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Synthetic motor oil?
Yahoo Message Number: 20402
I understand that the new Fords require 5w20 motor oil. While in an auto parts store yesterday, I looked at the selection of oils and did not see a synthetic 5w20, what are you folks with the newer engines using? I searched the archives and did not see anything about the newer engine and synthetic oil. From what I have heard, Ford is very particular about viscosity and warranty claims. Is dino the only option on these engines? Thanks Steve K
Steve K

2003 Mid-bath
Re: Synthetic motor oil?
Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 20403
Steve,

We replaced the oil in our 2001 LD shortly after we picked it up with 5/20 Amsoil and Amsoil filter.  We also put in Red Line transmission fluid.  We haven't extended the change interval much although supposedly you can. I have heard that Amsoil is the only synthetic available in 5/20 weight, but I'm sure of it.

Jonna
Re: Synthetic motor oil?
Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 20421
As others have already noted only Amsoil is currently making 5w-20 oil in a true synthetic. Ford uses it for the improved fuel economy as Victor has stated and it can affect fuel economy by as much as 1mpg but that is a stretch even with organic oil. I've heard someone say they used 5w-30 once and got 1mpg less using it and won't use it again. If they got that big a difference I think all mfgs would be using 5w-20 now not just Ford and Honda. Mfgs will make changes for a small increase in fuel economy though. GM requested and received permission to perform the testing on their vehicles with the daylight running lights turned off for the little fuel economy it gains. Bob Phillips could verify that I'm sure but that is published on several web sites and in other hard copy publications.
 Ford requires the oil to be at least 5w-20 but 5w-30 doesn't void the warranty and Ford dealers used it for several months to over a year for oil changes because they couldn't get the 5w-20 in bulk containers. If you didn't specify it only and pay for the premium for them to use it from quarts they used 5w-30. The most important thing is the lower number for cold start protection. If you use 10w or a higher low end viscosity you can damage the engine when starting because the oil won't flow as easily and get up to lubricate vital parts fast enough to offer the protection they need. With a synthetic the 5w-30 may not make much difference in fuel economy and it won't void the warranty because it is considered a better grade than the minimum required grade spec. With the current engine manufacturing technology of today 5w-20 is easily sufficient in any temperature. On Victor's older 460 I'd stay with the 30 high end viscosity even though I believe Ford now has a tech bulletin saying the 5w-20 can be used in all engines made after a certain year.

Mike
Re: Synthetic motor oil?
Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 20424
Quote
With the current engine manufacturing technology of today 5w-20 is easily sufficient in any temperature.
On Victor's older 460 I'd stay with the 30 high end viscosity even though I believe Ford now has a tech bulletin saying the 5w-20 can be used in all engines made after a certain year.

Mike
Mike,
 I agree with you on the above statement for the most part.  I use to have an Expedtion and no matter what conditions I was driving in, the engine temp would never move from normal.  At the time, I also belonged to a Expedtion owner list, and they all reported the same thing.  The new Ford engines run incredibly cool, no argument.  But I, like most people on this list, plan for the unforseeable.  You do things just in case.  One of those things might be going with a little hotter oil in warmer climates or harsher conditions, like cruising around the mountains of Death valley in your 30 footer with a toad in the middle of summer.  Just going for the riduculous, but you know what I mean.

-Victor
Re: Synthetic motor oil?
Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 20430
Victor, By temperature I was referring to ambient temperature not engine temp though both are important when deciding on what oil to use as are operating conditions. I also meant that I wouldn't go to a 5w-20 from a 5w-30 in an older engine but I wouldn't go to a higher viscosity one either. Heavier weight oils increase oil pressure, decrease oil flow, make the oil pump work harder, and increase the engine operating temperature. If you wish to use higher viscosity oil that's your choice but it will lower fuel economy and may not do anything to increase your engine's longevity at normal highway speeds. My friends that have the '96 Ford Box van with over 300k miles have always used 5w-30 in it and it gets worked very hard especially in summer up in NJ delivering food to diners, restaurants, and other eateries when people tend to eat out more. NJ summers can be quite brutal as I'm sure Andy and others still there can tell you with high temps and humidity. No big mountains of course but the engine can still be worked very hard with the loads they carry leaving the warehouse.

If you're racing and doing 150-200+mph several hours you don't care too much about fuel economy and some of these other things and thicker higher viscosity oils are better for that environment.

