My son changed oil in his 200 ford focus and used 10w30 M1 for high mileage engines. The engine has 65K miles on it. I noticed the other day when we were changing the upper CO2 sensor that it had some chatter in the top end for a few seconds, and then quietened down. We live in North Carolina where we get some cold weather in the 20's, during Jan. and Feb. Should he go back to the 5w30 minus the high mileage oil? Does anyone thing the 10-30 is a bad thing?
2000 Ford Focus dbl overhead cam engine
- Thread starter thomasew
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If you get start up clatter go to HM 5w30 and a factory filter.
20's is not that cold. Any 10w30 should have no issues with being in the 20's IMO.
A LOT of people have noise issues with the Mobil 1 products. I'd suggest trying something else and forget about the High Mileagemarketing Oil.
I've never used any and have vehicles over 390k now.
Normal oils have worked for me over the decades.
Take care, Bill
A LOT of people have noise issues with the Mobil 1 products. I'd suggest trying something else and forget about the High Mileage
I've never used any and have vehicles over 390k now.
Take care, Bill
The Zetec is not the quietest engine, but as you noted the noise was more at start up IMO the HM 10w30 is probably a tad thick.
The Zetec my son drives has seen 5w30 here in Southern Californis, but runs better on 5W-20. It is on the forth university student and has well over 150,000 miles (I think over 165,000) and has not missed a beat. Not the smoothest or moet quiet 4 out there, but bullet proof.
Depending on how it has been maintained, possibly AutoRx, MMO or Rislone next oil change.
Also did you change filter brands? Sometimes that makes a difference, although on ours, it has not
The Zetec my son drives has seen 5w30 here in Southern Californis, but runs better on 5W-20. It is on the forth university student and has well over 150,000 miles (I think over 165,000) and has not missed a beat. Not the smoothest or moet quiet 4 out there, but bullet proof.
Depending on how it has been maintained, possibly AutoRx, MMO or Rislone next oil change.
Also did you change filter brands? Sometimes that makes a difference, although on ours, it has not
Bill I saw you just started using M1. How is the noise factor so far? TIA
Originally Posted By: tenderloin
Bill I saw you just started using M1. How is the noise factor so far? TIA
Just changed it 2 days ago and don't drive the car till Sunday (have the truck I cruise around on my days off) so ask me next week.
Last week we had well below zero nights and the car started and was quiet (until the I got moving then the snow tires on snow/ice made enough noise that you could not hear anything else)
The engine has always been quiet except a few OCIs. One time it was a racket until I changed the oil/filter.
take care, Bill
Bill I saw you just started using M1. How is the noise factor so far? TIA
Just changed it 2 days ago and don't drive the car till Sunday (have the truck I cruise around on my days off) so ask me next week.
Last week we had well below zero nights and the car started and was quiet (until the I got moving then the snow tires on snow/ice made enough noise that you could not hear anything else)
The engine has always been quiet except a few OCIs. One time it was a racket until I changed the oil/filter.
take care, Bill
Just about any car is supposed to be able to handle 10w30 at 20F but it still works it harder than a 5w30 or a 0w30 synthetic.
It seems like your son wants to baby his car so a high quality 30 weight oil that doesn't thicken up as much in cold would be easier on his car during the winter. Some good choices are the 0w30 (only available in synthetic) products and some of the thinner 5w30 synthetics such as Castrol Syntec and EDGE.
Now in other seasons, the 10w30 is great but consider a 0w40 because it has just about the same thickness as 10w30s at room temperature but better viscosity at higher temperatures.
Again, although the car is designed to tolerate 5w30 or 10w30 at any season, there are ways to make it easier on your car by fitting your oil to different seasons.
It seems like your son wants to baby his car so a high quality 30 weight oil that doesn't thicken up as much in cold would be easier on his car during the winter. Some good choices are the 0w30 (only available in synthetic) products and some of the thinner 5w30 synthetics such as Castrol Syntec and EDGE.
Now in other seasons, the 10w30 is great but consider a 0w40 because it has just about the same thickness as 10w30s at room temperature but better viscosity at higher temperatures.
Again, although the car is designed to tolerate 5w30 or 10w30 at any season, there are ways to make it easier on your car by fitting your oil to different seasons.
The Zetec was back-speced for 5W-20, why not give that a try? I'm using it in my sister's and it sounds exactly the same as the 5w30 I replaced.
M1 5 and 10 w 30 HM oils are pretty thick for there weight. I thought those cars recommended 5w20, anyway with overhead cams, i think cold weather flow is important and that 10w30HM is pretty thick even at 30deg F. Its not gonna hurt the engine, but maybe just to know, refill with some 0w20 or 0w30 and see if the noise goes away. If you dont want to spend a lot of money, just put some dino 5w20 in there and see if the noise goes away. Just for fun, take a qt of your M1 HM and a qt of 0 or 5w20 and set them in the cold or throw them in the freezor and you will see that they are very very different. It is hard to tell the difference on paper but you will definately feel it. Good luck.
Mobil1 10w30 HM as a pour point of -65F and is probably mostly a PAO based oil (speculation-I know). I don't think mildly cold weather of the mid-Atlantic region should be of concern...
It's designed to be "thick" at temperature, but not as thick as German Castrol SYNTEC 0W-30...
It's designed to be "thick" at temperature, but not as thick as German Castrol SYNTEC 0W-30...
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Use 5-30, not 10-30.
And get the Motorcraft oil filter spec'd for that car.
Motorcraft filters are great, and have the correct anti drainback valving.
And get the Motorcraft oil filter spec'd for that car.
Motorcraft filters are great, and have the correct anti drainback valving.
Perhaps its not the oil weight so much as it is the filter. You didn't say what filter you used. I'd recommend the motorcraft as others have.
10w30 is fine at 20F thats not that cold.
the viscosity of 5w30 and 10w30 arent very different at 20F.
I'd say its more likely a normal engine noise or a bad antidrainback valve on the filter.
also thats the Zetec engine not the duratech.
they were spec'ed for 5w30 then backspec'ed to 5w20 for CAFE Credit as much as any other reason.
the viscosity of 5w30 and 10w30 arent very different at 20F.
I'd say its more likely a normal engine noise or a bad antidrainback valve on the filter.
also thats the Zetec engine not the duratech.
they were spec'ed for 5w30 then backspec'ed to 5w20 for CAFE Credit as much as any other reason.
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According the the Mobil website the Mobil1 EP in 10W30 has a pour point of -45 so it should flow well in winter in most locations. http://www.imperialoil.ca/Canada-English/Files/Products_Lubes/IOCAENPVLMOMobil_1_EP.pdf
Canadian Tire put Mobil 1 EP 10W30 in my daughter's 98 Tercel and I was concerned about the winter temps until I saw the pour point spec.
Canadian Tire put Mobil 1 EP 10W30 in my daughter's 98 Tercel and I was concerned about the winter temps until I saw the pour point spec.
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