I am very interested about your preference of oil. I have a '99 F250 SD 4WD with a 5.4 (no hauling no towing just transportation). I purchased this used with approx. 90,000 miles. I have had the oil changed by Express Oil Lube using their recommended 5w20. I have gone three months with no oil usage or leakage. I recently read on this forum where someone stated that valvoline oil is not a good brand and it was stated sort of matter of fact making make me think it might be of a general opinion. What is your opinion about valvoline oil? What is your opinion about using a valvoline oil filter? I have to admit I like using a quick oil change type place and the only two types I see are valvoline and castrol. There are opinions on this forum that indicate the importance of using a motorcraft oil filter only. I can take a motorcraft filter to an express oil change place that offers valvoline or castrol but in your opinion should I only use motorcraft oil period? Thanks in advance for your opinions!

 

The most recommended synthetic oil here is Mobil1. Other than that, I use Pennzoil dino oil on mine every 3k miles with the motorcraft filter.

 

i use castrol 5w 20 with a wix filter

 

If you believe the few folks that frequent these forums and have real-world knowledge regarding oil (Labnerd & msparks come to mind) there is no better oil (for the money spent) for your truck than the Motorcraft 5W-20. There are a few other oils that are just as good, and even fewer that are better, but for the price per quart the Motorcraft wins hands down.

Lots of folks have opinions or life experience regarding all types of oils. I have yet to see someone post (who regularly changed their oil and filter) that a certain brand caused a failure in their engine.

It is true that lots of folks use the Mobil 1, but even more do not. Here's a link to a thread that discusses synthetics. WARNING: Do not read if you are a Mobil 1 fan.

Labnerd answers some questions

So, if you want to do right by your truck, change the oil and filter frequently. With the right interval, almost any modern oil that meets the API spec will do just fine.

I believe the general opinion here is that the Motorcraft filters are of very good quality.

I don't believe it is a "general opinion" here that Valvoline oil is no good.

Flame suit on !!!

 

Valvoline will do you fine as long as your changing every 3k. The only change I would recommend is change it yourself or find a local shop. Using the "quick lubes" is taking more of a chance than any other opinions of oil/filter and intervals. After one of them cross threaded my drain plug in my wifes cars I have never used them.

 

The one I (used to) go to actually managed to crack the oil filter housing on my old car.

Needless to say a change my own oil now

 

Johngs and Rugby3 are correct about the quickie places. If you cannot do it yourself take it to the dealer. I change the F150 myself as it is easy to get to and take the Mustang to the dealer. M1 in the F150 and Motorcraft in the Mustang. Of course, Motorcraft filters in both.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by B-Man
[B] Motorcraft 5W-20. There are a few other oils that are just as good, and even fewer that are better, but for the price per quart the Motorcraft wins hands down.

[URL=https://www.f150online.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=116608]

That is kind of a bias statement itself.

I agree that you are entitled to your opinion, and no-one is trying to tell you what you should put in your vehicle, but Motorcraft oil is formulated with CAFE numbers in mind, especially 5W20.

Try running a 5W20 oil while towing in one of your trucks. Or for my car, try drag racing. After one race, the Motorcraft 5W20 will be pi$$ water.

To all of those who cite Motorcraft 5W20 as being superior to other types of oil, I have a UOA for every one of your UOAs that says there are better wear numbers out there.

PS look at who is recommending 5W20 viscocity oils...


PSS- Mike Troyer doesn't even put that ***** (Motorcraft 5W20)in his engines!

Look, this is just my opinion...you can all be sheep.

 

mf150, I dont swear by 5W-20 or Motorcraft oil, as I said in my post I use M1 in the F150 and would use it in the Mustang if it would not be so convienant to have it done by the dealer as opposed to using stands to get under the car in order to change it.

We are all entitled to our opinions, that is what this board is for.

Where I disagree with you is in name calling, just because a group of us may agree on a subject, I dont feel we should be classified as sheep.

 

Please don't take this so personally. As you can see in my above post, I know that we are all entitled to our opinions, that is why I'm stating mine.

 

mf150 -

While I agree we all are entitled to our opinions, that certainly doesn't change the facts.

Labnerd and others have repeatedly posted DATA, not OPINIONS, regarding what the real issues are with oils in general.

Just because the data doesn't coincide with your opinion doesn't mean the data is invalid.

