Hello. Long time lurker first time poster. I am a full time Mechanic. I have a 1999 Ford Escort ZX2 with the 2.0l DOHC Ztec engine with a 5 spd MTX. I have been a long time Shell Rotella user. I run it in everything. Anyway, I recently switched from 10w-30 Rotella to 5w-20 Motorcraft Synthetic blend oil to help increase fuel economy. I always run a Motorcraft FL-400S filter.
After the first oil change (done every 2,000 miles) I noticed the Motorcraft oil was quite clean compared to the Rotella. Knowing that there is less detergents in the gasoline oil compared to the Diesel Rotella. But the change was quite considerate. I recently heard that Rotella has pulled all zinc from their oils. Is this true?
I am looking for a new oil recommendation. I am looking for the lightest weight oil for my application. I want to stay with dino oil as well. Unless I can be convinced to make the switch to synthetic. I am a huge fan of frequent oil changes (or a bypass oil filter system) The car has, 105k miles on it. I live in south Florida. Temps range from 110*-40*F depending on the season. I usually change the oil weight up or down depending on expected temperatures. I drive the car mostly on the highway (55MPH @2600RPM & 65MPH @3100RPM) for 30-40 minutes 7 days a week. The car does see a fair amount of city driving. By most peoples definitions, I drive the car hard. It will see WOT on a daily basis.
I was eyeballing Amalie oils but cant find too much on their products. I also refuse to knowingly run any BP products. I used to be a diehard Castrol GTX user but since stopped.
Any questions or comments are welcome. Thanks in advance. (sorry for the lengthy post)
1999 Zx2 2.0 Ztec oil recomendation
- Thread starter 95ImpySS
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The Motorcraft Semi-Syn is a great oil....and I would continue to use it. Its priced very close to most major dino oils.
But.....with your driving habits.....changing oils at 2000.... is just a waste of time... good oil... and $$$.
Extend your OCI to 5000....which can easily be done with Motorcraft Semi-Syn. A 5w30 can be used year round.
BTW....most oils will look clean... after just 2000 miles (if you have a clean engine).
My good buddy bought a 1998 ZX-2 Escort 5-speed 1 year old in 1999. He drove it for about 9 years, and got 130k miles out of it at the end.
He drove the living, holy heck out of that car - almost every shift was at the redline, he cruised it on the highway at close to 4k for hours at a time. He got the oil changed at QL's ever 5-6k miles, and it was usually either GTX or Petro-Can convetional.
He never had a lick of trouble out of it, it ran like a top, and used about 1/2 quart of oil every OC.
Seriously, don't over-think the oil - engine calls for 5W-30, so grab whatever 5W-30 is on sale, and change it ever 5-7k.
Originally Posted By: 95ImpySS
I recently heard that Rotella has pulled all zinc from their oils. Is this true?
Originally Posted By: 95ImpySS
By most peoples definitions, I drive the car hard. It will see WOT on a daily basis.
I am an expert on that car and engine.
That engine was originally spec for 5-30.
So either a 5-20 or 5-30 is fine.
MC or PYB are great. Oil in 5-20 will be very slightly better for your needs. Don't bother searching for any 'best' oil.
http://teamzx2.com/forum.php?
Lots of tips and mods for the car. Bring coffee.
Try my resistor trick in the '40 MPG+' sticky.
I have an 02 zx2 with about 103k on the clock. The better half drives it about 35 miles each way to work everyday. I change the oil at 5k using 5w20. Have used motorcraft but now switched to PYB. The only reason for the switch was to keep it on the same oil as my truck which is slightly quieter with the pennzoil. Those motors are easy on oil I never have had to add any between changes.
PYB 5w30!
I have a bought new a 1996 Contour with that 2.0L Zetec & 5 speed MT. It's my "very poor man's BMW". It's been a blast to drive and very reliable. I've used mainly synthetic, Castrol, QS, Mobil 1 and blends, Schaeffer Supreme Blend 5W-30. I usually change the oil and filter in the 5,000 to 8,500 mile range. I also use a regular course of LC20 in the oil and FP60 in the fuel. The head is spotless from what I can see through the oil fill. We're taking the car again this year back to Key West from NJ. At 75ish mph I still get about 35 mpg and it's a great highway car. It's in a heated garage in the winter so that's helped preserve the car.
Whimsey
My 99' Zx2 has 204k miles on it. I have used Royal Purple synthetic oil since it had 40,000 miles. It doesn't use a drop between changes. I run it to the extremes for the most part. It will idle for and hour and then it will see 7,000rpms, then Idle for 30 minutes, then get 7,000rpms again. It has been treated that way since I got it at 40,000 miles. My 5-6k mile UOAs come back good. My oil is pitch black after 2,000 miles or so, It's just been like that forever. The motor mounts are weak links. I put an alternator on it at 195k miles, which I did in 20 minutes. The 5spd I heard is a good trans if its serviced and not abused. Most of these cars get trashed by teenage kids who put intakes and rims on them.
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Originally Posted By: pbm
I've seen several of those Zetecs with well over 200K so I know it's a good motor. I'd use 5w20 in winter and 5w30 in summer.
Mechtech2: How durable are the tranny's....I seem to see them for sale with tranny issues a lot?
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Originally Posted By: mechtech2
Originally Posted By: pbm
I've seen several of those Zetecs with well over 200K so I know it's a good motor. I'd use 5w20 in winter and 5w30 in summer.
Mechtech2: How durable are the tranny's....I seem to see them for sale with tranny issues a lot?
Glad to hear the engine is stout and reliable. I had a 98 which I bent a shift fork in. I'll be taking it easy in this one. So 5w-20 is good to run. I will be switching around from the Motorcraft. I'm not happy with the detergents in it. Rotella did a much better job IMO with keeping the engine clean. I may do a mix of a very thin oil and 30w Rotella. I'll get more detergents and still have a thin oil.
I'm considering switching filters as well. I cannot find a avg micron efficiency rating for the FL400S. Wix claims that their filter does a Nominal Micron Rating of 21
Got 175k on ours (99 mtx). was my daughter's till 80k, mine till 160 k, my sons at present. Always used 5/30, havoline, pennzoil, motorcraft, mobil 5000, and a couple of high mileage oils. FL 400 or Supertech 8316 IIRC.
OCi every 5k, per the book (long OCI), still doesn't burn enough to add between changes, still gets 30+ mpg local driving, 27+ w/ winter gas.
A friend of my brother bought his (a twin to mine), and it now has a driveline problem (CV, trans output bearing/) and he's giving it back to my brother.
I'm probably going to swap the front sheet metal from it, install the "custom body work" that my son did to it, and turn it into a 24 Hours of Lemons car. Great little car, great little engine...
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