Mike
Re: Synthetic motor oil?
Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 20433
Mike,

I agree completely.  I would not go to 5w-40 or 10w-40 in my 460.
The only reason I said you could go to the 5w-30 in the newer v10 is because they only recommend the 5w-20 for mileage reasons.
 I use to have a Bronco with a 351 and it used to run a little warm in the right conditions.  I tried running 20w-50 in it one summer.  That was a big mistake.  Ran horrible when I would first start it.  Lesson learned.

-Victor
Re: Synthetic motor oil?
Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 20434
Quote from: richmondmj829

Are you sure about that Mike?  I had heard that using 5w-30 DOES void your warranty from Ford.

Jonna, 2001 RB
Re: Synthetic motor oil?
Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 20440
Jonna,
 I'm absolutely positive running 5w-30 will not void the warranty! If you doubt me you can contact Ford and ask, I did. Nor will 5w-40 but you don't want to do that nor do you need to. For severe use it is better to change more frequently than to use higher viscosity oil.
There are some examples of severe conditions in the scheduled maintenance manual in the "Special Operating Conditions" section. It must have a maximum 5w designation low-end viscosity. The 5 meaning the it flows like 5 weight oil in cold temperatures the W for winter again meaning it flows like a 5 weight oil would in cold temps. You can use 0w and that won't void it either because it flows even more freely at low temps. Using 10w or higher will, if that's what is in the engine when they service it for a warranty related problem. To protect the engine at start-up you don't want higher than the 5w regardless of temperature. It must also have API service certification, most current is SL and most today say they exceed SL/SJ/SH.
 I know for a fact that Ford dealers were using 5w-30 oil for at least a year after they changed the spec to 5w-20 in 2001. I was thinking about having one do a change for me and called every Ford dealer in the central FL area and none had the 5w-20 and said using 5w-30 was not a problem for the engine or warranty. They said Ford changed it for fuel economy reasons and I would lose fuel economy up to 1mpg.
They couldn't get it in bulk because of a shortage since only Ford and Honda adopted it as the new standard and oil refiners weren't making enough to ship to dealers in bulk only the factories. I could pay more if I wanted quarts of 5w-20 used.

Sticker shock for type kept me from having it done at a dealer and since I already ended up buying a filter, oil, oil drain pan, and a nice little spout for the bottles at Wal*Mart in Houston and changed it there myself because I couldn't find any place to do it on my trip home with my LD. That Wal*Mart and all the oil change facilities I tried going off at several exits around that area using "The Next Exit" book as a guide didn't have tall bays for RVs and wouldn't or couldn't change it outside the garage. The Wal*Mart couldn't due to policy and insurance reasons and suggested I buy the products and do it myself in their lot and return the used oil to them. The Ford dealers wanted between $9-15 for the filter that Wal*mart sells for a couple bucks! The same for the oil, if Ford dealers used bulk 5w-30 I would have paid more than the price of Motorcraft 5w-20 I bought at Wal*mart in quarts! So now I change it in the Wal*Mart parking lot and recycle the oil there because my local one doesn't have RV bays either. Last time I bought a case of Castrol 5w-20 on special for an additional .20/qt savings over the Motorcraft brand and exceeds API service SL/SJ/SH with the certification seal API Service SL Energy Conserving. That is all that matters for warranty. The newest Wal*Mart in Kissimmee does have RV bays and maybe I'll have them do a change some time but that is one auto maintenance job I will do on the LD because getting under it isn't a hassle like my cars are. I hate working on autos otherwise!

Here's a good article on viscosity, not meant as an endorsement of any brand.
 http://www.valvoline.com/carcare/articleviewer.asp?pg=ccr20010101ov  
Mike
Re: Synthetic motor oil?
Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 20461
Thanks Mike,

Perhaps what they were referring to was 10w/30 and I confused the numbers.  Thanks though for clearing it up for me.  It's not really a problem for us as we buy the Amsoil by the case and use the 5w/20.  We are often in hot weather and we've pulled our jeep over the Sierra Madre in Mexico a couple of times without the engine heat dial moving at all so I guess it is working OK.  One of the reasons we switched to synthetic right away is becuase it doesn't break down when hot, I figured it couldn't hurt.

Jonna
 
Synthetic motor oil?
Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 20416
Steve,

Ford specifies 5w-20 for gas mileage reasons only.  This was to increase there CAFE avg gas mileage for vehicles sold in the US.  You are not going to hurt your motor if you use 5w-30.  Like Jonna mentioned, Amzoil makes a 5w-20, but on there web site, they give the whole story why Ford specifies that grade.  Personally, I think you would be better off using 5w-30.  It offers better protection at higher temps.  If you travel in the winter months, 5w-20 would be okay, but I would use 5w-30 the rest of the time.  The down side, you may lose a 1/4 mpg, if that.

-Victor