Advice needed. 1996 F150, 4.9L

[wtd]

My fiancée's son has a 96 F150 4x4 with the 4.9L straight six. We have been using a 10w30 weight oil since she bought the truck about 3 1/2 years ago. The truck currently has around 160,000 miles on it.

The other day when he changed the oil in it, he accidently grabbed the 5W-20 Motorcraft oil that I had set aside for my 2014 Mustang GT instead of the 10w30 Trop Artic that was for his truck.

I found some charts online that seems to show that Ford has back spec'd 5W-20 for this year truck and engine.

Do you guys think it will be okay with the 5W-20 in it? My fiancée is all freaked about it and chewed his butt for not paying attention to what he was putting in it. (He is 18 years old)

I'm thinking it should be fine, especially with the cold weather. My only concern about it is that he does not keep very good track on when to change the oil and goes over the miles pretty much all of the time. Thanks.

Wayne

 

[Zaedock]

He will be fine!

 

[Danno]

No issues. Good for him on changing the oil.

 

[barkingspider]

agree. 5w20 is fine, but I would go back to 10w30 on the next oil change

 

[Clevy]

I've put 5w-20 in our work van before. It's got 300+k on the original 4.9. No harm done. It may consume some so I suggest checking it often. Other than that I see no real harm.

 

[ECUpirate]

Absolutely no problem for the 4.9L. Should be turned into a good learning experience for him, though.

 

[901Memphis]

No problem actually a good choice. You might try 5w30 next oci.

 

[KD0AXS]

No problem. Look up the word "indestructible" in the dictionary and you'll find a picture of a 300 I-6.

 

[wtd]

Thanks for the replies. I will let her know that he should be fine. They are leaving tomorrow and driving about an hour and a half to take him to where he is starting welding school. He is taking the truck with him and there would have been no time to change the oil again before they leave. He will be keeping the truck with him so I'm sure the oil won't get changed for awhile again.

For future reference, should he go back to 10w30 given the fact that he doesn't change it as often as he should or will one of the lighter weights be fine also. I'm not sure how a 5W-20 or 5w30 will hold up over time in this engine if the oil is not changed as often as it should be.

Wayne

 

[TFB1]

The 4.9 was never back specked for 5W-20... That said it's no doubt fine for winter but I'd change before Summer...

Engine oil recommended for use in 2001 vehicles is SAE 5W-20 motor oil. This
oil has an improved formulation to improve fuel economy. This oil can also
be used to service some previous model year vehicles.
ACTION:
Use SAE 5W-20 engine oil at recommended oil change intervals for 2001
vehicles, with the exception of the following vehicles listed in the
"Exception 2001 Vehicles" chart. All 2001 vehicles other than those listed
in the "Exception 2001 Vehicles" chart are being filled with SAE 5W-20 motor
oil at the factory and should also be serviced with SAE 5W-20 oil.
Vehicle Application Listing Approved For SAE 5W-20 Motor Oil:
1995-2000 2.5L Contour/Mystique
1999-2001 2.5L Cougar 1996-2001 3.0L 4V Taurus/Sable
1999-2001 3.0L (Vulcan) Ranger (Flexible Fuel and Gas), Windstar,
Taurus/Sable (Flexible Fuel and Gas)
1996-1997 3.8L Thunderbird/Cougar
1996-2001 3.8L Mustang and 3.8L SPI Windstar
1997-2001 4.2L (SPI) F-150 (under 8500 GVW only), Econoline
1996-2001 4.6L 2V Mustang
1992-2001 4.6L Crown Victoria/Grand Marquis
1991-2001 4.6L Town Car
1994-1997 4.6L 2V Thunderbird/Cougar
1996-2001 4.6L 4V Mustang Cobra
1995-2001 4.6L Continental
1993-1998 4.6L 4V Mark VIII
1998-2001 5.4L 2V/4V Navigator
1997-2001 4.6L 2V Triton F-150/250 (under 8500 GVW only), Econoline,
Expedition
1997-2001 5.4L 2V F-150/250 (under 8500 GVW only), Expedition,
E-150/250/350, E-350 Chassis/RV/Cutaway
1997-2001 6.8L E-250/350, E-350 Chassis/RV/Cutaway
1999-2001 6.8L Super Duty F-Series 250 HD/350/450/550 Motorhome
2001 2.0L Zetec/2.0L SPI Focus
2001 2.0L Zetec/3.0L Escape
2001 2.0L SPI Escort
2000-2001 5.4L/6.8L Excursion
2000-2001 3.0L Lincoln LS
2001 2.0L Zetec Escort ZX2
NOTE: THE "EXCEPTION 2001 VEHICLES" SHOULD BE SERVICED WITH SAE 5w30 MOTOR
OIL.
Exception 2001 Vehicles:
Engine Vehicle
2.5L Ranger
3.3L Villager
3.9L Lincoln LS
4.0L Ranger, Explorer/Mountaineer, Explorer Sport, and Explorer Sport Trac
5.0L Explorer/Mountaineer
NOTE: IF VEHICLE IS NOT LISTED IN THIS APPLICATION, SAE 5w30 OIL IS
RECOMMENDED. REFER TO TSB 99-8-16.

