Castrol GTX 5w-20 5.1k mi; 2014 Ford 3.5L Cyclone n/a 137k mi

[Rust_Belt_Pete]

Not counting the internal water pump issue this engine is an absolute wonder. Keep in mind I drive with a LEAD foot and it screams quite often.
I also do have some supertech 5w-30 20k mile oil in it now. This vehicle takes a lot of short trips and idles a lot.

 

[fantastic]

You may be hard on your Ford, flexing its horsepower but it sure didn't bother the oil one bit.

 

[Rust_Belt_Pete]

I kid I kid!

 

[dnewton3]

The n.a. Cyclone engines (3.3, 3.5, 3.7) are some of the best engines Ford ever made. They wear like they're made of granite, return decent fuel economy, and have good power. They run clean (low insolubles and soot), and present few problems other than the infamous internal water pump.

When I had my 2018 Taurus (same engine), I ran 12k miles on conventional ST 5w-20 and got less than 1ppm/1k miles of Fe. The subsequent run of 10k miles with HPL also had less than 1ppm of Fe per 1k miles. IOW, these engines just don't care as long as it's a decent lube in the crankcase. The use of conventional and uber-premium syn didn't make much difference in terms of wear.

Thread 'Ford 3.5L at 50k mi / HPL 5w-30 at 10k mi'

Apr 17, 2023

My most recent extended run in my 2018 Taurus n/a 3.5L. Typical mixed use; city and highway.

To help this make sense, here is an OCI history:
- at 1k miles, the oil/filter was changed with dino ST (first "break in" flush of the OEM machining remnants)
- at 5k miles, the oil/filter was changed with dino ST (second "break in" flush)
- at 10k miles, the oil/filter was changed with dino ST
- at 20k miles, the oil/filter was changed with dino ST
- at 32k miles, the oil/filter was changed with dino ST; first UOA on the 12k mile oil run, see below
- at 40k miles, the oil/filter was changed with...

• dnewton3
• Replies: 29
• Forum: Used Oil Analysis - Gasoline

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