole job takes about a half-hour and the Fumoto valve makes it a piece o'cake.
Fumoto valve?
Rich
 
Fumoto valve?
Rich
 
Yep, that's it. I put one on every different car/truck I have owned for a long time now. It just makes life, and oil changes, so much easier. And makes catching oil for a Blackstone sample a piece o'cake.
 
I put one on every different car/truck I have owned for a long time now. It just makes life, and oil changes, so much easier. And makes catching oil for a Blackstone sample a piece o'cake.
And thanks for the reference!
After seeing your post about it, I ordered one for my F450.
 
I went with the ValvoMax as I liked the design better but Fumoto has great reviews also. Sure does make oil changes a much cleaner, simpler project.

 

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