 

[901Memphis]

Go back to 5w30 in the future. 5w30s are superior to 10w30 these days in most specs.

 

[wtd]

According to this TSB it is backwards compatable.

You folks are pretty savvy. I imagine you might be more familiar with this than I am. I was on the Ford Fleet web site and ran across a TSB on oil viscosity. Apparently, Ford recommends 5W-20 on 1993-2002 model F-150s. I attached the piece here:

Article No.02-1-9
ENGINE - ENGINE OIL - RECOMMENDED APPLICATIONS FOR SAE 5W-20 AND SAE 5w30 MOTOR OILS - GASOLINE AND FLEXIBLE FUEL VEHICLES ONLY

Publication Date: JANUARY 14, 2002

FORD: 1992-2002 CROWN VICTORIA
1993-94 TEMPO
1993-97 THUNDERBIRD
1993-2002 ESCORT, MUSTANG, TAURUS
1995-2000 CONTOUR
1998-2002 ESCORT ZX2
2000-2002 FOCUS
1993-96 BRONCO
1993-97 AEROSTAR
1993-2002 E SERIES, F-150, RANGER
1995-2002 WINDSTAR
1997-99 F-250 LD
1997-2001 EXPLORER
1997-2002 EXPEDITION
1999-2002 SUPER DUTY F SERIES, SUPER DUTY F-53 STRIPPED CHAS.
2000-2002 EXCURSION
2001-2002 ESCAPE
LINCOLN: 1991-2002 TOWN CAR
1993-98 MARK VIII
1993-2002 CONTINENTAL
2000-2002 LS
1998-2002 NAVIGATOR
MERCURY: 1992-2002 GRAND MARQUIS
1993-94 TOPAZ
1993-97 COUGAR
1993-99 TRACER
1993-2002 SABLE
1995-2000 MYSTIQUE
1999-2002 COUGAR
1997-2001 MOUNTAINEER


This article is being republished in its entirety to update the vehicle models, engines and years affected.

NOTE: PLEASE REFER TO THE VEHICLE APPLICATION LIST LATER IN THIS TSB FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF VEHICLES AFFECTED BY THIS TSB.



ISSUE:
Ford Motor Company now recommends SAE 5W-20 viscosity grade for servicing most gasoline and flexible fueled vehicles.

ACTION:
All 2001 and 2002 vehicles where SAE 5W-20 is specified should be serviced at the recommended oil change intervals using SAE 5W-20. This oil is an improved formulation to improve fuel economy. Testing has validated this viscosity grade can be used in many previous model year vehicles. It is recommended ALL vehicles on the following Vehicle Application Listing be service with SAE 5W-20.

All 2001-2002 vehicles other than those listed in the "Exception 2001 Vehicles" or "Exception 2002 Vehicles" chart are being filled with SAE 5W-20 motor oil at the factory and should also be serviced with SAE 5W-20 oil.

Vehicle Application Listing Approved For SAE 5W-20 Motor Oil
1993-1996 1.9L Escort/Tracer
1995-2000 2.0L Zetec Contour/Mystique
1999-2002 2.0L Cougar
1997-2002 2.0L Escort/Tracer
1998-2002 2.0L Escort ZX2
2000-2002 2.0L Focus
2001-2002 2.0L Escape
1993-1997 2.3L Ranger
1993-1994 2.3L Mustang
1993-1994 2.3L Tempo/Topaz
1998-2001 2.5L Ranger
1995-2000 2.5L Contour/Mystique
1999-2002 2.5L Cougar
2001-2002 3.0L 4V Escape
1996-2001 3.0L 4V Taurus/Sable
1993-2002 3.0L (Vulcan) Aerostar/Ranger, Taurus/Sable (Flexible Fuel and Gas)
1995-2000 3.0L (Vulcan) Windstar
1993-1994 3.0L (Vulcan) Tempo/Topaz
2000-2002 3.0L 4V Lincoln LS
1995-2002 3.8L Windstar
1993-1997 3.8L Taurus/Sable, Thunderbird/Cougar, Continental
1994-2002 3.8L Mustang
2002-2002 3.9L 4V Lincoln LS
1997-2002 4.2L (SPI) F-150 (under 8500 GVW only), E-Series
1996-2002 4.6L 2V Mustang
1992-2002 4.6L Crown Victoria/Grand Marquis
1991-2002 4.6L Town Car
1994-1997 4.6L 2V Thunderbird/Cougar
1996-2002 4.6L 4V Mustang Cobra
1995-2002 4.6L 4V Continental
1993-1998 4.6L 4V Mark VIII
1997-2002 4.6L 2V Triton F-150/250 (under 8500 GVW only), E-Series, Expedition
1993-1999 4.9L E-Series, F-Series
1993-1995 5.0L Mustang/Mustang Cobra
1993-1993 5.0L Thunderbird/Cougar
1997-2001 5.0L Explorer/Mountaineer
1993-1996 5.0L E-Series, F-Series, Bronco




