Hi,

I am a new 03 F150 owner and I am changing the oil for the first time. I know the specs give 5W-20W as the oil to use. Would using a general all purpose 10W-30W oil create any problems? Also I am good at changing my oil every 3000mi. Oh, I have the 4.2 V6 engine.

Thanks,

GaryD

 

If you are asking if using a Xw-30 in your 4.2 will hurt anything, the answer is no. But before you put the heavier oil in, you may want to consider staying with the 5w-20 Motorcraft. The Xw-30, API SL, GF-3 oils today must meet a Sequence IIIF test which evaluates the oil thickening, piston deposits, and valve train wear under high speed, high temperature conditions. Test length is 80 hours ( that's 2 weeks) and maximium viscosity increase is 275%. Now that will get you a regular GF-3 oil. Fords 153-H spec concerning the 5w-20, DOUBLES the length of the test (80 hours-4weeks), a max viscosity increase of 200%, and only allows 30 mg of deposits versus 45 mg for regular GF-3. It's pretty stout for a blended oil. The HT/HS rating is the same for the Motorcraft and Mobil One at 2.6 so there is no benefit going to the 0w-20 M1. The Motorcraft is also marginally a 20 weight, actually it is a heavy 20 wt just short of a 30W. You may want to consider staying with the 5w-20, it will runner cleaner, you should see slightly higher fuel mileage, and you won't have any warranty concerns if something goes wrong.

 

On changing the oil grades from the factory recomended weight, don't do it. Your engine oil pump was designed to operate with 5w- 20w oil. Not the "thicker" stuff.

As a Ford Service Manager, I would recommend, Motorcraft 5w-20,
Mobil 1 or even Redline 5w-20 oil to be used. The Redline has proven to be the one for longevity (a.k.a. 5000 mile oil changes).

The "thicker" stuff can and will cause problems, have personally seen, oil filter that were ballooned and torn from thicker oil being pumped through them. Ford spent a lots of money designing the engine to function with the lighter weight oil.

 

I agree with your first statement, but the second can't be possible. If it were, then you would blow out the oil filter on a cold engine start. The viscosity of a 5w-20 when cold is double the viscosity of either the 5w-20 or the 5w-30 at operating temp.

And that viscosity is measured at 40c which is 104F. The oil is thicker yet at 0F, and I can tell you from experience you can't empty a bottle of oil at -26F faster than the cST of 5w-30 at 100C.

 

On the oil weight question, there is a couple of things to consider. Is the truck still in warranty mileage and time? Is there a problem using the FACTORY reccommended oil? Is there a problem acquiring the 5w-20w that Ford says to use?

The Motorcraft 5w-20w is a synthetic blend, it is designed for the engine and for the 5000 mile oil change intervals.

A 100 percent synthetic, such as (Mobil, Redline, etc.) would be fine. The engine would never know the difference.

Do not use a thicker viscosity oil during your warranty period, as a matter of fact, I personally would not use one at all.

The engine, the oil pump and your bearing clearances are designed for 5w-20w.

Its on the oil cap for a reason, no matter what anyone else says.

On a "stock" engine it is more than adequate for lubrication and longevity of the engine.

I have personally seen engines with the oil filters "balloned" due to improper oil weights being used.

There is no warranty consideration for this, and never will be.

The risk you take will be at your own risk.

 

It is perfectly fine to use a 5W-30 oil in your motor. It will hurt nothing, not the oil pump, not anything. There is absolutely NO reason why you can not use a 5W-30 (not 5W-20) which is thinner and has LESS protecting then the 5W-30.

There is absolutely NO difference from a 99, 00, 01 and up engine as far as bearing clearances etc. Ford used a 5W-20 to meet CAFÉ specs.

As a matter of fact there are many FORD dealers that do NOT use 5W-20 because they do NOT feel it protects the motor and that it is just to THIN. My dealer is one of those and I have a few work orders where it is stated right there in black and white 5W-30.

Using 5W-30 will NOT void out your warranty for a few reasons.

First, NOTHING changed in the motor so there is NO reason to “have” to use a thinner oil which will cause MORE wear at operating temperature. If you ever plan on towing you might as well completely forget about 5W-20 or figure on having to replace your motor and a premature age.

Second, a lot of Ford dealers use 5W-30 when they do oil changes on all their trucks as mine does. Don’t believe me then run a little test, call 10 Ford dealers and ask what weight oil they use when they change oil in new trucks. Mine is an 01 which recommends 5W-20. I have never used it nor will I ever. I plan on owning my truck. If I was going to be trading it in then maybe I would for a few tenths (0.2) or so gain in gas mileage.

Third, again call a few Ford dealers and ask “what changed in the motor since 00, 01 or when ever they changed their recommendation to 5W-20”. If someone try’s to BS you, ask if they can send you the specifications for bearing clearance’s etc that requires lighter oil that will hurt the motor in the long run.

Finally, stay with the 5W rating. Unlike operating temperature, for cold starts the thinner oil (5W compared to 10W) causes LESS wear. Start up is where the majority of engine wear occurs.

Do not worry about warranty concerns. Ford will HAVE to cover it, so long as it is maintained properly. That is a FACT and here is why. As I said my dealer only uses 5W-30 as well as the other two Ford dealers in my area. They are all Ford CERTIFIED which means they are a representative of the Ford Motor Company. That simple means if Ford’s own representatives are using 5W-30 in new motors, 01, 02 and now the 03 there is absolutely nothing wrong with using 5W-30.

Don’t take my word, call around and if they give you some line about some specifications of the motors changing ask for the data from the older version of the motor and the new version. If they give you another line of “well that is what is recommended so there” it just means they do NOT have any facts to back up the claims. It’s your motor so if you want to go with thinner oil that protects less it’s your choice. The question I always ask is if thinner is better then why don’t someone come out with a straight 5 weight oil, would be better then 20 weight right? You see what I mean.

 

I have never heard of that. That don't mean it isn't true, but it must be extremely rare. I would love to see a picture of one. I can tell you there is no way a 30W compared to a 20W is going to make an oil filter balloon.

The only reason someone would have a problem with the oil pump is if the oil pump is defective or oil sludge due to someone not changing their oil as required or using some no name brand oil.

I can say this, if Ford trucks start having the oil filters ballooning because of a 30 weight oil Ford is in for another round of BIG money loss like the Firestone tire incident. Reason being a major design and engineering flaw. Not only would Ford be in for a hell of a loss due to law suits for a faulty design they would lose some major market share as guy’s like me would never buy or own another Ford.

No need to worry because it won’t happen, as I stated in my last post there is absolutely nothing wrong with using 5W-30 and Ford can not deny any warranty claims because someone is using a better weight oil for protection especially for towing. The motor is still the same, and many dealers refuse to use the 5W-20 because owners do not have to worry about the CAFÉ standards.