1986 Ford F-250 7.5 460 100k miles. What engine oil?

[J789]

I have a 1986 Ford F-250 Lariat XLT with the 7.5 460 with a little over 100k miles. What oil should I be putting in it? The shop I brought it to put in 5W-30. I looked at a similar question on here and there were a few different answers such as 10W-30 or 10W-30 HM. Or even a 50/50 mix of 10W-30 + 15W-40 in the summer months if you go on a road trip.

 

[c502cid]

Almost any brand and weight of oil you put in there would be fine. Where do you live? Do you do any towing or hauling?

 

[J789]

Minnesota. Would you recommend different oils for different climates? And sometimes I’ll haul a camper.

 

[B1974]

That year of 460 could still have flat tappet lifters, I would use a oil with a high Zddp (zinc) rating for the lifters.
Viscosity wise 5w30, 5W40 year round or 10w30 in summer.

 

[zzyzzx]

Does the dipstick or oil filler cap specify a weight of oil?

 

[J789]

That year of 460 could still have flat tappet lifters, I would use a oil with a high Zddp (zinc) rating for the lifters.
Viscosity wise 5w30, 5W40 year round or 10w30 in summer.

I looked at some threads and apparently Ford never put roller cams in the 460 engines so it must be a flat tappet.

Could I add 5W-30 oil that has a high Zddp rating if the oil that’s currently in it doesn’t have a high Zddp rating?

Source:

96 F250 7.5 Is this a roller lifter block?

www.460ford.com

 

[nwjones18]

We ran 10w-40 conventional in my folks 89 motorhome with the 460 for 20 years and it never used a drop and was running perfect when the rest of the RV fell apart around the drivetrain..

 

[B1974]

Could I add 5W-30 oil that has a high Zddp rating if the oil that’s currently in it doesn’t have a high Zddp rating?

You could use a Zddp additive to get more zinc into your current oil. Find out what type of 5w30 the shop used and go from there.

 

[PontiacHO]

Castrol Classic 10w40.

 

[Rand]

Is it stock? Do you have an oil temp gauge?
How much do you do tow (weight and aerodynamic drag)

 

[Bighorn2500]

5w40 or even Mobil 1 0w40 Euro for the cold starts in Minnesota.

 

[ka9mnx]

I looked at some threads and apparently Ford never put roller cams in the 460 engines so it must be a flat tappet.

Could I add 5W-30 oil that has a high Zddp rating if the oil that’s currently in it doesn’t have a high Zddp rating?

Source:

96 F250 7.5 Is this a roller lifter block?

www.460ford.com

Your truck would have come from the factory with 10w-30 and a caveat to use 5w-30 in a cold climate (Winter in your case).

A lot has changed since 1986 and my choice would be, and is, 5w-40 Euro for year-round use. I use Quaker State for the best-bang-for buck use.

 

[addyguy]

Rotella T6 5W-40 would be a good fit for that engine.

 

[fantastic]

5w40 or even Mobil 1 0w40 Euro for the cold starts in Minnesota.

Your truck would have come from the factory with 10w-30 and a caveat to use 5w-30 in a cold climate (Winter in your case).

A lot has changed since 1986 and my choice would be, and is, 5w-40 Euro for year-round use. I use Quaker State for the best-bang-for buck use.

Rotella T6 5W-40 would be a good fit for that engine.

Agreed! 5w-40 HDMO, 5w-40, or 0w-40 Euro oil like mentioned above.

 

[ripcord]

Clean and full. Any oil from 5w-30 to 15w-40 changed at reasonable intervals will do her fine. The valve spring pressures are not high in that motor so zinc levels are not critical.

 

[FCD]

Since you are in Minnesota i'd run Mobil 1 0W40, or maybe a A3/B4 5W40.

 

[B1974]

The valve spring pressures are not high in that motor so zinc levels are not critical.

Probably, but I'd still look a normally priced oil with higher Zddp value, or add some amount of Zddp additive. To me newer oils are not made for flat tappet lifters. Some type of Rotella oil could be a good fit for this motor.

 

[fantastic]

Probably, but I'd still look a normally priced oil with higher Zddp value, or add some amount of Zddp additive. To me newer oils are not made for flat tappet lifters. Some type of Rotella oil could be a good fit for this motor.

I was already thinking the same thing... My first thought what was the ZDDP levels back in 1986 LOL. Most likely much higher than what we get in PCMO oil these days. Hence why several here are recommending an HDEO or Euro oil with higher add packs.

 

[Chris142]

10-30 or 10-40. Something about the oiling in the Lima engines makes them not want real thick oils. I have never seen a 460 lose a cam so I wouldn't worry about the zddp in regular oil.

 

[travis8352]

Ill vote delvac 1 5w40 year round