Mobil1 15W50
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Joined: Mar 2001
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From: Austin, TX, USA
Mobil1 15W50
i'm sorry to broach the oil subject again, but i was curious if anyone is running a heavy synthetic oil, like mobil1 15w50.
i'm currently running 5w30 mobil1 and i want to swictch to 15w50 when my warranty is up sometime next year (so ford won't try to screw me). Here are my reasons:
1) racecars usually run heavy oil, 20w50 usually. all the speedshops around here recommend this weight for high-perf. i've heard alot of nascar teams run light oil for qualifying but switch to a heavier oil for the race.... that's a good argument if i've ever heard one.
2) i care alot more about engine longevity than fuel mileage
3) piston airplanes almost without exception run 20w50
4) as the v6 is OHV, there shouldnt be the problem of delay in pumping oil up into the heads to lube the cams due to the thicker oil. if i were running an OHC engine i would be alot more reluctant to run this heavy of an oil. both race motors (at least the ones i care about) and aviation motors (gen. av) are OHV.
i'm currently running 5w30 mobil1 and i want to swictch to 15w50 when my warranty is up sometime next year (so ford won't try to screw me). Here are my reasons:
1) racecars usually run heavy oil, 20w50 usually. all the speedshops around here recommend this weight for high-perf. i've heard alot of nascar teams run light oil for qualifying but switch to a heavier oil for the race.... that's a good argument if i've ever heard one.
2) i care alot more about engine longevity than fuel mileage
3) piston airplanes almost without exception run 20w50
4) as the v6 is OHV, there shouldnt be the problem of delay in pumping oil up into the heads to lube the cams due to the thicker oil. if i were running an OHC engine i would be alot more reluctant to run this heavy of an oil. both race motors (at least the ones i care about) and aviation motors (gen. av) are OHV.
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Joined: Nov 1999
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From: Clarksville, Tennessee
engines use a principal called hydrodynamic lubrication. By running a heavier weight of oil you are cause your truck to work harder than necessary.
Questions.
Do you run your truck at redline for more than 1 hour at a time? Do you drive in temperatures over 100 degrees pulling heavy loads at 100 miles an hour??
As far as I'm concerned you should look at running a lighter weight than a heavier one. Especially if you are running a synthetic.
I am running a 0w30 in my truck, I get quick startup protection as well as the best fuel economy possible.
As a matter of fact my BMW motorcycle calls for running a 20w50 and I run a 10w40 year round, even in el paso(when I lived there.)
Questions.
Do you run your truck at redline for more than 1 hour at a time? Do you drive in temperatures over 100 degrees pulling heavy loads at 100 miles an hour??
As far as I'm concerned you should look at running a lighter weight than a heavier one. Especially if you are running a synthetic.
I am running a 0w30 in my truck, I get quick startup protection as well as the best fuel economy possible.
As a matter of fact my BMW motorcycle calls for running a 20w50 and I run a 10w40 year round, even in el paso(when I lived there.)
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Joined: Nov 1999
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From: Clarksville, Tennessee
Re: Mobil1 15W50
Originally posted by jrm1493
1) racecars usually run heavy oil, 20w50 usually. all the speedshops around here recommend this weight for high-perf. i've heard alot of nascar teams run light oil for qualifying but switch to a heavier oil for the race.... that's a good argument if i've ever heard one.
2) i care alot more about engine longevity than fuel mileage
3) piston airplanes almost without exception run 20w50
4
1) racecars usually run heavy oil, 20w50 usually. all the speedshops around here recommend this weight for high-perf. i've heard alot of nascar teams run light oil for qualifying but switch to a heavier oil for the race.... that's a good argument if i've ever heard one.
2) i care alot more about engine longevity than fuel mileage
3) piston airplanes almost without exception run 20w50
4
2. Heavier oil requires more energy to move which reduces power and brings up temperatures. You will lose gas mileage.
3. Thicker oil requires higher RPM's to maintaine hydrodynamic lubrication. If you don't have High rpms you could have more metal to metal contact, which would reduce your engine longevity!!
