CarQuest oil and Motorcraft oil

[G1-Focus]

Hello all.

I'm the newbie with the Subie (2006 Impreza WRX) that you helped out, thanks - and yes, I'm back on the dino for break-in.

CarQuest now stocks their own brand of synthetic. I know that it's Valvoline, however what kind/type/level of synthetic is it?

The bottle has the starburst on the front and the API circle on the back and is rated as follows:

API: SM
ILSAC GF-1; 2; 3; 4
Meets SM/SL requirements

They sell it @ $3.99/quart.

Regardless of the brand of oil I use, when the Subie is at its first 6,000 miles I am going to switch to synthetic and continue to change the oil & filter in general every 6,000 miles thereafter.

Now onto the Motorcraft oil.

My focus is a 5-speed and takes Ford's $18.00 or so per quart gear oil; and 2.1 quarts are required.

If I recall correctly, their part number is: QS-MT-X5 or some combination thereof. It is a synthetic oil.

Does anyone know the weight and if there is a less expensive substitute. It's supposed to smooth out shifting, but in the winter the only way the gears do shift smooth is if you warm up the car for a half-hour and let the engine heat-soak the drive-train.

Thanks again for your help.

 

[Big Jim]

The Ford MTX fluid that your Focus calls for is a Castrol product that is not available in the US except with the Motorcraft label. It is a full synthetic, likely a Group III. It is roughly equilivent to GL4 manual trans fluid. It does not meet GL4 specs though. Ford claims that your trans doesn't need a GL rating. Evidently the biggest area of concern when formulating that fluid was sludge resistance, and the Motorcraft stuff does have a very high TBN to resist sludge.

Your transmission, the MTX-75 was used in the Contour before the Focus came along. Until early 2000, that trans came from the factory with Mercon. When the Motorcraft MTX synthetic fluid became factory fill, it also became the new specified fluid for the older Contours. The new fluid was recommended for both top off and refill. It's viscosity is 75W-90.

Any good MANUAL TRANS fluid that is blended for MANUAL TRANS use should work just fine. Not all have proven worthy though, as some sludge related manual trans failures have been reported from using RedLine MTL. Many have reported good results with Royal Purple's manual trans fluid. That's slightly funny because in the past Royal Purple recommended their manual trans fluid for that application and last I checked they now recommend 20W-50 (IIRC) synthetic motor oil.

Two really good fluids for that trans are Specialty Formulations (I don't remember the item name) and Torco (again I don't remember the name) Either one should be less expensive than Ford's stuff and should provide more protection as they are GL rated.

I have the Ford fluid in my own car (98 Contour SVT) with 2 oz of Ford Friction Modifier. It works great. I'm sure I'll try something else when the time comes to change it.

If I were you, I would leave the factory stuff in it until it is out of warranty so they could not have an excuse to deny warranty.

 

[Big Jim]

Bump

Isn't anyone going to comment on CarQuest oil?

 

[mechtech2]

Pennzoil Synchromesh, or Specialty Formulations Synchcroglide will work well.

 

[G1-Focus]

Bump

Anyone regarding the CarQuest brand oil?

 

[JimKJSVT]

I vote for specialty formulations!

 

[Nickdfresh]

quote:

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Originally posted by G1-Focus:
Bump

Anyone regarding the CarQuest brand oil?

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If it's Valvoline synthetic, it's probably a Group III. They only use PAO (GIV) in conventional MaxLife which is an unlisted synthetic blend.

If it were me, and you want to use a cheaper Group III, I'd go for the Shell Rotella Syn 5W-40 for roughly the same price (at Wal-Mart).