That's what it says right on the oil fill cap on my 2001 5.4L. I went to a parts store last night and couldn't find one make of oil in that weight. Has something about this engine changed, or is Ford just trying to stir up business for their parts counters?

 

Very interesting. Does the owners manual confirm this as well? Never heard of this.

 

My 98 calls for 5W-30

 

My 99 gets mobil 15-50...year round.

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Terry Deaton
99 F150 XLT, 2WD, 4.6, S/C, S/B, Superchip, K&N FIPK, FMS 9mm, +4s, Nerfs, Leer Top, Cow Catcher W/Bright A$$ Lights, True Duals with hi flow cats, 275 Dunlops with 3.08 gears, fat swaybars, Steeda front and Hellwig rear. Coming soon: Fabtech 3" and 4.10s.
96 SVT COBRA
98 AERO
Speed Kills, drive a Chevy and live forever.

 

Pony is correct, 5W-20 is the oil ford says to use. It is on the cap as well as the manual.

Will be going to synthetic at the 5k mark. Check out, tap tap taping in the engine bay post.

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2001 F-150XLT SuperCab, Silver, 4X4, AOD, 5.4L, 3.55LS, 17in Rubber, Sport Package, Bedliner, Sliding Rear Window and A partridge in a pear tree...

 

Yes this is a new oil Ford recemends for 2001's

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98 f150 4.6 auto 4x4 supercab-short box/bright red & black/6 disk cd changer/ dynomax cat back/k&n fipk/super chip/lund taillight covers/clear corner lens/factory fog lamps/pace edwards box cover/ultra wheels/LT265-75-16 BFG/ westin nerf bars/steel horse billit grill & bumper insert/reflex shocks/bosch plat. plus 4/accel wires/auto start/left hand grab handle/skidoo summit 700 high mark/FORD DEALERSHIP

 

Why the change, I wonder??? From what I know of oil, it will still be a 5 weight oil with 20 weight protection due to the additives, etc. Correct???

 

I wonder if the new standard is retroactive?

How multi-viscosity oils work is still a mystery to me. One thing I do know is what the numbers mean. The first number indicates how the oil behaves when cold and the second number when hot. In other words, if it's 5W-30, the oil flows and protects the engine like straight 5W oil does when cold, then when it gets hot, it protects like straight 30W would when hot.

I wonder if the 5W-20 that's now spec'd for the 2001 models is because of any differences in the engines compared to the older models?

 

Here are some ramblings!

I think that auto companies are designing engines to be more effecient. They are trying to maybe rely more on the hydrodynamic lubrication, with a thinner oil that will flow faster and thus be more effecient at cooling. Wheras thicker oils tend to rely on boundry lubrication whereas a thicker film helps protect moving parts, but does not flow as well. Which has poorer cooling properties.

We have to remember that around 40% of the cooling is done by the oil, and especially the vital parts like the berings cams and lifters is solely relying on the oil to cool, and remove heat to the outer portions of the engine.

Smaller engines are producing more horsepower than they were just a few years ago. I feel that this is a step in the right direction.

For instance Look how many synthetic oils are out on the market, virtually every manufacture now produces some type of quasi synthetic.

Also there are more conventional oils out there that are using better technologies to refine mineral oils and make them more pure, for instance the hydrocracked and hydroisomeration process now can make mineral oils almost as good as syntheitcs.

If you would like to learn more try these web sites: http://32.97.85.36/eng/html/cracking/index.html http://forums.tdiclub.com/NonCGI/For...ML/001428.html

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Lube-Direct


New Lubrication Forums

 

msparks, this question is to you since you seem to be the oil "expert". I have read about many people on this website who use mobil 1 15W50 in their vehicles or some other high weight oil. I also hear how the new tritons need the thin oil because of the "close tolerances" of the engine. I realize Ford won't complete any warranty work if anything other than 5W30 is used, but is there any truth to the "close tolerance" statement or do you believe a mobil 1 15W50 can be used in these trucks with no ill effects?

 

I really don't think it has to do with "Tolerances" To make anything mechanical you have to have tolerances within a given spec. ie +,- .0015 tolerance.

I believe that due to the fact that the Triton engine is an overhead cam design, that maybe it's very crucial to get the oil to flow as fast as possible up to the top of the valve train and cam area. Which means that of coarse a 5w will flow faster in all temps than a 15w oil.
anything higher than a 10w oil in my opinion will cause premature wear if the vehicle is a daily driver, Now if the vehicle gets started oncea a day in warm weather you probably wont have a problem. But this is usually not the case.

I have read from many sources that most wear is caused at start-up. You really never hear of wear getting caused because the oil flowed too fast. I think even it high temps and towing that the 5w will be okay. the key is if the oil is oxidation resistant and has a good volitily resistance. (Resistance to the loss of viscosity)

 

Yes I checked the manual, it says 5W-20 for all engines, not just the 5.4L.

 

Ford recently made a committment to increase their average Fleet MPG. Thinner oils, less friction equals higher MPG. Ford also plans to build a smaller SUV. These will help offset the gas guzzling Excursions and Super Dutys.

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1999 F150 SuperCab, 4.6 (Romeo)

 

FYI,

Amsoil is working on a synthetic 5w20 for the Fords and Honda's should be ready soon.

For now the recommendation is to use the Series 2000 0w-30.

I will let everyone know when its out.



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Lube-Direct


New Lubrication Forums

 

I found this site on high end and racing oils. I was surprised to see 5w-20 and the comments on more horsepower. http://www.synergynracing.com/products/sae0w20.html