Yea I guess it's different in different psrts of the country. In The Wal Mart we shop at about a mile from us they have always had it in both 5-20 and 5-30 in the 5 qt. jugs. It was $14.50 for a 5 qt. jug just about 3 days ago. And it's only $3- something by the individual qt. Though they used to recommend 5-30 (my '99 had that on the oil cap), I have read that they actually changed the recommendation to 5-20 for the earlier ones that were originally 5-30 when they went to that in the later ones. I often read "they just went to that for mileage purposes". I would really like to know if that's fact or fiction (plenty of that floating around). Labnerd should know the straight scoop on that.
BTW, a pint in 3k mi. ISN'T burning oil, that's just good lubrication! Read what Labnerd said about oil viscocity. If anyone should know, he would.

 

5W30 should be safe to use in all 2 valve Tritons, but I probably would only use 5W20 in 3v's because of the VCT.

 

my truck calls for 5w30 so itll be fine

 

No it doesn't, as they explained. Read again. But yes, it will be fine.

 

His 99 actually does call for 5w30 i showed it to him. Theres a sticker on the fan shroud it says use 5w30. They didnt recommend 5w20 for gas milage purposes till 2000 or 2001.

 

The sticker that it said to use 5w30 was the same sticker that had the spark plug gap on it.

 

I think as long as its 5-20 or 5-30 its good. From what I've read 5-20 is better keeps the engine cleaner so thats what i use. Ford back spec to 97 5w-20

 

o well. whether or not its right, its close enough. if it actually takes 5w20 anmd i put in 5w30 itll probly be such a small performance and fuel mileage diff to not even notice

 

Yea, that's retroactive back thru 97 for ALL 5w 30w applications. They updated, so what it says on the caps no longer applies. You won't hurt it running 30w, - but the new recommendation has it's advantage. Don't assume that it's minor lol.

 

It said use SAE 5w-30 on the ford sticker. and i dont think ford started recommending 5w20 till they started writing it on the oil cap witch i belive was 2001 cause my truck has it written on the cap but ive seen 2000s with out it written on the cap.

 

20w is a tiny bit more flowable might be the word. Moves through the engine a little faster helping cool the engine and it carrys more sludge deposits away keeping the engine cleaner.

 

I switched my son in law's 98 4.6 over to 5w30 because it was burning 5w20. It's got about 170k on it. 15w40 and Lucas goo is just wrong though.

 

Man, this thread is ruining my life. I cannot believe I just read through all of that. I want to shoot myself in the face now.

 

Point the gun up the tail pipe, rather than the intake, you'll look prettier in the casket that way.

 

Reference Jbrews post, pretty simple clarification.