2000-2002 5.4L Excursion
1998-2002 5.4L 2V/4V Navigator
1997-2002 5.4L 2V F-150/250 (under 8500 GVW only), Expedition, E-Series, E-350 Chassis/RV/Cutaway
1993-1997 5.8L F-Series, Bronco
1993-1996 5.8L E-Series
2000-2002 6.8L Excursion
1997-2002 6.8L E-Series, E-350 Chassis/RV/Cutaway
1999-2002 6.8L Super Duty F-Series 250 HD/350/450/550 Motorhome
1993-1998 7.5L All Vehicles
NOTE: FOR 1993 THROUGH 1998 MODEL YEAR FFV USE XO-10W30-FFV.



NOTE: THE "EXCEPTION 2001-2002 VEHICLES" SHOULD BE SERVICED WITH SAE 5w30 MOTOR OIL.



Exception 2001 Vehicles

Engine Vehicle
3.3L Villager
3.9L Lincoln LS
4.0L Ranger, Explorer/Mountaineer, Explorer Sport, and Explorer Sport Trac

Exception 2002 Vehicles

Engine Vehicle
2.0L HP Zetec SVT Focus
3.3L Villager
4.0L Ranger, Explorer/Mountaineer, Explorer Sport, and Explorer Sport Trac

NOTE: IF VEHICLE

 

[Flareside302]

he'll be ok.. definitely not preference. it was back-spec'd to 5w20 though.

and as above people have said, look up indestructible. you'll see a 300 I6 (4.9)

 

[demarpaint]

It's a great engine, he should be fine. Just make sure he checks the oil a little more often. Going forward I'd skip the 10W30 and run it on 5W30.

 

[TFB1]

Originally Posted By: Flareside302
he'll be ok.. definitely not preference. it was back-spec'd to 5w20 though.

and as above people have said, look up indestructible. you'll see a 300 I6 (4.9)


They are tough but a good part of the reason is they don't make enough power to harm themselves...

 

[RF Overlord]

Compromise: leave the 5W-20 in there for the winter...it'll be fine. Change to 5w30 when school gets out and use that going forward.

Anecdotal evidence: MC 5W-20 is quieter in my 2000 Grand Marquis than the Mobil 1 5w30 that's in it now. I'm going back to MC at the next OCI.

 

[Flareside302]

Originally Posted By: TFB1
Originally Posted By: Flareside302
he'll be ok.. definitely not preference. it was back-spec'd to 5w20 though.

and as above people have said, look up indestructible. you'll see a 300 I6 (4.9)


They are tough but a good part of the reason is they don't make enough power to harm themselves...


tell that to the EXTREMELY heavy trailers that I've seen em pull even though over loaded towing capacity.

 

[Roadkingnc]

Originally Posted By: TFB1
Originally Posted By: Flareside302
he'll be ok.. definitely not preference. it was back-spec'd to 5w20 though.

and as above people have said, look up indestructible. you'll see a 300 I6 (4.9)


They are tough but a good part of the reason is they don't make enough power to harm themselves...

They made more torque than the 302 v8.

 

[Ramblejam]

Originally Posted By: Roadkingnc
Originally Posted By: TFB1
Originally Posted By: Flareside302
he'll be ok.. definitely not preference. it was back-spec'd to 5w20 though.

and as above people have said, look up indestructible. you'll see a 300 I6 (4.9)


They are tough but a good part of the reason is they don't make enough power to harm themselves...

They made more torque than the 302 v8.

 

[TFB1]

Originally Posted By: Ramblejam
Originally Posted By: Roadkingnc
Originally Posted By: TFB1
Originally Posted By: Flareside302
he'll be ok.. definitely not preference. it was back-spec'd to 5w20 though.

and as above people have said, look up indestructible. you'll see a 300 I6 (4.9)


They are tough but a good part of the reason is they don't make enough power to harm themselves...

They made more torque than the 302 v8.



Maybe at their rated RPM, but once the 302 gets a few revs it's all over for the big I6... Then again that's why they last, rarely rev over 4k RPMs... If a V8 were cammed similar and used high velocity ports(basically poor flowing over 4K RPM), power would be similar if not greater as there are two more cylinders firing for each 360* of crank rotation...

I've driven many work vehicles with the 300, I take the whole motor(V8) any day...