My 02 L. Completely stock has 35,000ml on it. I live in los angeles and drive mostly highway and once in a while gun it. (probably 10times a month lol) It says to use synthetic 5w-20 . Should i run on 5w-30 or 10w-30 instead. Just want to keep my engine happy.

 

You should run the 5w-20. That's what it recommends!

I have a built motor with high boost and I run 5w-30

Phil

 

it doesnt matter...5w20 is only recomended so ford could meet CAFE regulations. anybody who thinks otherwise is mistaken.

 

From another thread:



for all you anti 5w20 guys

here it is... right from Ford. now be quiet
https://www.fleet.ford.com/FFH/Why5W...ews=Government

 

I am a ford tech and i can tell you this. the clearances and VCT system have nothing to do with the 5w20 oil. in fact the cold vicosity of 5w20 and 5w30 is the same so the whole faster oil flow at start up is a load of BS also. heck the GT500 calls for 20w50 and its got 4 overhead cams to lube at startup. the 4.0 SOHC in the Ranger and Mustang still uses 5w30 because that engine does not like the thinner 5w20 so yes 5w30 does protect better at higher temps. the 5w20 is a little thinner on the hot end and thinner=less drag which=better fuel economy. multiply that by millions of vehicles and you can see how it will affect CAFE regulations. Even dodges PUSHROD "HEMI" is now recomending 5w20 for the same reasons as with many other manufacturers. If they let everybody know the real reasoning behind it noone would use 5w20 and the tree huggers would not like that.

Run 5w20 all you want it is proven to protect your engine just fine under NORMAL conditions. I run it myself however if i did alot of towing or lived in a hot climate you can be assured id be running 5w30.

 

well i live in the los angeles county and its never really cold here. Most of the times its in the 70s-90s degree weather. Just wanted to make sure

 

What oil for built long blocks????. soooo 5-20 and 5-30 is the same i did not know that then thinner is not better

 

if you have a built or supercharged engine i would definatly not be running 5w20. one of oils jobs is to "cussion" engine bearing loads and if you are running higher compression higher horespower 5w20 is just to thin. a stock lightning is borderline i cant even believe ford recomends it in those trucks.

 

A friend of mine with a built lightning engine with 17# of boost with ported 5 eaton and heavy modded and engine is making a noise hard to tell where it is coming from could be a bearing or worse yet a rod he is running 5-20 oil i thought this might be a little thin????

 

I just finish doing a 17psi setup on ported eaton, I live in Miami (70-90degrees) and have been using 5-30w before this setup.. Would 5-30w be the oil vicosity to use at 17psi???

 

What little i know about oil and built engines with high boost levels i would recommend 5-30 oil 5-20 might be alright for non modded engines mabey someone else with a little more expertise will chime in. i do know the thinnest oil is not always the best