Ford changes oil grade recommendations for 2016

[3311]

Ford is not going to change anything they have already back speced. Whats the TSB going to say "Oops we made a mistake"? That would open them up law suits.
They will just rectify their mistake moving forward by requiring a 5w30 where needed.

 

[Farmer]

Originally Posted By: TiredTrucker
30w oils seem to be more the de facto standard nowadays. Some are going up to 30w from 20w and others are dropping from 40w to 30w. Makes it very nice. I can use pretty much the same grade oil across the spectrum.

Up till now, CAFE stuff did not apply to class 2 or higher trucks. That is all changing. Even the Class 8 semi trucks are coming under scrutiny by the gooberment for mpg improvements. They are changing the oil classifications for those applications as a result.


Yeah for the Medium Duty / Heavy Duty applications they seem to be pushing this 10W30 stuff. Some even pushing 5W30 CJ4 synthetic stuff.

 

[crazyoildude]

My neighbor just bought a beautiful 2016 full size Santa Fe 3.3 v6 and the oil cap says 5w30 and this engine is just as noisy as my 2011 santa fe with the 3.5 v6 upon cold start up but when warm its just as quiet and also very powerful. I am using 5w30 Quaker State Ultimate Durability in my 2011 Santa Fe as we speak it has been in there for 4 months so far and all is good.

 

[demarpaint]

Originally Posted By: akela
Originally Posted By: Eddie
Maybe the engineers finally won out on what THEY always wanted for their engines. Ed

Engineers have a habit of designing for the "worst cases".
For automotive engines, the worst case would be: wide throttle, high RPM for the extended period of time. I am quite sure that Xw20 is noticeably underperforming in such conditions (although it may work fine under all other use cases).


When they were specing 5W20 weren't they designing for the worst cases? I heard that here many times before, about all the testing under the worst conditions. Like towing across the desert in 100F+ temps, etc. The more I think about it the more I think they had problems, and aren't about to share it with the car buying public. Now the question is will some of the other mfgs. making trucks that might actually see HD use follow suit? Time will tell.

 

[UNC151]

Originally Posted By: Merkava_4
Originally Posted By: stower17
Does anybody know if perhaps the engines have different clearances between certain parts, thus warranting 5w30?
I can almost guaranty you the clearances haven't changed. There's probably been some ruined engines that the general public doesn't know about. Bearing failures and worn out piston rings before the engine gets out of warranty - costing Ford money.
With the Internet amplification that runs wild these days? Highly unlikely...

 

[alarmguy]

Originally Posted By: advocate
Interesting... For 2016 Ford recommends 5w30 for all gas engines in the superduty. The 6.2L V8 and 6.8L V10. Up until this year they have been recommending 5w-20 for both engines... So why the change after multiple years of both engines on 5w-20?


Because 5w30 protects better and they found the 5/20 not performing as well for the almost immeasurable benefit to MPH that the 5/20 was giving.

 

[TFB1]

Originally Posted By: 69GTX

Owner of five different 4.6L Ford/Mercury/Lincolns from 1986-2016.

WOW, you bought a 4.6 FIVE years before they were introduced in the '91 Lincoln Town Car, how'd you manage that one???

I've owned five Grand Marquis(as well as a 4.6 T-Bird & 32v Marauder), my '86 and all Crown Vic-Grand Marquis before '92, used the Windsor 5.0... Through '91 the carbed 5.8 was avail as a US police option and with tow package for Canada only(there's that CAFE thing again)...

 

[Garak]

I would gather it may make more sense to Ford, if they're pushing a lot of DI and there's fuel dilution.

 

[akela]

Originally Posted By: demarpaint
Originally Posted By: akela
Engineers have a habit of designing for the "worst cases".
For automotive engines, the worst case would be: wide throttle, high RPM for the extended period of time. I am quite sure that Xw20 is noticeably underperforming in such conditions (although it may work fine under all other use cases).