If you have good, reliable DATA that you can share that would show that the Motorcraft 5W-20 oil is not capable of it's job, please share it with us all. If the folks I'll call "experts", who frequent these forums, point out a real benefit or issue I'll certainly consider their advice.

If I recall correctly, the 5W-20 is actually very close in viscosity to a 5W-30 anyway, and in the Motorcraft variety, is actually superior in many qualities to many other oils, including Mobil 1.

I have towed with my truck, and I never noticed the oil turning into water or whatever you call it.

As far as drag racing, I don't remember anyone asking for an oil recommendation for a drag race vehicle. They were asking for good oil for their truck:
Like it or not, the Motorcraft 5W-20 is one of the best (especially if/when you factor in the cost).

The data stands on it's own merit, regardless of CAFE or any other perceived notions as to why it is specified.

Even if Ford did the 5W-20 switch because of CAFE, does it matter? If they did the right thing and raised the bar on what the oil's properties would need to be to properly protect the engine, we should all be glad. Better oil, better fuel economy, I don't see the problem?

The fact that Mike Troyer doesn't use it is as irrelevant as the rest of the anti 5W-20 thought processes out there. Mike runs what he feels is best. There are others who run other brands. Who is right?

When Ford first changed to 5W-30, there was all kind of speculation as to the bad things to come from oil that was too thin or whatever. Did we see an avalanche of oil-related failures? No.

Another item I find interesting is this: Honda is also specifying 5W-20 for many of their vehicles as well. Being that they have one of the best reliability reputations in the business, do you think they would recommend something that could have detrimental effects on that image? It isn't like they need the CAFE help as bad as Ford does, being they already have a huge leg up on Ford in the gas mileage business anyway.

By the way, I'm far from a "sheep". I just try to make my decisions based on facts whenever possible.

No flame intended, just my opinion...

 

Hi, B-Man--

In the spirit of debate, ask any reputable engine builder what he/she thinks about the use of 5W20 in a newer engine. Our family's friend, Scott Zumwalt of Zumwalt Ford, in St. Helena says to stay away from the 5W20 viscocity. Our Ford mechanics don't even put it in their vehicles.

The truth is,I don't know whether or not the stuff (5W20) is all it's cracked up to be. Certain people here on this site are dealers for a company that sells this viscocity. Red Line has thought of discontinuing production of 5W20 due to the low demand.

Again, I'm not trying to change anyone's mind, but I will let you all test out 5W20 on your engines. Our 97 F-150 Lariat (4.6L) has gone over 200,000 miles on 10W30 Mobil 1.

To address your comment about Honda's recommendation, they switched to the 5W20 viscocity the same year as Ford (circa 2001). Have you seen any Ford or Honda engines 2001 or newer that have gone 200,000+ trouble-free miles? If I see that happening later on when your engines reach that milage, I still won't change.

They raised the standard for the 5W20 viscocity, and there won't be any immediate problems (to date) with the lighter oil. So what? The false belief all along is that our OHC engines need a lighter oil to lubricate crutial parts of the engine. Some think that the cause for the change is due to clearance issues. Both are complete hogwash from a mechanical perspective.

This brings us to the point: Why did Ford change viscocity, and did they factor in the consumer's best interest while making this decision?

In conclusion, lab results, in a controlled enviornment, no matter how extensive are not going to be able to infer with 100% accuracy how well an oil will do in a real world situation.Yes, not many people here are drag racers, but just because the API does a 4ball wear test doesn't mean that your oil will protect any better than QS.

My point, for the 10,000,000,000,000,000 time: too thin is too thin (MY OPINION, OKAY?). I am not trying to change anyone else's opinion, nor am I trying to make a point by going against the tide. Technology is good, and if this be the way of the future, let the technology (lighter viscocity oil) pass me by, for I am not going to put that crap in my engine.

No flame intended.

 

I have two 2001 hondas, one civic, and one accord v-6. that the factory specifyes 5-20 oil. When I first bought them the only 5-20 oil out there was castrol, all dealers and honda mechanics I talked to were adamant about using only 5-20 oil in those engins. I have now switched to motorcraft 5-20 with no bad results.
I also have a 2000 F-150 5.4 that requires 5-30. I use Mobil1 5-30 also with good results. I guess if the price of changing my oil, (I do it myself) gets to high for me to afford i'll just quit driving.
As honda, says "you must use 5-20 motor oil!

 

My response to Honda would be:

"Or else?"

 

"No warrenty", I think that is what was implied.