5.4L AMSOIL 5-20XL

Status
Not open for further replies.
Originally Posted By: 2010_FX4
Originally Posted By: YANCEY
Have you guys that run ford 5.4 found one oil that seems to do better than others? I have been running motorcraft full synthetic 5-20w but I am no real satisfied with it. the engine seems loader than my friends with the same truck that run syn blend motorcraft 5-20? The truck only has 5k on it so I wont to find a good oil and stay with it.

Pennzoil Ultra 5w-20 has performed perfectly in my 2010 5.4L, but do not take my word for it--scroll up a bit and look at my first 8 UOAs...

Is the engine quite at hot idle with pennzoil?
 
Originally Posted By: Smokefan1977
.The screan allows the Tech to View a pre printed graph of where the reading should be compared to what you are actually seeing I feel this is one reason most 5.4L owners feel their idle is much smoother with 5-30 and expierence quieter operation. Im sure if needed I can rustle up a screan shot next week of exactly what I see when viewing VVT operation on the IDS.


My programmer and datalogs show absolutely no difference between the two viscosities.

Originally Posted By: Smokefan1977
Im not saying 5-20 won't work in these engines, but I do not feel that is drastically hinders VVT operation as many people portray on this forum.


I basically agree. I wasn't sure about that until I started datalogging but I'm pretty satisfied now. I'm not completely through with my tests yet. If this winter is going to be as cold as I think, I'll have the opportunity to see how things go in cold weather.

Originally Posted By: Smokefan1977
The 3V was originally slated to spec 5-30.


Can you back that up with documentation? I have it on good authority, from members on the modular engine team at Ford at that time (who I had occasion to talk to in the course of my work), that it wasn't. I was told that verbally but if you had something printed to counter it, I'd like to know about it. I had a great "in" at Ford Engineering for a while until some PR types found I was talking "out of channels." Got a good deal of engineering info specific to my '05 (which was old news in '08).
 
Originally Posted By: YANCEY

Is the engine quite at hot idle with pennzoil?


I initially thought my 5.4L was quieter with 10W30 but I think I was overcome by the moment. It's now just as noisy as it was on 5W20. Idle noise is normal for the modulars and (with some exceptions) not an indicator of any problem. With only 5K, your truck must be a pretty new one... and it's noisy already? I would have thought that by now Ford would have made some improvements to eliminate cam phaser noise. A couple of years ago there was a TSB about using 10W40 to quiet cam phaser noise when the customer whined too much. Corporate bandaids... sheesh.
 
Originally Posted By: Jim Allen

A couple of years ago there was a TSB about using 10W40 to quiet cam phaser noise when the customer whined too much. Corporate bandaids... sheesh.


If 10W-40 works for that, I'd use it. I can't stand noisy engines. All I
want to hear is the wind stirred up by the belt going around - that's it.
 
The next thing is you if be better to go with 5-30 or 5-20 which would work to best?? Some say go with 5-30 that the engine was built for that oil rating??My truck start fine without any noise at all UNTIL it get hot,then it has a slite tapping or lite knock at idle maybe it normal?? This is my first 5.4
 
Yancey, it sounds like the noise you have in the realm of normal, so don't worry. All the modulars are generally known as "noisy" so you have to "zero" your noise meter to what it's like now and listen for major changes.

It also sounds like you are a bit overwhelmed by the response and debates. We got into the dark nether regions of pedantic debate here when all you wanted was a simple answer to a simple question. Unfortunately, it's the BITOG way and you haven't learned quite enough here yet to be able to pick apart the claims and counterclaims. In time, you will.

In a nutshell, you can't go too wrong following the manufacturer's recommendations. If you went with a 5W30, it's doubtful, almost impossible, that you would experience any problems whatsoever, besides a very slight loss of mpg (not measurable the way you would normally check it). BUT, I, and many others, would contend there is no benefit to a 5W30. So, I guess I'm saying that between those two viscosities in a good oil, there is no wrong answer.
 
