Some have asked me to post the 5w20 oil tsb I got at my dlr...here it is.

--karl

TSB 02-1-9

FORD: 1992-2002
1993-1994
1993-1997
1993-2002
1995-2000
1998-2002
2000-2002
1993-1996
1993-1997
1993-2002
1995-2002
1997-1999
1997-2001
1997-2002
1999-2002
2000-2002
2001-2002
CROWN VICTORIA TEMPO THUNDERBIRD ESCORT, MUSTANG,TAURUS CONTOUR ESCORT ZX2 FOCUS BRONCO AEROSTAR E SERIES, F-150, RANGER WINDSTAR F-250 LD EXPLORER EXPEDITION SUPER DUTY F SERIES, SUPER DUTY F-53 STRIPPED CHAS EXCURSION ESCAPE
LINCOLN: 1991-2002 TOWN CAR
1993-1998 MARK VIII
1993-2002 CONTINENTAL
2000-2002 LS
1998-2002 NAVIGATOR MERCURY: 1992-2002 GRAND MARQUIS
1993-1994 TOPAZ
1993-1997 COUGAR
1993-1999 TRACER
1993-2002 SABLE
1995-2000 MYSTIQUE
1999-2002 COUGAR
1997-2001 MOUNTAINEER
This article is being republished in its entirety to update the vehicle models, engines and years affected. NOTE PLEASE REFER TO THE VEHICLE APPLICATION LIST LATER IN THIS TSB FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF VEHICLES AFFECTED BY THIS TSB

ISSUE
Ford Motor Company now recommends SAE 5W-20 viscosity grade for servicing most gasoline and flexible fueled vehicles.

ACTION
All 2001 and 2002 vehicles where SAE 5W-20 is specified should be serviced at the recommended oil change intervals using SAE 5W-20. This oil is an improved formulation to improve fuel economy.

Testing has validated this viscosity grade can be
used in many previous model year vehicles. It is
recommended ALL vehicles on the following Vehicle
Application Listing be service with SAE 5W-20.
All 2001-2002 vehicles other than those listed in the
"Exception 2001 Vehicles" or "Exception 2002
Vehicles" chart are being filled with SAE 5W-20
motor oil at the factory and should also be serviced
with SAE 5W-20 oil.

Article No. 02-1-9 Cont'd.
Vehicle Application Listing Approved For SAE
5W-20 Motor Oil
• 1993-1996 1.9L Escort/Tracer
• 1995-2000 2.0L Zetec Contour/Mystique
• 1999-2002 2.0L Cougar
• 1997-2002 2.0L Escort/Tracer
• 1998-2002 2.0L Escort ZX2
• 2000-2002 2.0L Focus
• 2001-2002 2.0L Escape
• 1993-1997 2.3L Ranger
• 1993-1994 2.3L Mustang
• 1993-1994 2.3L Tempo/Topaz
• 1998-2001 2.5L Ranger
• 1995-2000 2.5L Contour/Mystique
• 1999-2002 2.5L Cougar
• 2001-2002 3.0L 4V Escape
• 1996-2001 3.0L 4V Taurus/Sable
• 1993-2002 3.0L (Vulcan) Aerostar/Ranger,
Taurus/Sable (Flexible Fuel and Gas)
• 1995-2000 3.0L (Vulcan) Windstar
• 1993-1994 3.0L (Vulcan) Tempo/Topaz
• 2000-2002 3.0L 4V Lincoln LS
• 1995-2002 3.8L Windstar
• 1993-1997 3.8L Taurus/Sable,
Thunderbird/Cougar, Continental
• 1994-2002 3.8L Mustang
• 2002-2002 3.9L 4V Lincoln LS
• 1997-2002 4.2L (SPI) F-150 (under 8500 GVW
only), E-Series
• 1996-2002 4.6L 2V Mustang
• 1992-2002 4.6L Crown Victoria/Grand Marquis
• 1991-2002 4.6L Town Car
• 1994-1997 4.6L 2V Thunderbird/Cougar
• 1996-2002 4.6L 4V Mustang Cobra
• 1995-2002 4.6L 4V Continental
• 1993-1998 4.6L 4V Mark VIII
• 1997-2002 4.6L 2V Triton F-150/250 (under 8500
GVW only), E-Series, Expedition
• 1993-1999 4.9L E-Series, F-Series
• 1993-1995 5.0L Mustang/Mustang Cobra
• 1993-1993 5.0L Thunderbird/Cougar
• 1997-2001 5.0L Explorer/Mountaineer
• 1993-1996 5.0L E-Series, F-Series, Bronco
• 2000-2002 5.4L Excursion
• 1998-2002 5.4L 2V/4V Navigator
• 1997-2002 5.4L 2V F-150/250 (under 8500 GVW
only), Expedition, E-Series, E-350
Chassis/RV/Cutaway
• 1993-1997 5.8L F-Series, Bronco
• 1993-1996 5.8L E-Series
• 2000-2002 6.8L Excursion
• 1997-2002 6.8L E-Series, E-350
Chassis/RV/Cutaway
• 1999-2002 6.8L Super Duty F-Series 250
HD/350/450/550 Motorhome
• 1993-1998 7.5L All Vehicles
NOTE
FOR 1993 THROUGH 1998 MODEL YEAR FFV
USE XO-10W30-FFV.
NOTE
THE "EXCEPTION 2001-2002 VEHICLES"
SHOULD BE SERVICED WITH SAE 5W-30
MOTOR OIL.
Exception 2001 Vehicles
NOTE
IF VEHICLE IS NOT LISTED IN THIS
APPLICATION, SAE 5W-30 OIL IS
RECOMMENDED. REFER TO TSB 99-8-16.
PAGE 3

Engine Vehicle
3.3L 3.9L 4.0L Villager Lincoln LS Ranger, Explorer/Mountaineer, Explorer Sport, and Explorer Sport Trac
Exception 2002 Vehicles

Engine Vehicle
2.0L HP Zetec 3.3L 4.0L SVT Focus Villager Ranger, Explorer/Mountaineer, Explorer Sport, and Explorer Sport Trac

 

For better fuel economy use 5W20.
For better engine protection use 5W30.
Protection or fuel economy........what's it gonna be.

