Wuzzup with the oil?

3108 Views 43 Replies 23 Participants Last post by MaDMaXX, Sep 29, 2010

Jimbob

Discussion Starter · May 29, 2008

During my holiday road trip to W. Virginia I decided to change the oil, what with my ridiculously high mileage of 644 mi. The oil drained down into a 5-gallon bucket from up on the lift and sounded for all the world like... WATER!

5W20, whose idea was this, and WHY? Sewing machine oil is thicker than that stuff! My lead mechanic just shook his head and said it's "junk" and that "it will cause the engine to wear out prematurely." I opted for the "thicker" 5W30, but he still wasn't happy. Does anyone know more about this oil thing? I don't want to thumb my nose at Ford, but I don't like a disgruntled,

head-shaking mechanic either. I welcome any info on this.

1 - 20 of 44 Posts

texasbullitt

· #2 · May 29, 2008

its thin , no doubt about it BUT.... I have 44k on dhg1994 , the wife had 60k on her 06 escape and 42k on her 04 escape and all used 5w-20 with no issues what so ever
first oil change on hg 2497 was with 5 w 20 at 1500 miles ( at 3000 now and in 500 miles will go to mobil one 5 w 20 )

Jimbob

Discussion Starter · #3 · May 29, 2008 (Edited)

texasbullitt said:
its thin , no doubt about it BUT.... I have 44k on dhg1994 , the wife had 60k on her 06 escape and 42k on her 04 escape and all used 5w-20 with no issues what so ever
first oil change on hg 2497 was with 5 w 20 at 1500 miles ( at 3000 now and in 500 miles will go to mobil one 5 w 20 )

Thanks for the words of encouragement, Tex, but I still have these lingering butterflies in the pit of my stomach. Junior (my mechanic) didn't just fall off the back of a turnip truck and I still worry. Do you think 10W30 and 10W40 would do more harm than good?

rblack4405

· #4 · May 29, 2008

I have used the 5w-20 Motorcraft oil in the 01 Bullitt and my now stang, in my Aviator and in my wife's Town Car. The overhead cam engines need oil up top quickly and the 5w-20 does that. The clearances on these engines is tight and the light weight works. I do not want thick oil in my rides. Tell your mechanic that this oil is not junk. Does he really think any auto manufacturer would tell you to put junk oil in their engines?

Droopy

· #5 · May 29, 2008

We have owners in the over 100K club that have used 5W 20 from day one. So I wouldn't be concerned.

walc

· #6 · May 29, 2008

Jim,
Do you really believe that Ford specifies using the wrong grade of oil?

Jester67

· #7 · May 29, 2008

rblack4405 said:
I have used the 5w-20 Motorcraft oil in the 01 Bullitt and my now stang, in my Aviator and in my wife's Town Car. The overhead cam engines need oil up top quickly and the 5w-20 does that. The clearances on these engines is tight and the light weight works. I do not want thick oil in my rides. Tell your mechanic that this oil is not junk. Does he really think any auto manufacturer would tell you to put junk oil in their engines?

You beat me to it with a modern engine with the tight tolerances you need a thinner oil combine that with the fact this is a synthetic blend and you have a very good oil for this application. Thin oil where you need it is better than thick oil in the pan.

bluebullitt2180.1

· #8 · May 29, 2008

72,000 on 2180 25,000 of that supercharged with nothing but 5W-20 motorcraft NO ISSUES

BoostFiend

· #9 · May 29, 2008

5w-20 won’t hurt the engine, its is a decent oil, but ford went with it mainly for CAFÉ ratings for fuel economy not just for tight tolerences. I prefer to use a full synthetic 0w-30 or 5w-30 myself.

Bullitt4204

· #10 · May 29, 2008

My 2000 GT convertible tells you to use 5W-30. What happened between 2000 and 2001 on the 4.6 V-8 that required the drop in viscosity? I bet the clearances in those two engines are the exact same! Ford made the change because they got an extra 1/2 MPG, that's why!

Dave and Julie

· #11 · May 29, 2008

There goes your warranty. Good luck with your engine, the 4.6L doesn't like heavy weight oil.

cdynaco

· #12 · May 29, 2008

When cars switched from 10w-40 to 5w-30 I was told about the tighter clearance thing. But since then I've heard more about the CAFE standards... hence an even thinner 5w-20.

I think it would be of concern in hotter climates. Running hard in 100 degs has to be putting the 5W-20 to the test.

I like the idea of oil getting to the overhead cam quicker. Course in my head I can hear my Dad say "if its not using a quart per thousand miles, the valves aren't getting enough!" Anybody remember that story for OHV's from the 'old' days?

RoadDawg831

· #13 · May 29, 2008

I've used Motorcraft or Castrol GTX 5W-20 in my 2001 GT from day one and never had a lick of trouble. It's run 75k miles so far and that includes numerous long distance, high speed summertime treks through the California-Arizona desert. If it couldn't take it, Ford would not have specified it...the last thing they want are warranty claims.

I can relate to being shocked at the first sight of such light oil, I had my doubts too when I first changed it in the '01 but I'm a believer now.

Jimbob

Discussion Starter · #14 · May 29, 2008 (Edited)

walc said:
Jim,
Do you really believe that Ford specifies using the wrong grade of oil?

