DOES ANYONE FROM THE GREAT STATE OF TEXAS HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH USING THE MANUFACTURERS RECOMMENDED ENGINE OIL GRADE OF 5W20? A CO-WORKER AND MYSELF ARE WONDERING ABOUT HOW GOOD IT IS IN OUR...SOMEWHAT WARM CLIMATE. IS THE VISCOSITY TOO THIN? I WOULD WELCOME FEEDBACK AND RECOMENDATIONS?

 

There's no way I would use it, and i live in Kansas. Not even in winter, 5w30 maybe. I've heard alot of people complaining of noisy and smoking engines after using recommended oil viscosity from the start. Not enough protection IMO.

 

Take a look at the info that I posted in this Forum. It may help you decide what to use. The info provided in the TBS's made it pretty clear what the reason is for the thin oil. As for me, 5w-20 is just to thin for parts of the country where the summer temps are in the 100's. I can deal with the 5w part, but I can't handle the 20. So I'm going to use 5w-30. Let me know what you think.

http://www.ford-trucks.com/dcforum/superduty/1592.html

 

According to my owners manuel it "recommends" 5W-20, but REQUIRES oil with the starburst symbol on the bottle. I know 5W-30 and 10W-30 have the starburst symbol too. I really feel like the 20 is just not thick enough for warm weather driving. Any dealer who says this would void your warranty is probably a dealer you wouldn't want doing your warranty work anyway. I'm 99% sure when I do my first oil change it will be 5W-30. Just my two cents worth.

vroten

 

I located this 5w20 oil at several Walmart's. It is Motorcraft 5w20, synthetic blend motor all. I usually use Valvoline Durablend semi-synthetic, but they don't make it in 5w20. I emailed Valvoline and they said to check back next year. I feel better about the Motorcraft 5w20, as it is at least a synthetic blend.

 

According to the press release where Pennzoil 5W-20 was introduced it is a synthetic blend also. However, it doesn't say anything about it on the bottle. See below.

vroten


http://www.pennzoil-quakerstate.com/...2000-10-31.htm

 

I personally don't see anything wrong with running 5W-20. I am in Houston and have no problems so far. I change my oil every 3,000 miles as well.

If Ford thought they would even remotly have problems with 5W-20 being to thin, I am sure they would not recommend using it.

I believe the modular engines have some very tight tollerences inside. So a thicker oil might not be any better than 5W-20.

To each his own. I just HOPE we ALL don't have any problems with our trucks!!

 

There is very little difference in viscosity between the 5W-20 and the 5W-30. In my opinion this topic has been beaten to death and everyone has their own ideas about it, some based on fact and some not. Do a search here and you will have more info on oil then you will ever need. Be sure to weed out facts from fantasy and check out some of the links given. I am not in Tejas but am running the 5W-20. No worries or concerns. I may switch to a synthetic after my free dealer oil changes expire.

 

Ford also doesn't put zerks in the front end. They also build trucks with doors that crack. Their power steering pumps also make noise....etc......
The 5w20 recommendation is based on government fuel usage regulations over car makers. The tolerances are no less than ever before.
Ford knows the doors are going to crack, yet they still ship them out. Don't trust everything they say.

 

I e-mailed ford on this earlier and here is my message plus the response. heh heh


MESSAGE SENT TO FORD:

I am curious if I should always use the 5W-20 oil that the manual
reccomends no matter where I live.

I am a member of an F150 discussion group that is flip flopped on this.
Many of them say that they only use 5W-30.

Here is a thread

https://www.f150online.com/forums/sh...threadid=57686

I am writing so I can get Ford's opinion on this matter since it is you
who I go to when I have a warranty issue.


RESPONSE FROM FORD:

Dear Jonathan,

Thank you for your message of 11/26/01 regarding your 2002 Ford F-150
SuperCrew. We appreciate the time you have taken to write us concerning the recommended oil for your vehicle.

First and foremost we would like to take this opportunity to
congratulate you on your recent purchase of a 2002 Ford F-150 SuperCrew.

The following is an excerpt from your Owner's manual Maintenance and
Specifications section:

Only use oils Certified For Gasoline Engines by the American Petroleum Institute (API). Use Motorcraft or an equivalent oil meeting Ford specification WSS-M2C153H. SAE 5W-20 oil provides optimum fuel economy and durability performance meeting all requirements for
your vehicles engine.

We value you as a customer and wish you continued satisfaction with your vehicle.

At Ford Motor Company, we consider the satisfaction of our customers as
one of our most important objectives. If you have any other inquiries
or concerns, please feel free to contact us and we will be happy to
address them.

Thank you for contacting Ford Motor Company.

Sincerely,
Patrick
Ford Motor Company
Customer Relationship Center

 

That really says alot. I can go get in my glove box and read that. They really go the extra mile.

 

Well, speaking from experience, after Ford introduced the 5W-20 motor oil in the new cars and trucks, we had 10 local police cars, and 25 local taxi cabs brought in with lower end engine knock, after performing various diagnostics and research, we found out that the garages servicing these vehicles had kept putting in the 5W-30, all had spun bearings on the crackshafts, guess theres something to be said for tight tolerences.

 

Are you saying the thin oil caused it?

 

This oil question has me baffled. I have a new 2002 4.6L SuperCab on order and was planning on changing to synthetic on my first oil change.

I live in Phoenix where temps can get over 115 for a good part of the summer. I also own a Porsche 911 (the reason I bring this up is because the 911 is an oil/air cooled engine) and use Mobil 1 15w-40 in it.

What baffles me is the owners manual stating that the Triton V8 should use 5w-20 in ALL climates. That seems awful thin for Phoenix summers. Another thing, for you synthetic users, what brand of synthethic are you using in the 5w-20 weight oil?

Comments??????

 

svtoby150--

I think he is saying that lack of thin oil may have been at fault. I have seen the way these engines are put together. And everything is tight!!!

I am not big on synthetics or which brands. I say you can't go wrong with what the manual recommends, and if you are changing your oil every 3,000 miles you should have no worries.


Why do people use synthetic oil anyway?? Is it because it is thiner or something? I remember someone telling me that the crank turns easier and generates more horespower. If that is the reason then what a bunch of crack!

Just my opinion