Ford 2.3L & 3.5L AMSOIL ASM 0W-20

[07MKX]

Greetings: 1st. time poster, 40 year oil changer.

Well, I have 2 vehicles I plan on keeping for a long time, the first is a '05 Ford Escape Hybrid 2.3L, 3517 miles; 2nd. a '07 Lincoln MKX 3.5L, 2224.4 miles. Last night I ordered 4 gal. of AMSOIL ASM 0W-20 Oil for both. The Hybrid will get a Wix filter, Lincoln an AMSOIL Filter. Both are still on the Factory oil, it may seem strange for the Escape, but it has been garaged and hasn't been driven that much in 2.5 years. Actually Ford recommends an oil change on the Hybrid @ 10K miles, and that would be using their Motorcraft 5W-20 blend oil.

I wanted to get the best oil and maintain these vehicles to the best of my abilities as I can, for 15+ years. I need as much feedback from everyone as to where to get my oil analyzed at, the type of analysis, type of Filter for the Hybrid (AMSOIL did not have a listing for the 2.3L Hybrid, I do not know if it's an Engine code H or Z, but it is a 10.3 to 1 compression ratio Atkinson cycle) and any other information I can learn. These are driven like they would be owned by a little old lady/old man, so they will see very little wear and tear and no red-line RPM's. The Lincoln is a Beaut, BTW, and for show, that means slow driving so it gets noticed! Most trips in these will be in the range of 30+ mile round trips, normal city/highway cycles. To be honest, I can not see that the oil must be changed every year, Miles should dictate this, so I have a hard time justifying changing this yearly unless the oil analysis shows something wrong with the oil. I could/might be wrong.

I researched as much as I could before I made the purchase last night, and this post. I was thinking Royal Purple until I saw that so many people go with the AMSOIL. Back in the 70's I had a '74 Triumph TR-6, religiously used Kendall and after 3000 miles, the oil always looked like the day I poured the oil in. In the late 70's used Mobil 1 in a Mopar 318cid. For these Ford engines Synthetic is now the way I want to go.

Enlighten me oh wise ones, and hopefully this thread will help other Ford 2.3 & 3.5 engine users and someone researching the AMSOIL ASM 0W-20 Oil.

 

[Triple_Se7en]

Good choice of brand and weight for both vehicles. All you need is the factory filter brand for both vehicles. I suspect that is Motorcraft.

 

[07MKX]

Thanks for the reply, I have ordered the Wix 57203 Filter for the Hybrid (Filter element/NO canister), and an EAO34 for the 3.5L. I just now ordered prepaid Analyst Kits from Blackstone Lab's. No talk on even maybe a 2+ year life of the oil if it might get 12K miles? Or I guess I'll just go by the reports from the labs. Guess I was looking for too much info. Well thanks for the help. Adios

 

[globey]

I have a 2.3L Duratec engine in my 06 Fusion and have done three oil changes on my vehicle. I just put in the Pure One filter after replacing the Wix/Napa Gold filter (57203). The Napa Gold filter looked great and there was no twisting as was rumored. The Motorcraft filter previously used was also perfect. I suspect you will do just fine with whatever cartridge filter you use. I am just trying different filters in my experimental stage. We'll see how the Pure One filter holds up...this is one filter that was prone to "twisting" in the cartridge set up. The Napa Gold/Wix filter has a LOT more media.

I will be posting my last oil change UOA in a week or so. I was running SynPower with the Wix filter. I'm currently on Amsoil XL 5W-20, but I suspect I will join you with the ASM 0W-20 when I deplete some of my oil stash.

 

[07MKX]

Globey: Do you have any idea why Ford never used a spin-on filter in this engine? Or if there is a retro-fit made for a spin-on?

 

[globey]

You can buy the spin-on adapter. The filter adapter (part #L301-14-311) retails for about $36.45 and the gasket (part # LF01-14-342) is about $5.85.

http://www.mazda6tech.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=47&Itemid=49

There's a comprehensive write up for the install. I personally like the cartridge filter. I can inspect the cartridge media easily when changing the filter. It's really not difficult. Most of the steps aren't needed...for instance, there's really no need to change the small gasket every time. Skip that step and just take off the cartridge cover and change the filter and big gasket. Last oil change took me 15 total minutes from start to finish.

