help decide which oil

[jjohn320]

Hey I own a 2001 ford escape XLT with the 3.0L V6. I am the second owner of this vehicle the first owner is the manager at a local ford dealership. It runs good and has been kept up nicely. Currently the odometer is at 123k (I bought it at about 115k). Im guessing it has been on the MC diet previous to me and my first oil change I did I also used a MC 5w20 and MC filter. I am from WI so we get some cold weather up here everyonce in a while...

Now Ive had a hard time finding a scenario that was quite like mine....I go to college 240 miles away from home, so I go back soon and will probably change the oil one more time before I go back (as I cant change it in the parking lot sadly ) When I go back to school I dont really drive my vehicle much because I can more easily walk anywhere I need to go, and Ill lose my parking spot. So I usually take it on a nice highway cruise on the weekends but sometimes it just sits in the lot all week or at most a couple weeks without being run.

My question is will I be fine keeping up with just using Motorcraft oil or should I change to something else. I.E. would a synthetic be more beneficial for me since the car sits more...my current OCI is 4000-5000...kinda depends on when Im home and how much driving I think Ill be doing before I get a chance to drive it again (being a round trip is 480mi...)

 

[Johnny]

to BITOG young man.

Stick with what you are doing. Motorcraft 5W-20 and a Motorcraft oil filter. Both will serve you well.

Where are you going to school?

I've been through your lovely town many times over the past 20-years.

 

[Scienceman]

Use the MC!

 

[jjohn320]

Actually I go to the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point!

Surprising I dont hear of many people coming through Grantsburg very often!

 

[Johnny]

Use to travel that way when I worked for the Pennzoil Company, before retirement.

My son just graduated from UWSP. Great college. Good luck with your education.

Not real crazy about the Ford dealer in Stevens Point, but we have a great one here in Wausau.

 

[NHHEMI]

Originally Posted By: jjohn320
Hey I own a 2001 ford escape XLT with the 3.0L V6. I am the second owner of this vehicle the first owner is the manager at a local ford dealership. It runs good and has been kept up nicely. Currently the odometer is at 123k (I bought it at about 115k). Im guessing it has been on the MC diet previous to me and my first oil change I did I also used a MC 5w20 and MC filter. I am from WI so we get some cold weather up here everyonce in a while...

Now Ive had a hard time finding a scenario that was quite like mine....I go to college 240 miles away from home, so I go back soon and will probably change the oil one more time before I go back (as I cant change it in the parking lot sadly ) When I go back to school I dont really drive my vehicle much because I can more easily walk anywhere I need to go, and Ill lose my parking spot. So I usually take it on a nice highway cruise on the weekends but sometimes it just sits in the lot all week or at most a couple weeks without being run.

My question is will I be fine keeping up with just using Motorcraft oil or should I change to something else. I.E. would a synthetic be more beneficial for me since the car sits more...my current OCI is 4000-5000...kinda depends on when Im home and how much driving I think Ill be doing before I get a chance to drive it again (being a round trip is 480mi...)


I would actually say I doubt the car was run on MC oil. My money is on it being run on whatever cheap bulk oil the dealership had at the time of the OC. Not saying it wasn't MC used but just because it is a dealer don't assume they used the mfg's oil. Not how it usually works.

With that said MC is a very good oil and available cheap in bulk at Wal-Mart. Would be a good chocie for you.

 

[jjohn320]

Yup I love it there Im on year 3. Where is the ford Dealership in Wausau? I have only had to deal with Scaffidi (spelling?) once so far for a transmission fluid change in the escape, just started to shudder when you went up a hill at 60 with cruise on and it was a really faint shudder. Unfortunately too late for a drain and fill and I didnt know if the previous owner switched to mercon V yet. but it shifts smoother than ever now. It took me a while to even find a dealership they really dont advertise ford very much there...

 

[Pablo]

Nothing wrong with what you are doing, it works and if it fits your lifestyle, stick with it.

You could also double or triple the OCI with a good synthetic - but you may run into 1-1.5 year time based OCI's.

 

[jjohn320]

Originally Posted By: NHHEMI
Originally Posted By: jjohn320
Hey I own a 2001 ford escape XLT with the 3.0L V6. I am the second owner of this vehicle the first owner is the manager at a local ford dealership. It runs good and has been kept up nicely. Currently the odometer is at 123k (I bought it at about 115k). Im guessing it has been on the MC diet previous to me and my first oil change I did I also used a MC 5w20 and MC filter. I am from WI so we get some cold weather up here everyonce in a while...

Now Ive had a hard time finding a scenario that was quite like mine....I go to college 240 miles away from home, so I go back soon and will probably change the oil one more time before I go back (as I cant change it in the parking lot sadly ) When I go back to school I dont really drive my vehicle much because I can more easily walk anywhere I need to go, and Ill lose my parking spot. So I usually take it on a nice highway cruise on the weekends but sometimes it just sits in the lot all week or at most a couple weeks without being run.

My question is will I be fine keeping up with just using Motorcraft oil or should I change to something else. I.E. would a synthetic be more beneficial for me since the car sits more...my current OCI is 4000-5000...kinda depends on when Im home and how much driving I think Ill be doing before I get a chance to drive it again (being a round trip is 480mi...)


I would actually say I doubt the car was run on MC oil. My money is on it being run on whatever cheap bulk oil the dealership had at the time of the OC. Not saying it wasn't MC used but just because it is a dealer don't assume they used the mfg's oil. Not how it usually works.