4. I know some racing engines that use 60 or 70 wieght oil (I would not recommend either except for racing only applications.
If you want your engine to last longer. Take a serious look at upgrading your filtration system, as well as increasing your oil capacity.
By-pass filtration can remove contaminants as small as 1 micron, Detroit Diesel has studies proving that 90% of engine wear comes from particles in the 5-20 micron range. Most full flow filters only filter down to about 25 microns effeciently.
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From: Deltona, FL, US
I remember this discussion once on a bike board, 10w40 or 20w50 in air cooled bikes. A dyno test of both type of oil showed the 20w50 caused the engine to run quite a bit hotter because of the added friction due to increased viscosity. Proof enough for me.
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I used to run 20w50 in a Tiny Isuzu pickup (Actually a Chevy Luv truck) that I had for awhile. I actually did run it at or near WOT for hours on end trying to make it go 75 to 80 MPH on the expressway (the exact reason I picked the oil). Speed really doesn't matter, its engine RPM and engine load. Anyway, the engine stayed together, but during the winter it cranked slowly. Since your in TX I guess its less of a concern. I do know from experience that the synthetic oild typically have better cold flow characteristcs.
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I don't have an opinion either way but here is some food for thought. The Cobra R (5.4 as we all know) comes from the factory with Mobil1 15w50 oil in the crankcase. Maybe it's not as bad for our 5.4s as we thought. 
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From: Houston, TX
I have to agree with msparks.
The Cobra 5.4 and the F-150 5.4 are two entirely different engines. The Cobra is a high performance set up, a race ready car that is street legal. The F-150 is designed for everyday use, towing and hauling. The heavier viscocity oils have a place but not in an everyday driver.
The Cobra 5.4 and the F-150 5.4 are two entirely different engines. The Cobra is a high performance set up, a race ready car that is street legal. The F-150 is designed for everyday use, towing and hauling. The heavier viscocity oils have a place but not in an everyday driver.
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Joined: Nov 1999
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From: Clarksville, Tennessee
Originally posted by RedShift
I don't have an opinion either way but here is some food for thought. The Cobra R (5.4 as we all know) comes from the factory with Mobil1 15w50 oil in the crankcase. Maybe it's not as bad for our 5.4s as we thought.
I don't have an opinion either way but here is some food for thought. The Cobra R (5.4 as we all know) comes from the factory with Mobil1 15w50 oil in the crankcase. Maybe it's not as bad for our 5.4s as we thought.
I have seen the corvette owners manual and it states to use mobil 1 10w30. Hmmmm.
I have a good article that you might want to read reguarding recommended oil viscosities, though it is in reguard to audi's
http://www.audiworld.com/tech/eng14.shtml
Therefore, the only conditions which might require 5W-40 are those which result in prolonged heavy loading of the engine, such as "high-speed, long-distance driving," or towing a heavy trailer up the side of a mountain. Given that, it is almost certain that higher viscosity oils, such as 5W- and 15W-50, are complete wastes of horsepower, placing undue (though minor) additional strain on your engine, and raising operating temperatures for no real benefit.
In addition to this reasoning, and Audi's recommendation, I have also received recommendations for 5W-30 from two synthetic lubricant manufacturers -- Mobil and Redline. I spoke with real engineers at both companies, and they were adamant that even for very hard street use in North America, any viscosity grade higher than 30 would be a waste. All felt that I would see the best performance in my 1.8T, especially reduced turbo lag, by using one of their 30 grade oils. Since both companies market higher viscosity oils (10W-40 and 15W-50), neither had any apparent reason to attempt to "sell" me on lower viscosity oil, yet both strongly recommended that I use 30 grade.
In addition to this reasoning, and Audi's recommendation, I have also received recommendations for 5W-30 from two synthetic lubricant manufacturers -- Mobil and Redline. I spoke with real engineers at both companies, and they were adamant that even for very hard street use in North America, any viscosity grade higher than 30 would be a waste. All felt that I would see the best performance in my 1.8T, especially reduced turbo lag, by using one of their 30 grade oils. Since both companies market higher viscosity oils (10W-40 and 15W-50), neither had any apparent reason to attempt to "sell" me on lower viscosity oil, yet both strongly recommended that I use 30 grade.
