Ford 6.2L and oil grades

[GR_CoB]

My friend has a small 2-truck fleet of 2012 F250s with the 6.2L. Well in the summer both got new batteries on the same day, and got oil changes on the same day. The only difference is the oil grade. Even the oil filter was the same Motorcraft. First truck got a dose of Rotella T6 0w40, and the second truck received Rotella 15w40. No big difference in summer, except slightly worse fuel economy on the 15w40 Rotella. But yesterday he had the first 50°F start on both trucks with those oils, and that is where we really saw the difference... Not even close to freezing, but the 15w40 struggled for nearly 7-10 seconds before it started, and then continued with the valvetrain noise for a few seconds, while the 0w40 cranked right up with no weird noises. Both have 4k miles on OCIs and both sat for 8hrs before start up.

 

[GR_CoB]

First truck has 80k miles, second 82k miles.

 

[Zaedock]

15W40 shouldn't "struggle" at only 50*F. You'd probably notice a small difference though.

Not sure why your friend went with that grade when 5W20 is the recommended viscosity.

 

[Branson304]

I'd be getting that 15w40 out ASAP. I currently have two 6.2Ls & had another that I no longer own. These engines are best suited with 5W-20 or 5w30 & no thicker.

Rotella T6 is a 5W-40 by the way, not 0W-40.

 

[gonefishing]

Originally Posted By: Branson304
I'd be getting that 15w40 out ASAP. I currently have two 6.2Ls & had another that I no longer own. These engines are best suited with 5W-20 or 5w30 & no thicker.

Rotella T6 is a 5W-40 by the way, not 0W-40.


Rotella does make a T6 0W-40 but I don't think it's very common. T6 5W-40 is usually what you see in big-box stores here in the US.

I also see no reason to run a xW-40 HDEO in the Ford 6.2 gasser. 5W-20 or 5w30 would be a better choice.

 

[53' Stude]

In CANADA, I believe there is a Rotella T 0w40



https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=2839266

 

[AirgunSavant]

Agreed- My 2015 didn't even like 5w30

Originally Posted By: Branson304
I'd be getting that 15w40 out ASAP. I currently have two 6.2Ls & had another that I no longer own. These engines are best suited with 5W-20 or 5w30 & no thicker.

Rotella T6 is a 5W-40 by the way, not 0W-40.

 

[austinlunsford]

I would use what the manual suggests. Since it's a modular Ford V8, I'm assuming it's 5w20.

Also, there is such a thing as Rotella T6 0w40, I've got a jug sitting right here beside me haha

 

[Ojustracing]

My fleet of 2012 6.2 f-350s get 5/20 Mobil Super. One guy never shuts off his truck and has 9000+ hrs on it. Most of the other truck have about 6000 hrs on them.

 

[GR_CoB]

I've got a jug of 0w40 Rotella sitting in my garage. Most Advance Auto Parts in NC/SC sell it.

 

[GR_CoB]

Originally Posted By: Zaedock
15W40 shouldn't "struggle" at only 50*F. You'd probably notice a small difference though.

Not sure why your friend went with that grade when 5W20 is the recommended viscosity.


It shouldn't struggle in theory, but it did in real life practice. I trust practice more than theory. And he is just a "heavier is better" type of guy.

 

[GR_CoB]

Originally Posted By: Branson304
I'd be getting that 15w40 out ASAP.


He will be getting it out pretty soon. Both trucks should get a dose of Mobil 1 0w40 before it gets colder.

 

[Branson304]

Originally Posted By: AirgunSavant
Agreed- My 2015 didn't even like 5w30

Originally Posted By: Branson304
I'd be getting that 15w40 out ASAP. I currently have two 6.2Ls & had another that I no longer own. These engines are best suited with 5W-20 or 5w30 & no thicker.

Rotella T6 is a 5W-40 by the way, not 0W-40.


Well Ford started recommending 5w30 for the 2016 model year & the 2017s also with no noticeable differences in the engine design & no explanation why. I have 5w30 in both my 6.2Ls currently & they like it just fine. Ford has never back-spec'd '11-'15 6.2Ls to 5w30 but I figured I'd try it anyway.

To those who were correcting me on the Rotella 0W-40: I'm not very knowledgeable on HDEO/diesel oils & I've never seen the 0W-40 in person. Thanks for teaching me something I didn't know. Learn something new every day.

 

[Branson304]

Originally Posted By: Vlad_the_Russian
Originally Posted By: Branson304
I'd be getting that 15w40 out ASAP.


He will be getting it out pretty soon. Both trucks should get a dose of Mobil 1 0w40 before it gets colder.


Why does your friend have such insistence on using thicker oils? Why not just use a 20 or 30 weight oil?

 

[53' Stude]

Branson304: CAFE is a mystery to us all. If I had a hard on for 5w20 in a spec'd 5w30 app I'd buy a Prius

 

[Doublehaul]

As stated the 16 and newer engines call for 5w30. Acording to Mike Harrison, the engineer in charge of the 6.2 program this was done as a result of excessive wear in "some" high mileage applications. He had no idea on future plans to back spec previous 6.2s. No other changes were made to the motor. He also confirmed very real HP and Tprque gains on E85 and 93 octane fwiw.

Off topic...He also state that the only difference in the raptor 6.2 and the super duty 6.2 were more aggressive cams and a different tune in the raptor. These cams were not used in the super duty due to idle quality and durability in the different duty cycles.

 

[Doublehaul]

Also fwiw...the 6.2 is an absolute joy to operate. I've run hd trucks with both the gm 6 liter and the fiat 5.7. I'll take the boss every time...a true workhorse...loads of grunt without the diesel time bomb

 

[jongies3]

I'd run a good 5w30, the 6.2's jumped back to it in the 2016's so there must be something better about it in that application that Ford liked. Why anyone would put 15w40 in anything but a diesel engine in this day and age is beyond me. The oil pumps in those engines don't like oil that thick. Seen lots of Ford modulars make the 300k mile mark running nothing but bargain brand 5W-20, that alone should clear up the myth that thicker oils are better.

 

[Doublehaul]

I've seen a lot of 6.2s with very high mileage run on 5-20 as well...better or worse good enough is good enough. That being said...id run a 30 weight...but make no mistake...a bunch of these trucks are running around on 40wt mixed fleet oil...and it wouldn't worry me a bit to do so.

 

[Branson304]

Originally Posted By: Doublehaul
Also fwiw...the 6.2 is an absolute joy to operate. I've run hd trucks with both the gm 6 liter and the fiat 5.7. I'll take the boss every time...a true workhorse...loads of grunt without the diesel time bomb


I agree. After years of diesels, I went the gas route & never turned back. Plenty of power for my businesses & personal uses & the 6.2 seems to be a rock solid engine. I put over 160,000 towing miles on a 2011 F-350 w/6.2L & still performed like new when I got rid of it for the '15. Always used 5W-20 Motorcraft SynBlend in that one.