Ford recommends semi synthetic. Why not full???

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Meh, its works. I used to run M1 in my eco boost F-150 3.5. Then I just switched to MC semi and changed it every 5k. Sometimes we focus on splitting hairs. MC semi is just fine, unless your rolling in a Mustang with a 5.0. Even then I'm guessing its fine.
 
HankHill said:
Meh, its works. I used to run M1 in my eco boost F-150 3.5. Then I just switched to MC semi and changed it every 5k. Sometimes we focus on splitting hairs. MC semi is just fine, unless your rolling in a Mustang with a 5.0. Even then I'm guessing its fine.
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Agreed great oil.
 
Maybe Ford does now since this was brought up almost 5 years ago. Pretty sure the OM specifies both the Motorcraft semi-synthetic and the full synthetic.
 
The simple answer is that modern semi-syn oil meets the specs necessary to make oil related wear a non-issue if you change it at the appropriate OCI.

Ford is conservative in not spec'ing something more than you need, then up to owners to meet or beat that provided spec.

IMO if you have a lubrication issue with modern oil it was the engine design not the oil, even though some want to think magic special oil somehow erases poor engineering, or deletes your turbos or negates that you drive it like you stole it. Well okay full synthetic may negate the higher running temps from the latter a bit but this topic started with "easy miles" IIRC so that's not the situation.

2016 3.5 eco boost with 6100 easy miles on it. Why does Ford not recommend full synthetic as this engine is a twin turbo, and should require the best lubricant possible
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If it was easy miles because you didn't have to push the engine, then best lubricant possible is an ideal rather than a true need. Displacement, displacement, displacement... it's not like they're trying to get the power from a 2.0L turbo. Their 3.5L naturally aspirated w/o the turbos is enough for many of the vehicles the EB 3.5L is put in if not hauling a load, except Americans in particular are hung up on the performance they'd have if they floored it, even if they never do.

Send it in for an oil analysis to see if better is needed. Science.
 
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I wouldn't mind putting fords syn blend in my japs and escalade but for what it is it's too expensive.

I cant see myself buying their oil when i can get better for less that's why i don't see fords semi syn as a logical option.
 
^ That's the rub, that they can stamp their name on it and charge more for OEM branded commodities, same as anyone else. You can almost always get same or better quality cheaper if you avoid the OEM middleman markup whether it be oil or any other part, if you want to invest the research to figure out what to choose instead. BUT at the same time, we'd like to think (and is usually true) that the OEM at least spent a little time qualifying the product as decent (enough) quality even if it isn't top shelf.
 
Ford shows their full synthetic as an option.

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JavierH19 said:
I wouldn't mind putting fords syn blend in my japs and escalade but for what it is it's too expensive.

I cant see myself buying their oil when i can get better for less that's why i don't see fords semi syn as a logical option.
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Ford syn blend is far cheaper than M1 at Walmart.. Unless you're talking some super cheap stuff I haven't heard about. Not that cheap is always bad though..
 
As far as running full conventional in a turbo I've got a story for you. The car was a 1981 Volvo 242 2.1 Liter Turbo. Oil at the time was 10W30 dino as recommended by the factory. This was an oil cooled turbo with a recommended OCI of 3,700 miles using dealer bulk 10W30 Pennzoil conventional. The original turbo blew a seal at 41,000 miles. By that time the turbo was out of warranty but since I had the longest lasting oil cooled Turbocharger in the country and did 3,000 mile OCI's, Volvo gave me a new water cooled turbo and catalytic converter, I only had to pay labor. Even by 1987, Volvo was still only suggesting full synthetic as an option in their turbo motors. Conventional 10W30 was the norm but the OCI's had been increased to 5,000 miles. My 1997 960 I6 non turbo on the other hand, it is recommended that you use a full synthetic 10W30 with a 5K oci's and a 10K oci if the car is used mostly on the highway.
 
HankHill said:
Ford syn blend is far cheaper than M1 at Walmart.. Unless you're talking some super cheap stuff I haven't heard about. Not that cheap is always bad though..
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ford syn blend is $22 a jug. that's about regular mobil 1 price. how cheap is it for you.
 
Years ago I read a leaked letter from a Ford engineer about their choice for motor oil.
Here are the reasons they chose syn blend instead of full syn or dino juice.

To move a F-150 down the highway at a constant 60 mph only requires 50 horsepower. So the engine is not working hard most of the time.
They know their owners will not spend the money on a full synthetic oil change.
Dino juice will not give them the reduced friction inside the engine that they need to increase MPG and lower their CAFE fines.
Dino juice in a 5w-20 will not hold up to the demands of longer oil change intervals that their customers demand.
So they compromised and went with syn blend.

The ONLY reason they call for a 5w-20 is to increase MPG by reducing resistance inside the engine.

It is literally as simple as what their customers are willing to spend on a oil change.
 
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