Synthetic oil use in 01 explorer 4.0 SOHC

[timkilbride]

I purchased my 01 explorer at around 50,000 miles. At around 75,000 miles I started using synthetic(not blended synthetic) oil. At 81,000 my rear main is leaking and is currently in the shop getting fixed. Once I get it back should I keep using synthetic oil or go back to using the standard oil? My warrenty runs out in about 3,000 miles so I don't want to chance it again.

Thanks for any imput
Tim

[trik pony]

I bought my Explorer Sport used with about 20k on the clock. I use Mobil 1 in the X and in my 88 Mustang GT. I have had no problems with either vehicle. To me synthetics are worth the extra money.

[goon]

i do not like synthetic oils I have seen so many problems. look at the rearend problems on ford trucks (i do about 6 to 8 rearends a year that had syn.) before syn. oil i would do 1 a year. I have seen engine failure or leaky engines. Just think the old oil was used from the 1900's it has always done the job.

[justgetinstarte]

the leack was probly there befor you used syn. often some oil companys will put a waxie substance in the oil to plug leaks the your rear main seal. then when you put an oil that dosent have that waxie stuff it will extrack it and walla you have a leek where you didnt befor. the hiddn problem.

[onecrazyfuq]

sythentic oils are thinner then blended or original motor oil, so the sythetics have a tendency to get into places easier and create leaks, on older cars or high mileage cars, stick iwht a nice blend if you really want that part sythetic or jsut go for the original

[daddeo1266]

After 75k miles and used full sythetic oil. I have 210,000 miles and runs fine. No leaks or burned oil. 1 tune up but just regular maintenace is I I've done. I have a ford explorer xlt and bought in 2000 with 10 k and still driving and tow a pop up camper seasonally.

[KJMac]

I'm sure the oil didn't have much to do withe the leak. I've switched to synthetic oil in high mile cars and never had any problems.....Not one that I can think of!
Just about all of the major engine builders recommend synthetic oils, Mostly Royal purple.
Mobil one is an excellent oil, especially for the price. Blended oils are actually pretty good, getting the benefits of mineral and synthetic oils. If you go back to standard oil, I would recommend Delo because of the lubricating agents that the other oil companies have taken out! I believe it was Gayle Banks who said "if you aren't using synthetic oil, you are living in the past"! For what it's worth Chevy hasn't had any problems due to synthetic oil and they were one of the first to use it.

[mark v]

Synthetic oil has smaller molecules than the traditional oil so synthetic will leak easier.

Synthetic has been proven to out perform traditional oils time after time.

What it comes down is to preference.

Synthetic in cars that are driven daily and in very harsh conditions is what I recommend.

Traditional oil in cars that see everything else is what I recommend unless it calls for synthetic from the MFG of the car then run synthetic all the time.

[ZBlackBeast]

I would strongly recomend sticking with synthetic oil.. As its been said, synthetic has been proven time after time to out perform dyno oil. I believe it is worth the extra cash in the long run. I would still change your oil at you 3-4k intervals regardless. As for recomendations, i would put royal purple at the tippy top of my list. I am going to switch to that tonight in the explorer. I currently use Castrol Syntec. I like it, but i have heard amazing things about royal purple, so everything is getting it, from the motor to the diffys. I first used mobil 1, but didnt like how quikly my lifter tick came back. The syntec kept it away for a long time. Juat my .02!!!

[bonkerpro]

Been using synthetic since 1996 in every engine I own, including the riding lawn mower, with no problems.

I would say the rear main issue is not specific to the oil, but that the leak was evidence of a rear main issue aside from the oil.