When they were specing 5W20 weren't they designing for the worst cases? I heard that here many times before, about all the testing under the worst conditions. Like towing across the desert in 100F+ temps, etc. The more I think about it the more I think they had problems, and aren't about to share it with the car buying public. Now the question is will some of the other mfgs. making trucks that might actually see HD use follow suit? Time will tell.

Of course they've tested it under severe conditions; but the question is, what was the result? It may greatly vary from "barely acceptable" to "excellent".

And, yes, engineers often work under pressure from the management side to re-prioritize the criteria. Like, fuel economy over reliability/longevity.

 

[69GTX]

Originally Posted By: TFB1
Originally Posted By: 69GTX

Owner of five different 4.6L Ford/Mercury/Lincolns from 1986-2016.

WOW, you bought a 4.6 FIVE years before they were introduced in the '91 Lincoln Town Car, how'd you manage that one???

I've owned five Grand Marquis(as well as a 4.6 T-Bird & 32v Marauder), my '86 and all Crown Vic-Grand Marquis before '92, used the Windsor 5.0... Through '91 the carbed 5.8 was avail as a US police option and with tow package for Canada only(there's that CAFE thing again)...


Thanks for the correction. Make that 3 Windsor 5.0's and 3 of the modular 4.6L. Both types with about 300K-350K miles each.

 

[demarpaint]

Originally Posted By: akela
Originally Posted By: demarpaint
Originally Posted By: akela
Engineers have a habit of designing for the "worst cases".
For automotive engines, the worst case would be: wide throttle, high RPM for the extended period of time. I am quite sure that Xw20 is noticeably underperforming in such conditions (although it may work fine under all other use cases).

When they were specing 5W20 weren't they designing for the worst cases? I heard that here many times before, about all the testing under the worst conditions. Like towing across the desert in 100F+ temps, etc. The more I think about it the more I think they had problems, and aren't about to share it with the car buying public. Now the question is will some of the other mfgs. making trucks that might actually see HD use follow suit? Time will tell.

Of course they've tested it under severe conditions; but the question is, what was the result? It may greatly vary from "barely acceptable" to "excellent".

And, yes, engineers often work under pressure from the management side to re-prioritize the criteria. Like, fuel economy over reliability/longevity.


I truly believe they tested it, and agree with what you said. Maybe now they realized they could have better results, and less problems with a 30 grade oil. Something sparked the change.

IIRC the word "adequate, ample", and a few other choice words were used when 5W20 was mentioned in testing. I mentioned it in some threads took a bit of heat for it. Those were words that never left me feeling warm and fuzzy. I was all for 5W20 when I bought my 08 Liberty and following mfg specs etc. But to be honest I was never comfortable with the one size fits all mentality of my 08 Liberty owners manual when it came to the oil choice, 5W20 PERIOD in any and all conditions. Especially when prior years used 5W30, and nothing changed with the engine internals. Then I learned about CAFE credits etc. a while ago and now decided next time I change my oil in it I'm moving to a 30 grade. The .0001 mpg I'll lose I can live with.

As I said earlier, it will be interesting to see what other auto makers say. The Pentastar engine started life running on 5W30, then they changed over to 5W20 only. Now you can use either 5W20 or 5W30 in it. The flip flop is interesting..

We all know that 20 grade isn't going to destroy engines, that's not what I'm saying. I just find Ford's change of heart interesting, and enlightening.

 

[KrisZ]

I don't like this change at all. Ford just threw away the superior cold start protection XXw20 oils offer. I think people should start thinking about getting block and oil pan heaters, especially those living in CA, FL, TX etc.

Merkava especially should take notice.

 

[itguy08]

I think you are missing the simple explanation....

Ford sells Ecoboost engines which, with the exception of the 3.5 in the 2010 vehicles all spec 5w30.

Ford sells NA engines that spec 5w20.

Government and other fleets have been buying Ecoboost (Taurus PI, Explorer PI) and non-Ecoboost vehicles (Everything else).

Perhaps they are getting to one oil standard? There have been many cases on the F150 forums of dealers and others putting 5w20 in EB trucks and I'd imagine to lessen stock requirements and fleet confusion they are slimming the oil choices down.

