0w30 in vehicle recommended 5w20

[Kuato]

OK so I've got the '13 F150 with the 5.0. Manufacturer's specified oil is 5w20. I live in northern Montana, where winter starts can be as cold as -35 for a couple of months, so I know I need a synthetic 0wxx oil for the winter. Temps in the summer usually get over 100F, so a thicker oil may be indicated.

Although the Ford specified oil is 5w20, I feel that 0w30 will be a good oil for the engine. I have several reasons which include that Ford specifies 5w50 for the Mustang with the same engine, and Euro specifications are also for a thicker oil. Several manufacturers recommend 30 weight oil for high stress (temperature, mountains, high speed) operations even though a 20w is recommended overall.

All of these indicate to me that a 0w30 will do well in this engine. I've spent some time on the various F150 forums, and a few folks on there are running 30 weights without issue.

So I ask the BITOG experts: What are your thoughts?

 

[Merkava_4]

I'd go to 5w30 Motorcraft is what I'd do.

 

[toyota62]

http://www.fuchs-oil.com/2403.html?&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=123&cHash=e06cc71200919cf642adc9d2814994a0

FUCHS LUBRICANTS sign as official partner for 2003 CARRERA CUP

THE Australian Carrera Cup will have an official oil supplier for its 2003 championship following the announcement of Fuchs Lubricants as an official partner of the series. This is a core part of the new partnership that has been finalised between Porsche Motorsport and Fuchs in the Australian market.

Each and every Porsche 911 GT3 Cup race car which competes in the nine-round championship this year will use Fuchs GT1 engine oil in its 3.6-litre, flat-six Boxer Porsche engine, with the first hit-out of the highly-anticipated category firing up at the Foster's Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park from March 6-9.

Fuchs GT1 is a brand new technology engine oil. The first 0W20 engine oil in the world, it is zinc-free and designed to deliver greater performance in high performance engines.

Fuchs Lubricants (Australasia) Managing Director Wayne Hoiles is excited about the new partnership with the Carrera Cup, which runs through to the end of the 2005 season.

"We're the leading independent lubricant specialist in the industrial market and this is part of our program to promote our extensive range of high performance lubricants for the automotive market," he says.

"Fuchs is the largest supplier of first fill oil to the German car industry and we've been growing in Australia and, indeed, racing, over the past few years. We're building a premium brand and being involved with a specialist category like the Carrera Cup and Porsche Motorsport is excellent."

Just as excited about the new partnership is Porsche Cars Australia Managing Director, Michael Winkler.

"We focus on quality and high performance and that's where we have a common goal, as well as the cultural fit by being family-controlled companies with German origins and high-performance engineering backgrounds," he says.

All drivers will be utilising the potent Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car in this year's inaugural series. Left-hand drive and capable of producing 380 horsepower, each car has been built by the factory in Stuttgart, Germany, and the category is the main support for the highly-successful V8 Supercar Championship Series.

 

[rccsofla]

I have a 2013 Mustang with the 5.0 engine and the owners manual and oil filler cap says to use 5w-20 weight oil.

 

[rccsofla]

I think you may be thinking about the Boss 302 or the Shelby Cobra's engines.

 

[KD0AXS]

The Mustang 5.0 with the track pack calls for 5W-50, without the track pack they call for 5W-20.

I think Ford has pretty well proven that 5W-20 works well in their engines, I see no reason to go up a grade. If you're worried about the cold, run a 0W-20 in the winter. I run 5W-20 in my F-350 year round here in MN.

 

[LotI]

I would disagree that you need to go up a grade because the ambient temp is high. Your thermostat maintains the proper operating temp for your engine.

I would agree with you on two points, though.
~ 0w30 oils typically are on the low end of HTHS and may shear to a 20w anyway.
~ Ford recommends a Xw30 grade when the GVWR is over 14,000 pounds in the HD trucks, although they don't use this engine.

I would compare the HTHS values of the oils you are comparing and the Xw30 oil may only be ~10% thicker... not a big deal.

 

[Garak]

I bet Mobil will stand behind Mobil 1 0w-20 for your application.

 

[KrisZ]

Originally Posted By: LotI
I would disagree that you need to go up a grade because the ambient temp is high. Your thermostat maintains the proper operating temp for your engine.


I would disagree with your disagree because there are manufacturers out there that actually recommend just that, going up a grade exactly because the coolant thermostat regulates coolant temperature, NOT oil temperature.

Now, in this particular case I would stay with 5w20 because this vehicle either has an oil cooler, or at least oil/coolant heat exchanger, or like in the Mustang, the ECM will reduce engine power when the oil exceeds certain temperature to protect the engine, that is why Ford is confident in using 5w20 all year round and for all situations.

 

[toneydoc]

Go with the German Castrol 0w30. Will be fine in that engine in winter or summer.

 

[virginoil]

Originally Posted By: KrisZ
Originally Posted By: LotI
I would disagree that you need to go up a grade because the ambient temp is high. Your thermostat maintains the proper operating temp for your engine.


I would disagree with your disagree because there are manufacturers out there that actually recommend just that, going up a grade exactly because the coolant thermostat regulates coolant temperature, NOT oil temperature.

