My 1988 240 DL has unknown miles on it as I purchased it in 2003 with the odometer frozen at 29,000 miles. I suspect it has around 150,000 miles with little large maintenence done on it. I purchased this vehicle as a back up to my daily driver Ford F150. In 2004 the tranmission on my F150 died so I had to get the 240 in working order quick. I changed out the spark plugs, distributer cap/rotor, wires, brake pads, new flame trap and changed the oil to Wal Mart Full Synthetic 10W-30 with a Purolator One filter. I also pulled and cleaned off the throttle body. It was so crudded up that it was making it very difficult to start the car. I was actually convinced the pre-pump was to blame but now think it was just a dirty throttle body. The 240 got me through when I needed it as I drove it straight through from June until December when the F150 came back online. As it is still cool at night here in Homestead, Florida I have been driving the 240 again to work...it has no AC and it is brutally hot in the summer. I just dropped the first run of Wal Mart full synthetic oil from the engine after what I estimate to be about 4500-5000 miles. Here are some observations:

1. Just after changing the oil, plugs cap/rotor, wires, etc I experienced at least 5-10 miles per gallon improvement. Just before the little tune up I had a new set of Goodyear tires put on. The previous tires were a mess (four differing types) so the new tires may have helped in the milage improvement. I have not experienced a milage improvement like this with any other vehicle I own.

2. Right after the tune up the car ran much smoother. I am sure the throttle body cleaning has much to do with this as well as the new plugs, etc. During this whole period the car ran smoother than it ever did before.

3. The old synthetic oil drained out a dark brown. It was like ice tea in color. The new oil is like light Maple Syrup in color. The old dino oil drained out like the Devils black heart!

4. I wondered, when I installed the new synthetic oil, if it would have some effect on the maintenence needed on the throttle body and flame trap. I pulled both moments ago. The flame trap was still pretty clean. I sprayed it down with CRC Throttle Body cleaner and did not really have to use a bristle brush at all. The flame trap, on the other hand was quite dirty. It had chunks of carbonized blow-by imbedded in it. It was not clogged up but the hard chunks of carbon concerned me....should I be? I throughly cleaned up the intake to the flame trap as well as the flame trap and holder. The manifold intake to was cleaned out with a wire probe and compressed air. I got a hard spot that I suspect may have been the start of a clog in the manifold intake to the flame trap. Whatever it was it is clear now!

5. Before using the synthetic oil I was getting spotty drips of oil. I would have to top off the oil every few throusand miles. The drips stopped right after I dropped in the synthetic oil and have not come back. I never had to top it off at all.

6. I am satisfied that the Wal Mart Full Syntheric 10W-30 performed well and was worth the extra money on my part. As well I am convinced that the few little tune up items that I did had an immense help in making the engine run more efficient and smoother.