 

Well put Rick, I will choose protection and continue to use my synthetic 10/30.
Terry

 

Answers my questions. 0W-30 or 5W-30 Mobil1 full synthetic only for me. Gas mileage! Who really cares. I didn't go down a buy a 4x4 Screw with the 5.4L for fuel economy. Bought it for the looks, the power and to have a BIG TRUCK. 13-14 MPG in town and 17-18 hwy doesn't bother me. My 99 GMC 1/2 2WD Reg. Cab 5.3L (WORST TRUCK I HAVE EVER OWN! Probably because it was my first time to buy anything but a Ford.) Only got 14-15 in town and 18-19 on the hwy. Some of that so called go gas mileage that GM owners bragg about.

 

When I need head gaskets or blow the spark plugs out of my Lightning (as they are known to do) I don't want the dealer to tell me the wrong weight oil, or synthetic oil, caused the problem.
It's factory spec. 5/20 dino oil for my lightning.
I'll continue to put 5/30 in the wifes Taurus.

 

what makes you think that 5W-30 provides more protection than 5W-20? with that logic, why not pour in roofing tar? unnecessarily heavy oil weights make your truck work harder and can LESSEN protection.

 

codeblue

What makes you think 0W30 synthetic is better. The first number is the weight of the oil when it is hot. Your 0w30 is going to be thinner when the engine is hot than the 5w20 Ford reccomends! From listening to some on these boards, we all should be running 20w50 diesel engine oil, because "it provides better protection"!!!!!!! Ford reccomending this oil, only makes it thinner when the engine is cold.

 

You have it backwards. The 2nd number is the viscosity when at normal operating temp. 5W30 provides a thicker layer of oil in the bearings............because of this thicker cushion fuel economy is slightly lower.

In Winston Cup, the race cars ran a VERY thin oil for qualifying. Less friction and slightly more horsepower and if the engines were damaged, so what, they were qualifying engines and only had to run 2 laps.
I remember about 12 years ago when Ford stated in their owner's manual that oil changes were recommended at 7500 mile intervals. No thanks..........I am not taking any chances by running sewing machine oil in my $25,000 truck.

 

Blown head gaskets are caused by overly lean conditions, by the introduction of liquids to the combustion chamber and by overheating the car. None of these are related to the weight oil you run unless you run out of that oil. Blown spark plugs are caused by some of the same conditions, especially the running lean which is also a by-product of too much boost. Once again neither is related to oil weights.

Just curious, if the TSB is good enough for the L, why not the wife's car?

 

Well, you can reverse that and say, if thinner oil makes your engine work less, why not run 3 in 1 oil in it and it won't have to work at all.

If xW-30 was good enough in 2000 for the same motor with the same tolerances in 2002, then what else changed besides CAFE numbers to make Ford go to 5W-20? Nothing.

 

You got it all backwards. The second number is the actual weight of the oil. The first number is the flow characterstic the oil takes on when cold. All it means is that the oil will reach the furthest point from the pump faster the lower the first number. This is especially critical in cold climates.

 

I emailed Mobil and asked them about using Mobil-1 0w30 or 5w30 in a 2001 Screw. They said that 0w30 would be closest to the viscosity of 5w20, but that I should follow the owner's manual....so, I am using the 0w30....I want the synthetic protection and the quick flow of the lighter oil at startup.

when I used 5w20, there was a slight clatter at startup, and it is gone with 0w30 Mobil-1....works for me.

 

Has anyone actually analyized oil to see what the weight of the oil is?


Any of you folks running dino oil really think it stays in grade for 3000 miles? Some yes will, but alot of other will not.

How about this,

They 10w40 oil in my 99BMW that I ran for over 9,000 miles analyized at a 30wt, it was just 1 number below a 40 weight but still you can see the effects that a compustion engine has on oil.

I would say running 5w20 or 5w30 will be more than enough protection for your truck. If you want the best protection use synthetic.

Lastly one thing when looking at oils that designate better protection is the HT/HS viscosity. This number indicate how well the oil should protect during high temperature operation. (Towing, High Speed Driving....) If you are really interested in protection get an oil that has a HT/HS of over 2.9 you are doing good.

Amsoil's 0w30 has a hths vis of 3.5 Cp.
But their synthetic 5w20 is only 2.9 Cp.

So as you can see the 0w30 offers way more protection than the 5w20 even when they are both synthetic. If you are running a non synthetic 5w20 I wonder what your HT/HS Viscosity is????

 

I had my oil analysed right before and right after I switched out everything to Amsoil 0W-30. I tried to get the stealership to put the reccomended 5W-20 in so I could test it at 3k miles, but the analysis shows they put 5W-30 in it instead. So typical...

If you like I an scan and post the latest oil analysis which shows both next to each other.

 

Michael, I would be interested in seeing your analysis.