Thank you one and all for the good information! I will now be able to sleep at night, and I've decided to run the 5W30 all the time,* since it won't really be run (other than 10 min. start-ups in the garage) during the horrid Cleveland winters. No, I didn't really think Ford would recommend using an oil that would trash the motor, but I do agree a large part of the 5W20 thing was to slightly increase mileage. Thanks everyone for your info! Muchas gracias!
* I woke up and now use 5W20 exclusively!

Dave and Julie

· #15 · May 29, 2008

You can use 5W-20 in your 2000 Mustang also:

TSB 01-4-7

ISSUE:

Engine oil recommended for use in 2001 vehicles is SAE 5W-20 motor oil. This
oil has an improved formulation to improve fuel economy. This oil can also
be used to service some previous model year vehicles.

ACTION:

Use SAE 5W-20 engine oil at recommended oil change intervals for 2001
vehicles, with the exception of the following vehicles listed in the
"Exception 2001 Vehicles" chart. All 2001 vehicles other than those listed
in the "Exception 2001 Vehicles" chart are being filled with SAE 5W-20 motor
oil at the factory and should also be serviced with SAE 5W-20 oil.

Vehicle Application Listing Approved For SAE 5W-20 Motor Oil:
1995-2000 2.5L Contour/Mystique
1999-2001 2.5L Cougar 1996-2001 3.0L 4V Taurus/Sable
1999-2001 3.0L (Vulcan) Ranger (Flexible Fuel and Gas), Windstar,
Taurus/Sable (Flexible Fuel and Gas)
1996-1997 3.8L Thunderbird/Cougar
1996-2001 3.8L Mustang and 3.8L SPI Windstar
1997-2001 4.2L (SPI) F-150 (under 8500 GVW only), Econoline
1996-2001 4.6L 2V Mustang
1992-2001 4.6L Crown Victoria/Grand Marquis
1991-2001 4.6L Town Car
1994-1997 4.6L 2V Thunderbird/Cougar
1996-2001 4.6L 4V Mustang Cobra
1995-2001 4.6L Continental
1993-1998 4.6L 4V Mark VIII
1998-2001 5.4L 2V/4V Navigator
1997-2001 4.6L 2V Triton F-150/250 (under 8500 GVW only), Econoline,
Expedition
1997-2001 5.4L 2V F-150/250 (under 8500 GVW only), Expedition,
E-150/250/350, E-350 Chassis/RV/Cutaway
1997-2001 6.8L E-250/350, E-350 Chassis/RV/Cutaway
1999-2001 6.8L Super Duty F-Series 250 HD/350/450/550 Motorhome
2001 2.0L Zetec/2.0L SPI Focus
2001 2.0L Zetec/3.0L Escape
2001 2.0L SPI Escort
2000-2001 5.4L/6.8L Excursion
2000-2001 3.0L Lincoln LS
2001 2.0L Zetec Escort ZX2

NOTE: THE "EXCEPTION 2001 VEHICLES" SHOULD BE SERVICED WITH SAE 5W-30 MOTOR
OIL.

Exception 2001 Vehicles:
Engine Vehicle
2.5L Ranger
3.3L Villager
3.9L Lincoln LS
4.0L Ranger, Explorer/Mountaineer, Explorer Sport, and Explorer Sport Trac
5.0L Explorer/Mountaineer
NOTE: IF VEHICLE IS NOT LISTED IN THIS APPLICATION, SAE 5W-30 OIL IS
RECOMMENDED. REFER TO TSB 99-8-16.

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Tom2291

· #16 · May 29, 2008

I use 10W-30 oil in my Bullitt, and all my other cars. The 5W-20 oil just sounds to thin for me.

CVA

· #17 · May 29, 2008

Need to recall as well that the older cars only held 5 quarts vs 6 today. Oil pressure in the system is a consideration as well a lower viscosity of "lighter" oil. If the surfaces are lubricated and the film protects from metal to metal contact, thats all you need. I would not (and won't) be concerned about it.

Jimbob

Discussion Starter · #18 · May 29, 2008

Tom2291 said:
I use 10W-30 oil in my Bullitt, and all my other cars. The 5W-20 oil just sounds to thin for me.

You should know from reading the above posts that 10W is a no-no.

08 Shifter

· #19 · May 30, 2008

Do some oil research and you willl find that reputable sources find that the 5 flows much better cold and the 20 VS 30 has negligible differences hot.Stay with what is recommended and you will have no problems.Try some of your own research and you will see.

DavidMidgley

· #20 · May 30, 2008

I always use what the manufacturer states for oil, or other fluid.

On a similar note. Back in the day, before I had a drivers permit. I changed the oil in one of my brothers' cars. Only thing is, I used autotrans fluid instead of oil. He drove the car for about six thousand miles and drained it himself. He couldn't figure out why the "oil" was a bright red. Till he told me about the color! Then I told him about the "oil" change... Apparently no damage was done, as that engine (390 cu.inch V-8) in that car (65 Country Squire) went on for about another 100K. When he sold it, the engine was not burning oil yet at nearly 220K miles!

My point is, can you think of anything thinner than ATF?

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