Now an oil cooler with a solinoid bypass would be cool...
With regard to synthetic oil; I have become a 100% believer in a certain brand of syn products-lets leave the name out so as to avoid the usual shift in topic (this Company was the first to bring to the consumer market a synthtic oil) and they are very good in providing tech help, especially to the 'preferrred' customer base. We operate a number of diesel vehicles, which I am responsible for maintaing and a few years ago I decided to try a 10-30 diesel synthetic oil for fuel economy reasons (I read that every engine is designed around the performance specs of a 10/30) anyway, finding a 10-30 diesel engine oil with a 12 tbn rating got my interest and I sent an email to the Company asking specifically if this oil flowed better at low temps than a dino 10/30 and the answer surprised me-no it does not; a 10/30 syn is a 10/30 dino with regard to flow. I did try the 10/30 and was quite surprised at the results; while the fuel economy did improve by about 1 mpg (previous oil was a 15/40 diesel spec synthetic) the engines with heui systems (read Ford 6.0 psd) 'seemed' to take a few more cranks to start, not many but just a few-no change in oil consumption.
Of course I will recommend anyone follow the manufacturers recommendations with regard to engine oil, but if your manual includes an approval for a 10-30 grade of diesel for current operating conditions I would suggest you give it a try if you have not alread done so, you may be as surprised as I was.
AND as a point of interest for those who are diesel people, the '06/'07 6.0 Ford Powerstrokes are some of the best engines we have every owned. Ironic that Ford/International finally fixed the engine then Ford stopped using it. Yes previous versions were a crap shoot, usually not a good roll, but man did they finally get it right.
Double AND, yes this Ford owner will admit that the DMax and Cummins for that matter are 'better' engines-have at me boys.
