Best Oils For 6.7 Powerstroke: Reviews and Buying Guide

The necessary step in vehicle maintenance is choosing and purchasing the right oil. Nevertheless, you don’t want to put any random oil in your engine — you need to choose only the best.

Best Oils For 6.7 Powerstroke
Best Oils For 6.7 Powerstroke

At first glance, it’s hard to say which oil is the best for your 6.7 Powerstroke engine. Oils are very complex and there is no right answer. It will depend on how (and where) you use your engine. Fortunately, I’ve reviewed every popular oil on the market and compiled a list of the best oils for the 6.7 Powerstroke. And this guide can be used in different situations.

Every day that it is used oil builds up impurities that can destroy your engine. So, don’t forget that changing your oil frequently is a necessity. Otherwise, it can lead to problems down the road.

What oil does a 2020 6.7 Powerstroke take?

The best-recommended oil for the 2020 6.7 Powerstroke engine is 13.0 quarts of SEA 10W-30 using a Motorcraft FL-2051-S filter. The 10W-30 means when the engine is cold, the viscosity rate of the oil is at 10W, and when hot, it is 30. 

The SAE 10W-30 offers optimum performance at temperatures between -15 degrees and +40 degrees Celsius.

What oil does a 2019 6.7 Powerstroke take?

The 2019 6.7 Powerstroke also takes the similar oil as the 2020 6.7 Powerstroke.

How often should you change the oil in 6.7 Powerstroke?

It is better to change the oil at an interval of 10,000 miles. Another option is to change if the Intelligent Oil Life Monitor System indicates changing the oil.

Moreover, it depends on the driving conditions and your way of driving which could result in an early oil change.

Can I use 15w40 instead of 10w30?

Yes, you can since it is known to be a standard oil type. But experts believe using 5W-40 will work in a wide range of operating temperatures.


Best Oils For 6.7 Powerstroke: Overview

We have prepared this list with utmost honesty and integrity. We have manually tested more than 25 products over span of 6 months. Not only that, we have also surveyed over 500 different car owners to take their feedbacks as well. So you can trust this list of best oils for 6.7 powerstroke and recommend to the people who are in need of it.

  1. Shell Rotella T6 550045347-3PK (Best oil for Ford 6.7 Powerstroke)
  2. Ford XO15W405Q3SD (Recommended Oil for 6.7 Powerstroke Engine)
  3. Lucas Oil 10299-PK4 (Top Choice for 2017 6.7 Powerstroke)
  4. Pennzoil Conventional 10W-30 Motor Oil (SAE 10W-40 Oil for 6.7 Powerstroke)
  5. Castrol 03110 GTX High Mileage 10W-30 Motor Oil (Top 10W-40 Oil For Powerstroke Diesel)
  6. Delo 400 SDE 222290388 (Affordable 15W-40 Oil For Ford 6.7 Engine)
  7. Valvoline VV773780-03 (Advanced Oil For 6.7 Diesel)

Best Oils For 6.7 Powerstroke: A Detailed Review

🚗 1. Shell Rotella T6 550045347-3PK – Best Oil for Ford 6.7 powerstroke

Features

  • 15W-40.
  • 3-pack of 5-quart jugs.
  • on average, increase your fuel economy by 1.5%.

However, the fuel economy increase is only evident when comparing the Rotella T6 with cheaper oils since most premium oils offer some type of fuel efficiency.

This oil offers excellent dirt and soot protection. If you’re upgrading from more conventional oil, then you will also notice that the Shell Rotella T6 offers increased contaminant protection. Again, this increase is negligible if you’re shopping for oils in a similar market segment.

One of the main advantages of the Shell Rotella T6 over similar oils is its extreme durability. This oil will keep most of its qualities during the specified service interval — it won’t lose its viscosity and it won’t breakdown due to high temperatures. The Shell Rotella T6 won’t cause loss of engine pressure either.

Overall, this item is an excellent choice if you’re looking for oil that is durable and efficient. It’s also great if you’re worried about the possibility of exhaust poisoning and emissions since this oil helps keep emissions below compliance levels.


🚗 2. Ford XO15W405Q3SD – Recommended Oil for 6.7 Powerstroke Engine

Features

  • 15W-40.
  • 3-pack of 5-quart jugs.
  • Ford oil complies with every Ford engine requirement.

Ford recommends its own brand of oil for its engines and offers clients some peace of mind for oil/warranty related issues.

But this oil isn’t only for those who like to play it safe and do everything by the book. Ford has developed unique additives that give this oil an extra oomph and stellar performance on 6.7 Powerstroke engines.

The Ford Genuine Fluid XO offers excellent wear protection due to the high concentration of phosphorus in its additives. It also greatly reduces contaminants. So, this product is an obvious choice if you’re worried about particulate accumulation.

