with todays tight clearance engines and overhead cams the oil must be able flow and flow quickly.

As long as the oil creates a barrier between the wear surfaces it is doing its lubrication duty. volume is more important than viscosity.

if oil is too thick it does not do a good job of lubricating the piston walls and actualy does not drain back into the sump through the oil return holes in the pistons as completely as it should.

take a look at any overhead camshaft from a late 70's or early to mid 90's Honda. They are all scored, because in an OHC engine the last parts to oil are the cam and rockers. the old japanese engines used to have an oil dam in the engine under the cam shaft to splassh oil before the pressure built up and pumped oil to the cams. Overhead valve engines have the cam buried deep in the block and get plenty of lubrication rom crank through off.

I use MC 5W20 in my 2001 Cobra and that engine will hit the rev. limiter real fast.

 

I go this far with my maintenance log (imagine the text below in a table), and I have never had any problem. I think they know that you didn't buy the oil to drink. I had a rod break (defective casting) on an engine that I had maintained myself (few years ago, but still relevant), and there wasn't any problem. The Ford service manager said that you could usually tell if an engine was properly maintained but, if any doubt, they would test the oil.

Vehicle ID Number:_1FTPW14586xxxxxxxx_ Type: _P/U Model: F-150___ Style: _Lariat_Super Crew Conversion_ Engine: 5.4 L __ Year: 2006__
Date Mileage Maintenance/Service Performed (Shop Name, if applicable)

 

Page 2 of the '07 warranty manual states,
It does not specify that the work must be done by Ford, just that the work done must meet ford standards and on their schedule. That's why they provide you with the log book.

Now, that being said, it also depends on how fussy your dealership and Ford corporate is being over the issue. The specific oil you use in the engine isn't an issue if the stereo wuite working. However, if you always use Penzoil dino-oil, and its specs do not meet or exceed Ford's specs for the recommended semi-syn 5-20, and the engine blows at 10,000 miles, then yes, you may be on the hook for it.

-Joe

 

I never said it had to be done by Ford, I just noted that if you buy 6 quarts of 5/20 oil and a FL1 (or whatever it is) filter from wally world doesn't consititute to them that you changed the oil on that particular vehicle. I have had some customers that needed service history records for warranty repairs and not only will they request the dates, but also the invoices from each one showing the customers vehicle, tag #, mileage, and sometimes the signed copy of the reciept.

 

I want your job!!

 

Great! Me and the g/f are headed to Ellijay for 4 days around Valentines day. Rented a cabin in the woods. Should be a great time!! My friend has property in Blue Ridges, so i am familiar with the area...

 

Luke Duke, I have 34 years with Ford. Started working in Romeo Dyno in Nov. 1988 when the first prototype 4.6 engines were being built and tested. It has been a great job and I feel really lucky to have been a part of the 4.6 story. I have seen just about everything imaginable when it comes to engines that have been returned from dealers around country. We also try and teardown as many dealer returns as we can so we keep a pulse on what is going on in real life with our product. You have to see some of these engines to believe what people do to them....Regarding oil changes etc.we can usually tell right away if someone has neglected mantainance such as oil changes. We have our ways From my experience and I am also a Dealer Panel Rep. Ford Motor and the vast majority of Dealers try and take care of the customer unless there is obvious blatant neglect. Take care.

 

Dynotech all i want to know is do i use 5w20 or 5w30 my truck calls for 5w30 it is a 99 F150 5.4 4x4 i have been using Motorcraft 5w30 oil & Motorcraft filter?

 

I have a 1997 F-150 4X4 4.6 and I use 5w-30w in mine year round. I live in Michigan and we go from mid 90 deg temps in summer to below zero in winter so temperature range is not an issue. We perform deep thermal testing where the engine has -20 deg glycol pumped thru it for 15 minutes. The engine actually gets covered in frost in that short period of time. We then ramp the engine up to peak power. Depending on the engine family ( car or truck) That can be 5,750 rpm wide open throttle and run it for 15 minutes at that speed while coolant temps reach 195 deg. The exhaust manifolds actually reach 1600 deg. We perform this test cycle for 150 test hours. I have not witnessed a single failure in years on a 4.6. Extremely brutal test and all we use is 5w-20w oil. You could use 5w-20w if you wish with no adverse effects. Ford went with 5w-20w so they could squeeze as much fuel economy as possible out of the engine. I know many guys that have 4.6 and 5.4 engines in their trucks and use 5w-30w as well as 5w-20w with no problems. It is really not a biggy. Your 5.4 is not much different from a 4.6 design wise but I personally don't think you will notice an improvement in fuel economy by going to 5w-20w. Most important is use good quality oil and regular oil changes with filter and you should be fine. With that said my advice would be just stick with the 5w-30w.

 

Thanks