Oil change & tyres pressures
Clarett
03-12-2006, 10:39 PM
Hi - I just got a 1993 Ford E350 and would like some advice/information. How often do you recommend an oil change for optimal care of the engine? I am new to US so a suggestion of a particular make of oil would be appreciated as well. I would also like to know what the tyre pressures should be when its fully loaded. One more thing....is there a particular jack that could be recommended as well? Prior to this I've always had a car so I don't know if the jack needs to be different for a vehicle this size.
Thanks.
Thanks.
focusyn
03-17-2006, 09:35 AM
I use synthetic oil in my vehicles, including my business car which I put 4,000 miles per month. I change oil and filter at 7500 miles intervals. 5000 miles is good, if you have the owners manual it should tell you. Some people will tell you every 3000 miles, but with todays oil being so much better (especially full synthetics) 5000 is good enough in my opinion.
I had an 01 Ford Focus that I bought new, used Mobil 1 synthetic oil from 5000 miles up to 45k, changed every 7500 miles and the car never skipped a beat, never used any oil between changes,etc.
Synthetic is expensive though. If you want to stick with regular oil, 5000 miles for oil and filter should be fine. Use a good brand-name oil (Mobil, Quaker State,Pennzoil) and a good filter (Fram, Purolator,Wix) don't cheap out. Remember: Oil is cheap, engines are not
I would think max tire pressure indicated on the doorjamb (cold) would be sufficient for carrying loads. I would think thats how Ford would design the vehicle, so that if you follow those numbers, you should have no problems. Other folks that have vans might be able to tell you different.
As for the jack, do you mean an "emergency" jack, if you have a flat on the side of the road or a jack to do maintenence and repair on the van? It should have a jack, but since it is a 93, it might have disappeared in 13 years. Your van is about 5000 lbs empty, so you need at least a two and a half ton jack at the least.
I had an 01 Ford Focus that I bought new, used Mobil 1 synthetic oil from 5000 miles up to 45k, changed every 7500 miles and the car never skipped a beat, never used any oil between changes,etc.
Synthetic is expensive though. If you want to stick with regular oil, 5000 miles for oil and filter should be fine. Use a good brand-name oil (Mobil, Quaker State,Pennzoil) and a good filter (Fram, Purolator,Wix) don't cheap out. Remember: Oil is cheap, engines are not
I would think max tire pressure indicated on the doorjamb (cold) would be sufficient for carrying loads. I would think thats how Ford would design the vehicle, so that if you follow those numbers, you should have no problems. Other folks that have vans might be able to tell you different.
As for the jack, do you mean an "emergency" jack, if you have a flat on the side of the road or a jack to do maintenence and repair on the van? It should have a jack, but since it is a 93, it might have disappeared in 13 years. Your van is about 5000 lbs empty, so you need at least a two and a half ton jack at the least.
ModMech
03-26-2006, 10:37 AM
Clarette,
How often you change you oil depends oh how and where you drive.
If, like most people, you live and drive in moderate temperatures, do not let your van idle unnecessarily, and most of your tips are 10 miles or greater than oil changes every 5,000 miles should be all you need.
If this van is used infrequently, is often stuck in traffic, or idles a lot, then 3,000 mile intervals are more appropriate.
The tire size on your van should be printed on a white sticker with blue and black lettering somewhere along the rear edge of the driver's door frame (usually near the door latch area). As I recall, the E-350s with SINGLE rear wheels take a P235/75R16 tire, load range "D" or "E". You should NEVER operate the van with the tires inflated to: A) Less than 60 PSI [ they may need as much as 80 PSI if load range "E" tires are installed, and maximum loads are carried ]; B) More pressure than is printed on the sidewall of the tire [ it is not at all uncomon for people to "cheap out" on tires, the tires installed on your van may not be "correct" for it's weight or the loads you intend to carry - PLEASE have a local tire professional (your local Ford dealer sells correct tires for this can) evaluate the tires you have before carrying any heavy loads ].
How often you change you oil depends oh how and where you drive.
If, like most people, you live and drive in moderate temperatures, do not let your van idle unnecessarily, and most of your tips are 10 miles or greater than oil changes every 5,000 miles should be all you need.
If this van is used infrequently, is often stuck in traffic, or idles a lot, then 3,000 mile intervals are more appropriate.
The tire size on your van should be printed on a white sticker with blue and black lettering somewhere along the rear edge of the driver's door frame (usually near the door latch area). As I recall, the E-350s with SINGLE rear wheels take a P235/75R16 tire, load range "D" or "E". You should NEVER operate the van with the tires inflated to: A) Less than 60 PSI [ they may need as much as 80 PSI if load range "E" tires are installed, and maximum loads are carried ]; B) More pressure than is printed on the sidewall of the tire [ it is not at all uncomon for people to "cheap out" on tires, the tires installed on your van may not be "correct" for it's weight or the loads you intend to carry - PLEASE have a local tire professional (your local Ford dealer sells correct tires for this can) evaluate the tires you have before carrying any heavy loads ].
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