1997 - 2003 F-150

5w/20 vs 5w/30

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Old Sep 24, 2012 | 12:33 PM
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SM
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5w/20 vs 5w/30

We bought our ’01 Supercrew w/4.6 new in August 2000. It was probably in just about the first batch of trucks out that called for 5w/20 oil, which was tough to find way back then. However, track it down I did, and I have exclusively used Motorcraft 5w/20 ever since, with faithful 4000 mile oil and filter change intervals.

It now has 213k miles, and is using a little oil. Nothing alarming, usually a quart to a quart and a half between changes. No smoke at all.
I have been considering switching to 5w/30, though, given the age and mileage on the truck.

Good idea, bad idea, or “6 of one, half a dozen of the other?”
 
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Old Sep 24, 2012 | 12:38 PM
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I would switch to 10/30 with those miles. The "5" in 5/30 is the viscosity, but has the strength of 30 for higher temps.
 
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Old Sep 24, 2012 | 02:24 PM
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From: Easton, Pa.
Oil usage with the mileage is normal.
The use of 5w20 brought you the mileage service you have.
Do not change or go with 10 weight.
I do believe your change interval was too short and did not buy you anything in the motor life department but extra expense.
I have an 02 and change oil and filter every 5k+ and feel now it could have been done at about 7k without any effect on oil and engne life.
As to weight, it's up to you but here is two reasons to stay with what you have been using.
1. The motor has 2 camshaft chains that are tensioned by oil pressure driven tensioners. At cold startup and running hot temps the use of heavier weight will put excessive or extra tension on the chains and the tensioner guides.
There are plenty of threads on this forum about worn out tensioner guides and the noise they make.
Going to heavier weight is your decison based on what I just discribed above.
2. The heavier oil has higher drag, can reduce fuel mileage and be harder to crank in winter temps..
The use of the Motorcraft Blend was a good move by Ford and has proven to be the right move for fast lube movement in the motor at startup, min wear and best overall motor life.
My 4.6 is at 179k, motor is quiet as new, 75 psi oil pressure at cold start, 55 psi running and 25 psi at hot idle and has not changes the last 100k+ I have had the pressure gage in place..
Has been used towing gross combined weight of 12,000 lbs in dead heat of summer with the same oil.
I also use some oil between changes but very often run at 70 + mph through the mountains, that uses more oil when the motor is pushed like that.
.
I would say run your oil a bit longer, add when needed before the change rather than permote extra wear from heaver oil thinking it will extend motor life.
Heavier oil thinking is old time thinking in this day of better oils and 100k + motors.
I think we both have proven the worth of using the reccomended 5w20 over the long term.
Good luck.
.
 
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Old Sep 24, 2012 | 02:45 PM
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Due to some oil consumption, we have switched my son in law's 98 with a 4.6 (170k miles) over to 5W30. That should be okay, but not 10W30.

Motorcraft makes a good 5W30 semi-synthetic, that's the recommended oil for the Ecoboost.
 
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