You don't hear about many oil related truck engines in Fords. Some spit plugs and have noisy phasers but they generally run and run...

There's, what close to 20 years of 5w30 Fords running around and they are not popping engines left and right.

 

[Nate1979]

I didnt see anyone mention this yet but looks like Ford increased the GCWR for the 2016 6.2 F250/350. Does not the new 2016 get the new front end as well? Possibly the played with the cooling, increased the towing capability and decided thicker oil was required.

 

[wemay]

Originally Posted By: itguy08
I think you are missing the simple explanation....

Ford sells Ecoboost engines which, with the exception of the 3.5 in the 2010 vehicles all spec 5w30.

Ford sells NA engines that spec 5w20.

Government and other fleets have been buying Ecoboost (Taurus PI, Explorer PI) and non-Ecoboost vehicles (Everything else).

Perhaps they are getting to one oil standard? There have been many cases on the F150 forums of dealers and others putting 5w20 in EB trucks and I'd imagine to lessen stock requirements and fleet confusion they are slimming the oil choices down.

You don't hear about many oil related truck engines in Fords. Some spit plugs and have noisy phasers but they generally run and run...

There's, what close to 20 years of 5w30 Fords running around and they are not popping engines left and right.



Originally Posted By: Nate1979
I didnt see anyone mention this yet but looks like Ford increased the GCWR for the 2016 6.2 F250/350. Does not the new 2016 get the new front end as well? Possibly the played with the cooling, increased the towing capability and decided thicker oil was required.



I think both of these have some validity here. It's not as if the NA Focus and Fusion have been switched too.

 

[UNC151]

Originally Posted By: Nate1979
I didnt see anyone mention this yet but looks like Ford increased the GCWR for the 2016 6.2 F250/350. Does not the new 2016 get the new front end as well? Possibly the played with the cooling, increased the towing capability and decided thicker oil was required.
The front end (whole truck really) change happens for the 2017 model year (not sure about any GCWR changes for the 2017 MY though):

 

[AirgunSavant]

I'm with you- use 5w30 MC oil across the board. Saves $$$$$$$$
especially with all of the Egoboast engines they are offering these days.

Originally Posted By: itguy08
I think you are missing the simple explanation....

Ford sells Ecoboost engines which, with the exception of the 3.5 in the 2010 vehicles all spec 5w30.

Ford sells NA engines that spec 5w20.

Government and other fleets have been buying Ecoboost (Taurus PI, Explorer PI) and non-Ecoboost vehicles (Everything else).

Perhaps they are getting to one oil standard? There have been many cases on the F150 forums of dealers and others putting 5w20 in EB trucks and I'd imagine to lessen stock requirements and fleet confusion they are slimming the oil choices down.

You don't hear about many oil related truck engines in Fords. Some spit plugs and have noisy phasers but they generally run and run...

There's, what close to 20 years of 5w30 Fords running around and they are not popping engines left and right.

 

[Nate1979]

Originally Posted By: 2015_PSD
Originally Posted By: Nate1979
I didnt see anyone mention this yet but looks like Ford increased the GCWR for the 2016 6.2 F250/350. Does not the new 2016 get the new front end as well? Possibly the played with the cooling, increased the towing capability and decided thicker oil was required.
The front end (whole truck really) change happens for the 2017 model year (not sure about any GCWR changes for the 2017 MY though):

Ok, so it looks like a modest increase in GCWR from 2015 to 2016 for the 6.2L Superduty.

 

[akela]

I don't see why change in GCWR should impact the recommended oil viscosity.
The worst case depends on the engine only, and it remains exactly the same: WOT for the extended period of time.

 

[Nate1979]

Originally Posted By: akela
I don't see why change in GCWR should impact the recommended oil viscosity.
The worst case depends on the engine only, and it remains exactly the same: WOT for the extended period of time.


Doesn't increased GCWR mean increased load on the engine and unless the increased the cooling capacity (for the oil) it would mean possible increased oil temp (tested using SAE J2807 tow ratings)? Therefore a slightly thicker oil could be spec'd for this reason?