Something I've been wondering about and maybe some here can answer: Does Ford actually REQUIRE the use of 5w-20 or RECOMMEND the use??
quote:There is the key. They can try and they most likely will. The result will be a protracted legal case which will cost you more $$ and aggravation and time away from work. No they do not require it, it is recommended. In fact, many dealers were filling with 5w-30 back when the 5w-20 was tough to come by. My dealer said nothing when I gave them my own oil to use for my scheduled maintenance (Amsoil 0w-30). Of course they did mention it when I had the truck in for the cold start piston slap problem. They basically said the first thing they need to do is drain the non-Ford motor oil and fill with the proper 0w-30 which means they have it on their file that I'm not using Ford spec oil. If one wants to be 100% safe and not worry about having to fight a huge corporation like Ford, use the 5w-20 during warranty. Mikep
Originally posted by darkdan: Basically, they can try to blame whatever went wrong on the oil.
quote:Because in some climate and usage conditions it isn't the best choice. I've had quite a few new cars over the years and have never had the oil viscosity checked during engine warranty work. I can see them questioning the oil if its properties are very unusual, but a grade (or two) heavier shouldn't alarm anyone provided you use good judgement in your selection (no oil pump drives sheared off due to high viscosity in very cold weather) I can see the mfg. questioning sludge or varnish caused by neglect however.
Originally posted by crossbow: Why not use it?
quote:Just for your information the MRV TP-1 for the Conoco/Motorcraft 5W-20 oil is 18,000cP@-35*C. Not the 60,000cP@-35*C you said. Mobil 1 5W-30 is 12,700cP@-35*C. So Motorcraft 5W-20 is not that "bad" even when compared to a full PAO synthetic for cold weather starts. Of course a 0W-20/30 true syntetic will pump better in really cold situations. But for the price difference if you don't have those really cold temps the Motorcraft 5W-20 oil is good, especially if you do a lot of short trips and won't want to leave the oil in too long over the winter. It doesn't cost a lot to change and you get fresh oil for the spring or midwinter oil change. Whimsey
Originally posted by heyjay: In extreme cold, most 5W-20's freeze by -40 and hit the MRV 60,000cP limit at -30 to -35. Jerry
quote:I asked Bob that very same question last summer and his exact words were "very unlikely"
Originally posted by BlackF250: You don't have to use it, but it is an excellent oil! I run 5w30 only because Schaeffers does not make a 5w20. If they did I would certainly use it. By the way does anyone know if they plan on coming out with a 20 wt oil?
quote:The Motorcraft oil is a blend, so it still flows ok at colder temps. Otherwise, it would not have an MRV below 20,000 cP at -35 C. Jerry
Originally posted by Whimsey:quote:Just for your information the MRV TP-1 for the Conoco/Motorcraft 5W-20 oil is 18,000cP@-35*C. Not the 60,000cP@-35*C you said. Mobil 1 5W-30 is 12,700cP@-35*C. So Motorcraft 5W-20 is not that "bad" even when compared to a full PAO synthetic for cold weather starts. Of course a 0W-20/30 true syntetic will pump better in really cold situations. But for the price difference if you don't have those really cold temps the Motorcraft 5W-20 oil is good, especially if you do a lot of short trips and won't want to leave the oil in too long over the winter. It doesn't cost a lot to change and you get fresh oil for the spring or midwinter oil change. Whimsey
Originally posted by heyjay: In extreme cold, most 5W-20's freeze by -40 and hit the MRV 60,000cP limit at -30 to -35. Jerry
quote:The Motorcraft oil is a blend, so it still flows ok at colder temps. Otherwise, it would not have an MRV below 20,000 cP at -35 C. Jerry [/QB][/QUOTE] I was under the impression that all 5W-20's that met the Ford spec # had to be blends anyway. And since only Ford and Honda spec 5W-20 oils then it would not make sense for an oil company to make a 5W-20 that could not meet Ford's tougher specs. Whimsey
Originally posted by heyjay: [/qb]
quote:I just looked at the Pennzoil site and they said that the multigrade "dino" Pennzoil meets the Ford spec's for 5W-20. And the UOA we've seen for this oil have been really good. They are cheating themselves out of customer's if they don't put on the bottle that it meet's Ford's specs. I thought I read on this site that it's a blend of Group II+ and Group III. They just don't advertise it as a blend. Similar to Motorcraft calling their 5W-20 a blend and yet Conoco who makes their oil and is the same does not call their 5W-20 a blend. Whimsey
Originally posted by jthorner:quote:I noticed yesterday that Pennzoil dino 5W-20 does not call out the Ford spec on the back of the bottle while Pennzoil Blend 5W-20 ("SUV, etc.") does. This makes me very leary of using the Pennzoil dino 5W-20. Castrol GTX 5W-20 dino does call out the Ford spec on the bottle. Maybe it is really a blend. John
Ford and Honda spec 5W-20 oils then it would not make sense for an oil company to make a 5W-20 that could not meet Ford's tougher specs