Factory Oil Recommendiation Differences

[Gene K]

Just thought I would add a little fuel to the great 5W20 oil debate. Below are the recommended oil weights and service intervals for the same car and engine in three different markets.

2004 Ford Focus 2.0L Zetec

USA 5W20 5000 ml (Ford Spec WSS-M2C153-H Required)
UK 0W30 12500 ml (ACEA A5 Required)
AUS 10W30 9300 ml (Synthetic Required)

Ford Motorcraft Synthetic-Blend 5W20 = 5000 ml
Mobile 1 (USA Spec) Synthetic 10W30 = 9300 ml
German Castrol Syntec Synthetic 0W30 = 12500 ml

Seems to me there are plenty of choices that meet Ford Engineers (in some country) stated requirements for this engine if you are not really thrilled with 5W20 or would like to experiment with longer drain intervals.

Gene K

 

[Jelly]

Just to add my two cents: I was the biggest skeptic around when it comes to the “new breed” of twenty weight oils solely to please fuel economy purposes. I’m a big fan of higher viscosities and high HT/HS values, so these oils never really appealed to me that me.

After some time though, I’ve realized that the twenty weights do exceptionally well in the engines they are suggested for (Ford, Honda, etc.) and I’d have no issues with running something like M1 0w-20 (I will not use mineral PCMO’s...regardless of the viscosity).

 

[TallPaul]

I was just thinking the other day that if you don't like running 5w20 in your new Ford, just lose your owner's manual and order new manual--from Ford Australia!

 

[jbas]

quote:

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I was just thinking the other day that if you don't like running 5w20 in your new Ford, just lose your owner's manual and order new manual--from Ford Australia!

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Have to agree! And a couple of posters keep insisting something to the effect that only the most appropriate viscosity grade is carefully pre-selected (by engineers?) to match the precise design of the engine. PLEASE!!! I would wager its really selected by suited HQ bean-counters trying to match CAFE standards.

Also, I have found it interesting that AMSOIL (love 'em or hate 'em) states it doesn't matter whether you select 0w30 up to 10w30 of their brand oils, if the mfg recommends a 5W grade.

 

[dB]

I think it's understandable that a car in Australia would use a heavier grade oil. I think it's generally warmer down under than here in the US or UK.

 

[RavenTai]

quote:

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Originally posted by dB:
I think it's understandable that a car in Australia would use a heavier grade oil. I think it's generally warmer down under than here in the US or UK.

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An Australian car may see higher temps than the northern US or all of the UK but not the southern or especially south west US, when you look at the Toyota recommendations for the US and Aus by temperature there is a much wider and thicker range recommended in AUS


In the US 5w30 only

In Aus:
Petrol (1FZ-FE)
20W/50 -7 to 38
15W/40 -12.5 to 38
10w30 -18 to 38
5W/30 -29 to 10

What is interesting in AUS you are not to use 5w30 (the US CAFÉ weight) when temperatures are above 10C (50F)

 

[Dr. T]

What I want to know is how long do people keep their cars in AUS? ie. if you live in Detroit for eg. and the car rusts out in 5 years/100k mi., then what difference does it make what viscosity is used during that period?

 

[KW]

I don't know but I am still driving my 39 year old pick-up truck. It started life with HD30 and now uses 15W40.

 

[TallPaul]

quote:

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Originally posted by dB:
I think it's understandable that a car in Australia would use a heavier grade oil. I think it's generally warmer down under than here in the US or UK.

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True. But only the "w" number is very important for cold weather, so the 20 back number is really not needed around here. There are good, thicker alternatives for winter weather, such as 5w40 synthetic or 0-w30 synthetic.

 

[427Z06]

quote:

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Originally posted by KW:
I don't know but I am still driving my 39 year old pick-up truck. It started life with HD30 and now uses 15W40.

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Cool....how many miles you got on it? All original parts?

 

[sprintman]

I believe people keep their cars longer here. Mines an 89 and not classed as old. Still 60's cars on the road but fewer in number than a few yrs back.

 

[KW]

185K all original until it sunk a few exhaust valves. 1965 to 2002, that's a whoping 5K a year. Hum, I thought we drove it more than that.

 

[Geoff]

This is interesting stuff. I remain cynical about motives of the automakers and CAFE requirements. I don't think they are recommending Xw-20 for the added 1.5hp it might make.