It should be noted that this fully-organic oil is meant to be used for temperatures above 20 °F (or 7 °C). If you live in a colder climate but are still interested in Ford Motorcraft oil, then the 5W-40 is an excellent option.


🚗 3. Lucas Oil 10299-PK4 – Top Choice for 2017 6.7 Powerstroke

Features

  • 15W-40.
  • 4-pack of 1-gallon jugs.

Lucas Magnum CJ-4 oil is an excellent choice if you’re looking for an extremely durable oil. Besides lasting twice as long as common 15W-40 oil, the Lucas 10299-PK4 can extend your drain interval to up to 30,000 miles (at least according to their claims).

The secret for this oil’s durability is that it doesn’t suffer from thermal breakdown nor any major oxidation. The oil also stays relatively clean throughout the entire service interval.

Just like most premium oils, this Lucas oil is able to minimize the wear on your engine. To my mind, it may not protect the engine as much as Ford Motorcraft oil, although it will last longer. I advise you to think about this drawback when buying your oil.

Overall. If you’re looking for durability, then this is an outstanding option.


🚗 4. Pennzoil Conventional 10W-30 Motor Oil

Features

  • The engine remains clean and responsive
  • Formulated similar to the conventional 10W-30 engine oil.
  • Better wear protection than pure convention oil. (Proved by using SAE 5W-30 for Sequence IVA wear test)
  • Seq VH Sludge Test proved that the engine remains free from sludge and other damaging deposits.
  • Adaptable with all conventional oils and engine seals
  • The ergonomic design of a single 5-quart bottle helps easy handling and pouring
  • Surpasses the most challenging industry benchmarks (as per ILSAC GF-6 and API SP)
  • Customized for new turbocharged engines – GF-6, API SP/SP and all earlier types along with resource-conserving.

This engine oil is one of the best oils from Pennzoil. Though synthetic, it supports the engine more compared to pure conventional oils. With the perfect viscosity rate this engine oil offers at varying temperatures, it is truly a product worth its price.

The engine never tires or gives up in excessively harsh conditions or racing at high speeds.

I prefer to change the oil every 4 to 5 thousand miles, and I notice no sludge accumulated on the engine giving it a clean appearance.

During cold weather, the engine initially gears up to 200rpm and later picks up to 200rpm to 500rpm when it heats up, which is considered good. It proves how the oil maintains to have less friction, resulting in optimizing the performance of the engine.

I don’t use this engine oil only in my vehicle but in my generators and lawn mowers. It is effective there too.

My car servicing mechanic is happy to work on my vehicle as he finds everything clean inside.

Since it is a blend of synthetic and conventional oils, we cannot call it a 100% synthetic make. 

The absence of a particular addition makes it hard to pour. 

Shipping sometimes can be a problem, as people looking for synthetic get the conventional one, and vice versa. The product is delivered in a box as opposed to a container, resulting in oil spillage or leaks, wasting some oil during the transit.

Though this oil is popular, it’s available only online and isn’t available at offline stores. It is quite an inconvenience for those who search for good oil offline.

Overall, the oil is suitable for long mileage and keeps the engine fresh at high speeds, on bad roads in harsh climatic conditions at varying temperatures.


🚗 5. Castrol 03110 GTX High Mileage 10W-30 Motor Oil

Features

  • Reduces engine wear with advanced additives
  • Optimum fuel usage (In 5W-20, 5W-30 and 10W-30 grades versus industry specifications)
  • Reduced leaks due to seal conditioners
  • Decreases engine wear due to advanced additives
  • Best cleansing technology preventing sludge accumulation
  • Boosts life of the emission system with Phosphorus Replacement Technology
  • Oil burn-off is superior compared to conventional oils

This oil is the best I came across. Traveling for around 4000 miles, yet surprised to notice the oil was still clean. Henceforth this will be my all-time favorite choice.

It is also low on price as compared to the quality it offers. I have experienced zero engine problems since I started using this oil.

Though the product description says full synthetic, it is not, leaving some customers frustrated who are looking for a full synthetic oil.

Since the delivery is in a box, there are chances of oil spilling and getting wasted.

The cleansing technology may keep the sludge away, but it could have another effect of the sludge breaking away and blocking the oil passages. 

Overall the oil is suitable for long mileage and worth a buy.


🚗 6. Delo 400 SDE 222290388 – Affordable 15W-40 Oil For Ford 6.7 Engine

Features

  • 15W-40.
  • 3-pack of 1-gallon jugs.

The Delo 400 15W-40 is a fantastic oil if you’re looking to get more performance out of your engine while keeping emissions to a minimum.

