Hi fella's, this may have been asked before, bare with me. I recently bought an 04 FX4 with the 5.4 3V. The truck was serviced before I bought it with 5/20 Motorcraft and has used about 3/4 of a quart in the last 1800 miles. I know Ford calls for 5/20 in this application but I can't believe that 5/30 wouldn't offer more protection. 5/20 just seems thin to me. If I swtch to 5/30 is there any likely hood my consumption will go down. The truck has 27K on it and appears to have been well maintained. I don't run this truck or any of my stuff hard - your thoughts?

 

If it's still under warrenty, I would take it in to Ford.
They're gonna tell you to use 20.
Some will say it is because of the close tolerances in the engine, some will say it's a cafe thing (EPA crap to get the most MPG out of an engine).
I've always used 30 with the exception of when it gets cold down here like now.
But when it's toasting at 110 I too feel real uncomfortable with even 30 weight, but that's what I use.
Mobil 1 full syn.

 

First question I would ask is who serviced it and did they put in 7 quarts. Also some think it has to be at the full mark for it to have enough oil. It does not. 7 quarts as long as it is between the min/max lines. I have heard of people putting it to the full mark at it uses oil till it gets down a ways.
Personally I don't think using a slightly thicker oil is going to make a difference on oil usage. Also it calls for 5w-20 for multiple reasons, only a small part is gas mileage.

As far as using 3/4 quart at 1800 miles, Ford will tell you up to 1 quart per 1000 miles is normal, so it is unlikely they will do anything. Do check for leaks, those they would fix, but no leaks and just using a little oil, unlikely they will do anything. I would wait until after the next oil change to make sure it was done properly. Do it yourself, lot cheaper that way and you know how it was done and done right.

As far as the oil I use, MC 5w-20. With no problems and 56k on it.

 

I am not trying to sound like an expert or anything, but I have read in some of the oil company data that the main reason for the 5w20 oil usage was do to the slight mileage increase that is possible with it. They claim with the many thousands of vehicles that Ford puts out, that even a slight increase in a 1/10 of a mile or more across the board is worth it to them in their overall "mileage lineup" to the government. There is a mileage mandate that the government puts on the automotive industry for their entire fleet that they must meet or risk paying fines. Do to the fact that most of Ford's vehicles have been geared toward trucks and SUV for the last few years, they are looking at every possible avenue to increase their average overall mileage. In other words, Ford doesn't sell enough small passenger cars to offset the gas mileage decreases that the trucks and SUV cause them. The downside to the usage of 5W20 oil compared to 5W30 oil is that the vehicles can usage more oil and 5W20 may not offer as much protection to the motor in the extreme heat especially while towing a load.

 

Most techs do not fill the truck up to the top of the grid. They've always told me this...." if its in the x-hatches its good". I myself, always fill a car to the very top "MAX" level...

 

Id take it to the dealer, cause an engine with 27k should not be using oil already. Does it smoke when you start it? If it burns that much, using a slightly heavier oil will not help much.

 

You need to reread your owners manual. You are basically overfilling your engine by doing that. The dip stick is an estimate, not an end all to be all for the oil level.


I disagree. This is my 3rd 5.4 since 98. The second to use 5w-20. The only engine to use oil was the one that had 5w-30 as the recommended. So far on the engines that have the recommended 5w-20, I have put on 125k. Neither ever used oil. If you do an internet search for UOA, you will find the the MC 5w-20 has a better result than most 5w-30s. Also with the 3v 5.4, it especially critical to get the oil to the upper limits quickly. Do a search in the 04-present forum. You will find one post that lists data at fleet ford as to why you should use the 5w-20. Yes, tolerances. These modular engines are not the old 5.0 and 5.8 engines that could easily use the thicker oil.

edit - look here

Here is the thread.

 

kingfish's got the right idea.

Shoot for the bottom portion of the crosshatches. When the valve train bleeds down after the engine cools, it'll actually be overfilled if it's above half way or so on the crosshatches while the engine is hot.

As far as 5W20 versus 5W30, stick with 5W20. Thicker than recommended oils in the 5.4 3V may (emphasis on "may") cause problems with the variable cam timing system further on down the road. I've got 46K miles on my 5.4 3V, using nothing but 5W20 and Motorcraft filters. Doesn't burn a drop between services, and I put a little less than 7 quarts in mine, maybe about 6-1/2 to 6-3/4ish.

 

I want to add comment to the oil viscosity subject.
Any operation in the engine that depends on oil pressure for it's correct operation will be sensitive to oil viscosity even from cold starts to hot running.
The use of oils with other viscosities ranges, 'can' be the cause of disfunction even on a temporary basis.
The cam timing changes, hydraulic lifter function, timing chain tension take up, cold starting would all be subject to changes in viscosity.
Many people do not take these things into account.
It's not that other oils are better or poorer, it's the needs of the engine that are the important considerations as to the oil used.
.
For those who are concerned about 5w20 being thin, have no worry.
In 4 cycle Kart racing, the lubes are usually full synthetic with almost no additives and nearly as thin as water.
I have never lost an engine to poor lube with "splash" lubrication (there is no oil pump) , running stock class engines on alcohol, as high as 7400 rpm, all seaon.