Originally Posted By: YANCEY
The next thing is you if be better to go with 5-30 or 5-20 which would work to best?? Some say go with 5-30 that the engine was built for that oil rating??My truck start fine without any noise at all UNTIL it get hot,then it has a slite tapping or lite knock at idle maybe it normal?? This is my first 5.4


Well you could split the difference if that makes you feel better. That's what I've been doing the last couple times more out of necessity. I had a lot of different 5 qt jugs in my stash from sales and when I went to the store to pick up the additional 2 quarts of 5W20 for the 7 quart sump, they were out of 5w20. So my sump has 5 quarts of 5W20 and 2 quarts of 5W30! I've been meaning to do an oil analysis but have not got around to it yet.
 
Thats what I've done several times.. [censored] 7qt sumps. Most of the time I can get the 5w20 MC jugs but they don't have any qts of the 5w20 so I get 2 qts of the 5w30 and mix um all together!

I've had quite a few modular fords and ran everything from Rotella 5w40, 10w30 to MC 5w20 and 5w30, no noticeable differences in any of them as far as noise, MPG's or performance.

I've lately stuck with the MC jugs, they are always available, cheaply priced and good oil.
 
Originally Posted By: YANCEY
Originally Posted By: 2010_FX4
Originally Posted By: YANCEY
Have you guys that run ford 5.4 found one oil that seems to do better than others? I have been running motorcraft full synthetic 5-20w but I am no real satisfied with it. the engine seems loader than my friends with the same truck that run syn blend motorcraft 5-20? The truck only has 5k on it so I wont to find a good oil and stay with it.

Pennzoil Ultra 5w-20 has performed perfectly in my 2010 5.4L, but do not take my word for it--scroll up a bit and look at my first 8 UOAs...

Is the engine quite at hot idle with pennzoil?

Yes; it is quiet. I mean there is the sound of what could be the injectors functioning, but I do not have loud ticking or other sounds coming from the engine. But I cannot imagine that 5w-30 would make that much of a difference in "sound" unless there were something else going on in which case I would not want to mask the problem with a heavier non-specified oil.

If you have not changed your factory oil yet, then it is 5w-20. Is the engine currently noisy?
 
Have you tried 5-30? most will be quiet upon warm up. Most will have a slight shake....I mean I have worked on THOUSANDS of 5.4's and they all pretty much do it. Timing has shown to be off slightly during this time that the 5-30 has actually seemed to help.

The 5.4 3V all show good UOA, I can honestly say I have NEVER seen a normally maintained engine fail in anyway. They are great engines!!
 
Originally Posted By: Smokefan1977
Have you tried 5-30? most will be quiet upon warm up. Most will have a slight shake....I mean I have worked on THOUSANDS of 5.4's and they all pretty much do it. Timing has shown to be off slightly during this time that the 5-30 has actually seemed to help.

The 5.4 3V all show good UOA, I can honestly say I have NEVER seen a normally maintained engine fail in anyway. They are great engines!!

I guess my point is that I see no reason to use 5w-30 when 5w-20 is performing so well. I would be skeptical that I could improve my UOAs with the use of 5w-30 and 5w-20 is what is specified for my engine. I have an extended warranty (that will not last as long as I hoped based upon the rate of miles being applied to the truck) but I want to be sure that I remain in compliance with the warranty as long as it is in effect.

Do you have some UOAs to post from your 5.4 that has consistently used 5w-30? I would be interested in seeing how they compare to 5w-20 (although I understand it cannot be a 1:1 comparison).
 
Well this is what I did.... I went with Amsoil 5-20 signature, and yes the factory oil has been changed. You can't find pennzoil ultra in this town and I checked within 50 miles from here. So I could have went back with motorcraft full synthetic or Mobil 1. I hope I did the right thing??
 