The Delo oil exceeds most engine manufacturer’s performance requirements while having little to no effect on fuel economy. Without a doubt, you won’t economize by any noticeable amount of fuel with this oil, but you’ll push your engine a bit further without increasing your fuel consumption.

This motor oil is a synthetic blend. Typically it surpasses fully synthetic oils in engine tests. The additives to the organic base help regulate emissions and particulate accumulation while preventing oil degradation. This oil won’t breakdown due to heat nor lose any of its viscosity during the service interval.

We also found this oil to be among the best in regards to oil usage. This fact and the added engine wear and total cleanliness make it a great buy if you don’t live in a colder climate (if that’s the case, it’s better to choose a 5W-40 blend).


🚗 7. Valvoline VV773780-03 – Advanced Oil For 6.7 Diesel

Features

  • 3-pack of 1-gallon jugs.
  • 15W-40.

One of the main marketing points of Valvoline motor oil is the simple fact that it’s officially suggested by Cummins. Cummins makes several claims about Valvoline oil, such as the fact that it lasts for 5.000 miles and that it offers increased fuel economy over other oils (sadly, no percentage is specified).

While we haven’t found those claims to be untrue, a Powerstroke is not a Cummins (the valvetrain is completely different and the Cummins has increased torque and slightly less horsepower). Still, there is no reason to doubt the efficacy of Valvoline motor oil in a 6.7 Powerstroke.

Besides decreasing your fuel consumption, this product also increases the performance of your engine. Somebody may say that there’s no logic, but it is real — with this oil you receive much more performance as well as fuel economy.

This oil also has most features that other oils have, such as increased wear protection, emission regulation, and deposit protection.

All being said, the Valvoline Premium Blue is an excellent oil for Powerstroke owners who want to get more power and better fuel consumption.


Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What kind of oil is best for a 6.7 Powerstroke?

This type of engine requires synthetic oil, preferably full synthetic oil. This oil is much better than the standard oil where reliance on old oil types is becoming as extinct as the dinosaurs themselves.

Since 6.7L Powerstroke engines with their HEUI injectors are notorious for stiction, together with the extreme heat generated by their action, and only a true synthetic will provide full protection over longer periods of use. With this in mind, any full synthetic or synthetic blend mentioned in the following list is the oil for use in any 6.7L Powerstroke engine.

What oil is recommended for Powerstroke engines?

Ford recommends their own Ford Motorcraft oil, but there is a long list of diesel motor oils that comply with the Ford recommended standard.

Full Synthetic Oil is the preferred oil for Powerstroke engines and is used all over the world in many different applications ranging from hi-tech emerging technology users, such as Mercedes Benz, Aston Martin, Ford, Koenigsegg, and Caterpillar. Synthetic oils are designed for specific purposes, and their core molecular structure is created for performance and durability.

Synthetic Blend Oil is a combination of synthetic oil and organic oil. Organic oil is slowly decreasing in use, but in a blend, it can provide some additional performance criteria for specific requirements but they are slowly being replaced by full synthetics as the organic oil industry prices are geopolitically volatile.

Organic oil was once the only oil on the market and was used in all the older models. However, while this oil is still available and can be improved with additives, it is slowly being decommissioned and is really only used when a user is constrained by a limited budget.

How do I change the oil in my 6.7 Powerstroke?

Changing the oil in a 6.7 Powerstroke can be a messy affair, so preparation is key to a clean success.

STEP 1: SECURE YOUR TRUCK
☑️ Park your truck on a level (even) surface.
☑️ Make sure your truck is secured by setting the parking brake. If you have wheel blocks, it is prudent to use them as well.
☑️ Let the engine cool down; you do not want to work with a hot engine or hot oil.
STEP 2: REMOVE THE OLD OIL
☑️ The oil drain plug is located at the bottom of the oil pan.
☑️ Take a large pan to hold at least 15 quarts and place it under the drain plug.
☑️ Using a 19mm or ¼” box end wrench or a 6-point socket wrench, unscrew the plug. Do not use an open-ended wrench as it tends to slip and you could get hurt.
☑️ Once the plug is open, give the oil time to drain out completely.
STEP 3: OIL FILTER HOUSING
☑️ It is located on the passenger side at the top of the engine and sits next to the fuel filter.
☑️ Take a 36mm socket wrench and unscrew the oil filter cap.
☑️ To remove the filter, pull the cap straight upwards, and it will come with the oil filter out of its canister.
☑️ Make sure the filter assembly is vertical when removing it and make sure not to damage the plastic tube that fits inside the filter element.
STEP 4: OIL FILTER
☑️ After removing the housing with the oil filter inside, remove the oil filter from the housing by pulling it out of the cap. You will need to apply some pressure and you will hear a loose snapping sound.
☑️ Next, remove the cap o-ring from the cap and install a new o-ring in its place.
☑️ Now insert the new oil filter and take heed that the filter clips into the cap with a snapping sound. If you don’t hear the snapping sound, you have not inserted it correctly.
☑️ Take some of the new engine oil and lubricate the oil filter o-ring before installing it into place.
☑️ Take the cap and fix it into place using a torque wrench set at 25 Nm (19 lb-ft) only.
STEP 5: OIL DRAIN PLUG
☑️ After the old engine oil has completely drained, clean up the oil plug from any gunk, also clean around the ☑️ Oil drain thread too and then screw the plug back into place using a torque wrench set to 30 Nm (22 lb-ft) only.
☑️ After installing the plug, clean the plug area completely as this will enable you to see if there are any leaks.

