I fail to see the problem here ...
OK - I get that the fuel is high; higher than we'd all like to see.
And the Vis is down a bit; not in the expected range.
However ...
Where is the terrible result in the ENGINE? Don't look at the lube; that is only an input. Look at the wear; more specifically look at the LACK of wear.
I could understand all this caterwauling if there were high levels of metals (which there are not). So why are you all fretting over Vis and Fuel as if something horrid is afoot? There is ZERO evidence that the engine was harmed here.
Looking at Vis and Fuel and Soot, etc is a great way to predict the potential for lube lifecycle.
Looking at metals actually tells you how well the lube performs.
Someone PUH-LEEZE show me where the wear is out of control here ... I do not see the connection between your fears and the reality of decent wear. You all cry too much over silly little things.
If the OP is going to keep up this style of driving, then I'd recommend a 5w-30 dino meeting the Ford spec (yes, Virginia, there are dino's that meet that Ford spec for lube). That will help keep cost down due to frequent OCIs. There is no rational cause to use a syn for such short OCIs if you're going to dump oil often.
Think I'm wrong about dino oil?
Ford official owner's manual, 2011 F-150, 3rd ed. page #382
Originally Posted By: Ford Manual
3.5L V6 EcoBoost™ engine
To protect your engine and engine’s warranty, use Motorcraft SAE 5W-30 or an equivalent SAE 5W-30 oil meeting Ford specification WSS-M2C929-A.
http://www.fordservicecontent.com/Ford_Content/catalog/owner_guides/11f12og3e.pdf
There are a slew of brand name dino lubes that meet that spec, and the newer ones as well.
There is nothing in Ford's manuals that require a syn, or even a semi-syn. They designed and tested that engine around the oil spec quoted above. So ANY lube meeting that spec would likely do just as well in such a short OCI duration.
tspangle88: I am willing to put my money where my mouth is, too. Try a dino meeting that spec, and see if the wear over the same duration and type use varies outside the "normal" sigma nodes. If the performance is "normal" (as defined by statistical process controls using macro data), then I have proved my point. If not, I will offer to pay for the OCI lube cost; I will put the money in escrow of a third party member here, if that makes one feel better about my challenge.
BTW - curious what the IOLM said, percentage wise, when you dumped lube at 3.8K miles. How much life was left according to the IOLM?