8k on oil 78k on truck
Alum-3
Chromium-0
Iron-5
Copper-4
Lead-4
Tin-1
MolyB-32
Nickel-0
Manganese-2
Silver-1
Ti-0
Pota-0
Boron-273
Silicon-4
Sodium-9
Calcium-2311
Magnesium-7
Phos-615
Zinc-663
Barium-0

Sus Vis- 57.6
Cst Vis- 9.69
Fue-1.0
Insolubles-0.2
TBN- 4.73
 
Originally Posted By: Smokefan1977
8k on oil 78k on truck
Alum-3
Chromium-0
Iron-5
Copper-4
Lead-4
Tin-1
MolyB-32
Nickel-0
Manganese-2
Silver-1
Ti-0
Pota-0
Boron-273
Silicon-4
Sodium-9
Calcium-2311
Magnesium-7
Phos-615
Zinc-663
Barium-0

Sus Vis- 57.6
Cst Vis- 9.69
Fue-1.0
Insolubles-0.2
TBN- 4.73

This is what oil?
 
Pennzoil Ultra 5-30. My last sample was as good with 8k, but the additive package was much stouter on this sample.

Zink was 771
Phos 722
calcium was 3010

wear metals pretty much mirroe this report
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: Smokefan1977
8k on oil 78k on truck
Alum-3
Chromium-0
Iron-5
Copper-4
Lead-4
Tin-1
MolyB-32
Nickel-0
Manganese-2
Silver-1
Ti-0
Pota-0
Boron-273
Silicon-4
Sodium-9
Calcium-2311
Magnesium-7
Phos-615
Zinc-663
Barium-0

Sus Vis- 57.6
Cst Vis- 9.69
Fue-1.0
Insolubles-0.2
TBN- 4.73



21.gif


While I understand that no two engines are the same and that UOAs are not an exact science, I see nothing here that would convince me to switch from 5w-20. My UOAs are just as good; here are my last 6 UOAs with PU 5w-20:

2010fx4060708.jpg
 
I also fail to mention that this includes towing my 8,000LB truck and trailer loaded to Bowling Green KY and back. While your UOA look nice this more proves 5-30 doesn't hurt which has been the arguement. Again people swear better milage with a ever so slighly lighter oil and that these engines won't run right on it and have horrible milage. I have worked on these trucks before this engine was ever released and know better.

I have said it and I will say it again there is nothing wrong with 5-20, but it won't go my 5.4 especially with the duty this truck sees. Keep in mind please 5-20 was not the intended spec for this engine

I will say by the looks of our UOA why would anyone go to the hassle to buy Amsoil. I could not be more happy with Ultra. I wish they had a 0-40
 
Last edited:
5W20 works. 5W30 works. Its all about application.

I run oils from 20 weight to 50 Weight in my 5.0L 4V (admittedly only loosely based on 4.6L). It depends on use. On the street it gets 20 Weight. At Barber it gets 40 weight and at Atlanta 50 Weight.

For a 5.4L that mostly runs empty I would use 20 Weight. For a truck that tows a 8,000 lb high frontal-area camper in the summer I would use 30 Weight.

The Agencies that only use 15W40 HDEO in their entire fleet dont seem to have any issues with the VVT in the 4.6L/5.4L. Despite claims it wont function on thicker oil. The fleets that use 5W20 dont seem to have any increase in engine failures either.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

Jeffrey Behr
AGAIN...what's the 'best' engine oil for me?
2 3 4
Replies
61
Views
2K
Rand
rstcso
Determining the Proper Oil for Your Engine - Email from Lake Speed Jr
2 3 4
Replies
79
Views
3K
Maroon
G
Valvoline 0w-20 not appropriate for my Cmax?
Replies
19
Views
1K
stash80
W
Switching Brands
2
Replies
21
Views
1K
nomas
R
Stocked Up On Next Few OCI's Spending Some Tax Money
Replies
10
Views
835
Bill7
Back
Top Bottom