Now, in this particular case I would stay with 5w20 because this vehicle either has an oil cooler, or at least oil/coolant heat exchanger, or like in the Mustang, the ECM will reduce engine power when the oil exceeds certain temperature to protect the engine, that is why Ford is confident in using 5w20 all year round and for all situations.


How does the Mustang, the ECM distinguish between the 5w20 and 5w50 oils. Are you implying here that for a 5w20 the ECM will reduce engine power but not for a 5w50 oil.

If the ECM is monitoring engine oil temperature does 5w50 run cooler than the 5w20.

Or are both 5w20 and 5w50 oils throttled back when the oil reaches a certain temperature.

I am not clear how the ECM know what it needs to reduce power based on oil grade?

 

[Roob]

What does your warranty state about using 0w30?
That's what would be first on my concern list if I had a brand new vehicle and was considering deviating from the specced oil.

 

[bigjl]

In the Scooby tuning world specialists go from 5w30 to 5w40 and 5w50.

When the only change to the engine itself is related to bolt.on bits and the mapping of the ecu.

The only reason i can see for that is extra protection.

Many specialists in the UK also advise going for the thicker oil even in a standard WRX.

I don't think it will have any negative effectives.

Have used 5w30 and 5w40 in the Pathfinder and it made no discernable difference.

That engine was specced for 5w40 in earlier Euro3 variants. And as both oils had similar saps level there would be no difference to the emissions systems, which was the only difference between the Euro3 and Euro4 engines anyway.

I was happy it was beneficial during the summer months.

The vehicle gets much less harsh treatment now so 5w30 all year it is.

 

[KrisZ]

Originally Posted By: virginoil
How does the Mustang, the ECM distinguish between the 5w20 and 5w50 oils. Are you implying here that for a 5w20 the ECM will reduce engine power but not for a 5w50 oil.

If the ECM is monitoring engine oil temperature does 5w50 run cooler than the 5w20.

Or are both 5w20 and 5w50 oils throttled back when the oil reaches a certain temperature.

I am not clear how the ECM know what it needs to reduce power based on oil grade?


The ECM has no way of knowing what grade oil is in the sump. The ECM will throttle back the engine power regardless of which oil is used as long as a certain temp. is reached. That is because regular Mustangs, without track pack, recommend 5w20 oil. Using 5w50 oil in those models, without reprogramming the ECU is simply pointless.

 

[bigt61]

"I know I need a synthetic 0wxx oil for the winter" My question would be - How did cars ever start before these miracle 0W oils were around? I'd just run Pennzoil Platinum 5W-20 year round, it's already thin enough.

 

[Hokiefyd]

Originally Posted By: bigt61
How did cars ever start before these miracle 0W oils were around?


Not nearly as easily as they would have if they had 0W- oils, that's how.

OP, run whatever you want. If you're considering 0W-30, you're obviously not concerned with warranty implications...so just run what you like. You will likely not notice such a change in grade with a larger V-8 engine. I've used 0W-20, 5w30, 0W-30, and 5w30 in our engines and prefer the -30 grades because the engines are smoother and quieter...but we have a 4 and a 6...the change might not be as dramatic in a V-8. I'm sure they're not getting "better protection", and I'm sure I'm losing "some" fuel economy. I don't care. I like the -30 better so that's what I use.

More evidence that a bump (or two) in grade probably won't change much is Ford's own recommendation to use a 5W-40 in those Modular V-8s with cam phaser noises. These are 5W-20 engines and Ford recommends a 5W-40 if you have noise. The 5W-40 obviously isn't doing any harm in them.

Try it and see if you like it.

 

[johnachak]

Originally Posted By: Roob
What does your warranty state about using 0w30?
That's what would be first on my concern list if I had a brand new vehicle and was considering deviating from the specced oil.


+1 After the warranty period you can go for the 30wt.

 

[gregk24]

Originally Posted By: bigt61
"I know I need a synthetic 0wxx oil for the winter" My question would be - How did cars ever start before these miracle 0W oils were around? I'd just run Pennzoil Platinum 5W-20 year round, it's already thin enough.


Sure they started, they also started and suffered unnecessary wear.

 

[tig1]

Mobil 1 0w20. You'll gain nothing with a 0-30 oil.

 

[Jasper8146]

Are you running under any unusual stress during the summer such as heavy trailer towing at high speeds when it's 100 degrees plus? If not, I agree you're safer while it's under warranty to use the 5W-20. Actually, I think you would be safe to use the Ford Motorcraft 5W-20 because I have read in many places that it is pretty good oil. My understanding is that Ford has actually tested their engines in pretty extreme conditions and they do just fine on 5W-20. When I first got our 2003 Acura MDX back in 2007, I initially ran Amsoil 0w30 and Redline 0w30 because I thought this is a big vehicle, it gets really hot here in Kansas (at least some years), and 5W-20 just has to be too thin to really protect the engine. As I read more posts on BITOG and elsewhere, I discovered that 5W-20 really was safe for my engine unless I was consistently pulling a heavy trailer up a mountain grade in Arizona in the hottest part of the summer (and probably would be safe even then too!). So, while it's under warranty for sure I would stick with a good brand of 5W-20 because going up a grade to 0w30 would be potentially be grounds for denial of a warranty claim should there ever be one (heaven forbid). I just don't see any potential benefit really to 0w30 and I think you are potentially risking your warranty coverage. Good luck!