 

[07MKX]

I spent all morning looking over a long list of threads about the conversion, and decided to just get the 76mm 14 flute oil wrench cup (OEM cup style B), for the 2.3L Escape and stay with just changing the element like you. At least I know I can always do this later.

For an even better price:

http://www.trademotion.com/partlocator/i...ategoryID=73739

 

[Pablo]

Yes the ASM 0W-20 will do great in both engines.

Currently (Unfortunately) there is no EaO filter for the 2.3, but the Ford filter will be adequate for annual changes.

Hope you bought the Amsoil from a site sponsor!

 

[07MKX]

Of course, Pablo. Geeze, now I'm not so sure, I thought I did, but looking over the email I got - all it says is it's from [email protected]. I thought I used one of these people here, if not you.

Regardless, with 2 brand new engines, both AL. block and heads, this should work fine for me. Only unanswered question has been leaving the oil unchanged for longer than 1 year. I think for warranty purposes of both Ford and AMSoil, it's better to state, change it yearly. The only problem would be moisture condensation build up, but once the engine came to operating temp. that moisture would boil off easily. It would be the same as a head-gasket leak, the water boils off, leaving the anti-freeze mixed in the oil, and that is what would show up in an oil analysis.

Thank you everyone for your comments, appreciated!

 

[MrCritical]

Call me crazy but I'd change that oil once a year, regardless of mileage.

 

[07MKX]

Your not crazy, but do you have a scientific reasoning for that?

 

[Cutehumor]

Quote:

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Your not crazy, but do you have a scientific reasoning for that?

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change at one year, it's "cheap insurance"

 

[kkreit01]

To stay withi warranty, there's typically a TIME and MILEAGE interval recommended by Ford. Mine are 5K mi, or 6 months.

So, you bought a Hybrid, but never drive it? That means you are "saving the environment" X 2

 

[Steve S]

Engines wear out mostly during the warm up period ,the clearances are different when the parts are up to operating temps and other reasons. Take your lincon and drive it on the freeway 400 miles at a time like you were a long distance trucker and the engine will last and last mileage wise. Drive your car 3 miles shut it off then drive it 3 miles the next day and the engine will not last very long mileage wise . The oil or the filter will not make a difference with your intended use of the cars..

 

[07MKX]

Considering I also have a Harley and an Exploder in the stable, having these 2 other's shouldn't matter. It's the Rolls I really like! It's just the people who only have 1 vehicle and see others that have more and can't figure it out.

So letting my generator sit in the garage for years, with a new oil change on it, or even no oil in it, is bad huh? Or the machinery I work on, that doesn't get a yearly or decade oil change is also? I believe if you read enough article's on oil, It will state that the 'oil' never wears out, it's the additives that get depleted. I also know about a warranty time limit for the oil and vehicle manufacturer. My mileage intervals from Ford are 10K and 7K, Escape and Lincoln respectively, as stated in the first post. I also posted the avg. trips would be roughly 30 miles.

What I last asked was what makes people think oil has to be changed yearly? I'll just let it drop here, because an oil analysis would prove when to change, not based on miles nor time.

Gas Turbine engines use synthetic oil. Those engines do not get their oil changed based on time. They run about 20 hrs/day, day after day after day, after day. They get topped off, until it's time for an overhaul. MAYBE once a year. Often longer.

Your right the oil and filter may not make a difference, but putting on maybe 4K miles per year per vehicle and changing every 2, 2.5 years would also be OK and still the oil probably doesn't need to be changed. And if their isn't any motor problems, directly related to the oil system, their also should not be one problem using excellent oil and filters, agreed?

I'll go with an analysis on the oil to determine change interval, the warranties will expire due to time, not mileage. Oh, BTW Pepboys had the 76mm/14 flute oil change cup for $4. for the Escape filter cartridge change.

Thanks for your feedback people.