With that said MC is a very good oil and available cheap in bulk at Wal-Mart. Would be a good chocie for you.


Very possible, but Ive seen the car driven around a lot around town over the couple of years and everything on it is motorcraft, from the battery to even the wiperblades. Since it is 9 years old by now. It was just a guess anyways I know when my uncle worked up there propably 5 years ago now all they had was Motorcraft Oil...if you wanted anything else used you had to bring it up there or they would run to our local auto store and pick it up. but it is possible. thanks for the help!

 

[Johnny]

Originally Posted By: jjohn320
Yup I love it there Im on year 3. Where is the ford Dealership in Wausau? I have only had to deal with Scaffidi (spelling?) once so far for a transmission fluid change in the escape, just started to shudder when you went up a hill at 60 with cruise on and it was a really faint shudder. Unfortunately too late for a drain and fill and I didnt know if the previous owner switched to mercon V yet. but it shifts smoother than ever now. It took me a while to even find a dealership they really dont advertise ford very much there...



KOCOUREK FORD LINCOLN MERCURY
2727 North 20th Ave., Wausau, WI 54401
(715) 298-3673

On the north side of town close to the intersection if I-39 and Hwy K.

 

[Johnny]

I just sent you a PM jjohn320.

 

[jjohn320]

Originally Posted By: Johnny
Originally Posted By: jjohn320
Yup I love it there Im on year 3. Where is the ford Dealership in Wausau? I have only had to deal with Scaffidi (spelling?) once so far for a transmission fluid change in the escape, just started to shudder when you went up a hill at 60 with cruise on and it was a really faint shudder. Unfortunately too late for a drain and fill and I didnt know if the previous owner switched to mercon V yet. but it shifts smoother than ever now. It took me a while to even find a dealership they really dont advertise ford very much there...



KOCOUREK FORD LINCOLN MERCURY
2727 North 20th Ave., Wausau, WI 54401
(715) 298-3673

On the north side of town close to the intersection if I-39 and Hwy K.


Thank you! Ill keep that in mind as I go back on Sunday. Hopefully the weather is better than they expect.

 

[Hermann]

The GF's '05 Mercury Mariner same engine, has liked every oil that's been in it except dealer oil. Her's uses no oil at 50k. Some brands we have used are Valvoline conventional, Maxlife blend, and Synpower, and a fill of Quaker State conventional. Has only had Motorcraft FL 820s filter. No start up noises is why I would recommend them.

 

[Y_K]

They have them big number of escapes in NYC taxi fleet. Tells you something.. This car will easily make it up 400 kM the way you use it. Provided you do all maintenance on time.

 

[NHHEMI]

Originally Posted By: jjohn320
Originally Posted By: NHHEMI
Originally Posted By: jjohn320
Hey I own a 2001 ford escape XLT with the 3.0L V6. I am the second owner of this vehicle the first owner is the manager at a local ford dealership. It runs good and has been kept up nicely. Currently the odometer is at 123k (I bought it at about 115k). Im guessing it has been on the MC diet previous to me and my first oil change I did I also used a MC 5w20 and MC filter. I am from WI so we get some cold weather up here everyonce in a while...

Now Ive had a hard time finding a scenario that was quite like mine....I go to college 240 miles away from home, so I go back soon and will probably change the oil one more time before I go back (as I cant change it in the parking lot sadly ) When I go back to school I dont really drive my vehicle much because I can more easily walk anywhere I need to go, and Ill lose my parking spot. So I usually take it on a nice highway cruise on the weekends but sometimes it just sits in the lot all week or at most a couple weeks without being run.

My question is will I be fine keeping up with just using Motorcraft oil or should I change to something else. I.E. would a synthetic be more beneficial for me since the car sits more...my current OCI is 4000-5000...kinda depends on when Im home and how much driving I think Ill be doing before I get a chance to drive it again (being a round trip is 480mi...)


I would actually say I doubt the car was run on MC oil. My money is on it being run on whatever cheap bulk oil the dealership had at the time of the OC. Not saying it wasn't MC used but just because it is a dealer don't assume they used the mfg's oil. Not how it usually works.

With that said MC is a very good oil and available cheap in bulk at Wal-Mart. Would be a good chocie for you.


Very possible, but Ive seen the car driven around a lot around town over the couple of years and everything on it is motorcraft, from the battery to even the wiperblades. Since it is 9 years old by now. It was just a guess anyways I know when my uncle worked up there propably 5 years ago now all they had was Motorcraft Oil...if you wanted anything else used you had to bring it up there or they would run to our local auto store and pick it up. but it is possible. thanks for the help!


Oh, I am not saying they didn't have some MC oil on hand( I am sure they did but more than likely it was in qt bottles ). As a Ford dealer they better. However, most dealerships use bulk oil and the mfg of the oil varies greatly. Seldom is it the mfg's oil. When I worked at the Ford dealer the bulk oil was usually a no name from a big distributor of auto chemicals. Once in a while we got some name brand stuff but the bulk was never MC.

 

[jjohn320]

yea you are probably right it was probably on a mixed diet of whatever was available. Whatever they used the oil was changed at a steady 5k the inside looks pretty clean on the inside of the oil cap, its kind of weird to open the cap and the timing chain be right there. Thanks for the input!