Hello folks I have a 2014 Ford flex. its non turbo and no direct injection. I want extended interval obviously but I take a lot of short trips and idle a lot and I drive and park in a junk yard so it is always breathing crap. Can someone suggest a good quality oil that can stand up to the abuse.
2014 Ford Flex ... Need oil suggestions.
- Thread starter Rust_Belt_Pete
- Start date
BrendanC
$100 site donor 2024
any euro 0w-40/30, Valvoline EP HM 5w-30, PUP 5w-30, QS UP 5w-30, M1 EP HM 5w-30 etc.
Let's start with what the manufacturer suggests: 5W20 Synthetic Blend. I would suggest that most 0W20 and 5W20 oils, in full synthetic, would meet your needs. You can go on Amazon and take advantage of excellent pricing on Quaker State, Castrol GTX, Pennzoil and others. Nothing wrong with Kirkland/Amazon/Supertech, although Kirkland is the easy one to kill on price. It's far more important to change your oil regularly and in your case with harsh operating conditions, frequently.... like every 5,000 miles, so I am rejecting your extended interval idea. I feel that anyone who blows off factory suggestions should at least explain why. If there is some idea that the thicker oils last longer, that is not the case. While the European oils are great, they are not necessary in this application. Good luck. If you are adamant about extended intervals, why not go for HPL, Amsoil or extended Mobil 1, in or close to the factory recommendation.
Alright 5,000 miles is my limit. Another question in that case. If I have really good Purolater or Fram filter is it ok to only swap it out every other oil change if the interval is 5,000?
You can do 2 intervals with a fram ultra no problem.
Valvoline Advanced Full Synthetic 5W20 or 5W30.
It should be Flex-able with any quality full synthetic…
I’ll see myself out.
I’ll see myself out.
With tons of short trips and idle, why not Mobil 1 ESP oil? Either 0w-30 or 0w-20, 30 weight should help with fuel delusion, ESP line is aiming at extending emissions system (cat converter and O2 sensors) life too. Those oils are excellent in wear, sludge etc departments.
If you change the oil every 5k miles and a high quality filter at 10k, then any API certified synthetic will almost for sure keep the engine running long after the wheels have rusted off in Buffalo, NY.
I think you could use API SG conventional every 5k and it would last long after the wheels rust off in WNY
You are giving ford engineering too much credit. This is assuming my PTU or my engine dont blow up before the rust gets me. My PTU is already howling.
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The PTU is a known issue with the Flex for sure, and the 3.5l NA does have the water pump issue in transverse mounted applications, but the Cyclone engine family in general is not plagued by other significant issues that are at all related to oil or premature wear. The likelihood of the 3.5l blowing up for reasons other than the water pump are quite low.
All AWD Flex owners should be servicing the PTU oil regularly, and if wise, they should all look under the hood at every gas-up to check the coolant level in the overflow bottle and pulling the dipstick to look for the chocolate milkshake that indicates the water pump shaft seal is leaking. Changing the coolant more often than called for is smart in these vehicles.
That said, the vast majority will reach high miles without "blowing up" and the choice of oil will not change that to any large degree.
I ownend mine flex since it had 68k miles on it, been changing the fluid every 30k
I bet the PTU oil was super dark on your first change.
it was liquid sparkles
magic expensive liquid sparkles
I could hear the money fairy laugh at me as they flew away with the remaining life of the bearings.
magic expensive liquid sparkles
I could hear the money fairy laugh at me as they flew away with the remaining life of the bearings.
Dang.
Ford says those are the magic unicorn lifetime fluid sparkles. Makes it extra lifetime-y.
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