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From: Bradford, PA
Don't forget that the racing industry is not designed for motor longevity. Does NASCAR get 100k+ from a motor?
I work for a company that primarily runs 7.3L diesel motors. We started with a few 4.2L V6 motors in two vehicles about 4 years ago. Somebody decided that we could run Mobil Delvac 15w-40 in these motors because that was what we had on hand in a 200 gallon bulk tank. So far we have replaced the only two 4.2L motors prior to 100k. The Jasper replacement motors are not warrentied if anything heavier that 10w-30 is used.
Needless to say we now have a 55 gallon drum of Mobil 5w-30 oil for these 4.2L's and the new one we just bought.
As far as motorcycles go...the manufacturer recommends 20w-50 for most. Would you put diesel fuel in a car that says unleaded fuel only because YOU think its better?
I work for a company that primarily runs 7.3L diesel motors. We started with a few 4.2L V6 motors in two vehicles about 4 years ago. Somebody decided that we could run Mobil Delvac 15w-40 in these motors because that was what we had on hand in a 200 gallon bulk tank. So far we have replaced the only two 4.2L motors prior to 100k. The Jasper replacement motors are not warrentied if anything heavier that 10w-30 is used.
Needless to say we now have a 55 gallon drum of Mobil 5w-30 oil for these 4.2L's and the new one we just bought.
As far as motorcycles go...the manufacturer recommends 20w-50 for most. Would you put diesel fuel in a car that says unleaded fuel only because YOU think its better?
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Joined: Feb 2002
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From: Bradford, PA
Don't forget that the racing industry is not designed for motor longevity. Does NASCAR get 100k+ from a motor?
I work for a company that primarily runs 7.3L diesel motors. We started with a few 4.2L V6 motors in two vehicles about 4 years ago. Somebody decided that we could run Mobil Delvac 15w-40 in these motors because that was what we had on hand in a 200 gallon bulk tank. So far we have replaced the only two 4.2L motors prior to 100k. The Jasper replacement motors are not warrentied if anything heavier that 10w-30 is used.
Needless to say we now have a 55 gallon drum of Mobil 5w-30 oil for these 4.2L's and the new one we just bought.
As far as motorcycles go...the manufacturer recommends 20w-50 for most. Would you put diesel fuel in a car that says unleaded fuel only because YOU think its better?
I work for a company that primarily runs 7.3L diesel motors. We started with a few 4.2L V6 motors in two vehicles about 4 years ago. Somebody decided that we could run Mobil Delvac 15w-40 in these motors because that was what we had on hand in a 200 gallon bulk tank. So far we have replaced the only two 4.2L motors prior to 100k. The Jasper replacement motors are not warrentied if anything heavier that 10w-30 is used.
Needless to say we now have a 55 gallon drum of Mobil 5w-30 oil for these 4.2L's and the new one we just bought.
As far as motorcycles go...the manufacturer recommends 20w-50 for most. Would you put diesel fuel in a car that says unleaded fuel only because YOU think its better?
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Joined: Apr 2001
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From: Northern Kentucky
Originally posted by RedShift
I don't have an opinion either way but here is some food for thought. The Cobra R (5.4 as we all know) comes from the factory with Mobil1 15w50 oil in the crankcase. Maybe it's not as bad for our 5.4s as we thought.
I don't have an opinion either way but here is some food for thought. The Cobra R (5.4 as we all know) comes from the factory with Mobil1 15w50 oil in the crankcase. Maybe it's not as bad for our 5.4s as we thought.
I may be totally off on this one and if so please disregard my ignorance.
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Joined: Dec 1997
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From: Windsor,Ontario,Canada
jrm1493,
So the only real reason you want to switch oils is to increase engine longevity?
If that is the only reasion stick to what Ford recommends. It's a no brainer....
Regards
Jean Marc Chartier
So the only real reason you want to switch oils is to increase engine longevity?
If that is the only reasion stick to what Ford recommends. It's a no brainer....
Regards
Jean Marc Chartier