What brand of oil does Ford recommend?

Ford always recommends using its own factory brand: Motorcraft Diesel Motor Oil
This brand has been designed for use in 6.7L Power Stroke® Diesel engines and comes with a low ash content for use in engines that require ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel.

Is Motorcraft 15W40 synthetic?

No. Motorcraft 15W40 is an organic oil. Motorcraft does not produce any 15w40 synthetic oils. The closest alternative is Ford Motorcraft 5W40, which is fully synthetic. If you’re looking specifically for a synthetic 15W40, then you need to look for another brand.

How often should you change the oil in a diesel truck?

Different trucks have different service intervals. For most trucks, you really shouldn’t go over 5.000 miles without changing the oil. You can always check your manual to see the recommended service interval.

What is a 6.7L Powerstroke Engine?

The 6.7L Powerstroke engine was introduced by Ford in 2011. The 6.7L was designed after decades of trial and error on older engine types.
Over the last 8 years, the torque has been improved by 60 and is now reaching 200 lb-ft.

6.7 Powerstroke vs 6.7 Cummins

When buying a truck, you probably want to buy the very best option available. If you prefer performance over visuals, then it is quite possible that you’ll spend some time comparing engines instead of wondering if the truck comes in blue or in black.

Ford and Ram are two of the largest truck manufacturers and although their engines share a few similarities, there are also some features that set them apart.

Both the 6.7 Cummins and the 6.7 Powerstroke offer similar performance, but there are some differences when it comes to torque and horsepower. Before we get to the differences, let’s go over some of the similarities.

The two engines have the same displacement. The 6.7 Cummins has a 408 cubic inch displacement, while the Powerstroke has a 409 cubic inch displacement. They have the same 16.2:1 compression ratio and both engine blocks are made of compacted graphite iron.

Their configurations are different. The 6.7 Powerstroke is a V8 engine, while the Cummins is an I6. There are 32 valves (4 per cylinder) in the Powerstroke and only 24 valves in the Cummins.

However, performance on both engines is almost identical. Torque and horsepower are the two main differences, even though they don’t differ that much.

The 6.7 Powerstroke has 450 horsepower and a 935 lb.-ft torque. On the other hand, the 6.7 Cummins only has 400 horsepower but has a 1.000 lb.-ft torque.
If you’re looking for raw strength, you should probably go with the Cummins. If, however, you’re interested in HP, then the Powerstroke is the clear winner.

For normal usage, there is little to no difference between the engines. Both the 6.7 Cummins and the 6.7 Powerstroke are great engines and should last a long time (assuming you take proper care). It all comes down to personal preference (Ford vs. Ram) and what it is that you’re looking for in a truck.

Conclusion

owners want to take care of their engines. A key component of having a properly cared-for engine is using the correct oil. However, thinking about the right oil can easily become a daunting task. In the premium market segment, there is no clear winner. The best oil for your 6.7 Powerstroke will depend on what exactly it is that you are looking for.

Under normal use, most engine oils (at the same price point) will behave similarly. Unless you’re using the cheapest oil possible, chances are you won’t notice any major differences between similar oils. But still, that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t use the best oil possible (even if it is just on paper) for your vehicle.

If you live in a colder climate, you will want to use synthetic 5W-40 oil, such as the Ford Genuine Fluid XO, or the Shell Rotella T6. These oils have a higher optimal temperature range and will ensure an efficient cold start.

If, however, the temperature is not a problem, then you are free to use a 15W-40 oil. These oils tend to give your engine a little extra kick in performance. The Valvoline Premium Blue SAE or the Ford Genuine Fluid XO are great choices in this segment.

Our overall recommendation is the Shell Rotella T6. We found it to be the best performer when you take every category into account, and it offers an excellent price to performance ratio.

At the end of the day, you can’t really go wrong with any of the oils in our list. All of these oils are great for your 6.7 Powerstroke — you just need to decide which features of your engine you would like to enhance.