Help me pick a winter oil....

[04SE]

Ok, I have a 2004 Taurus with 96K and I live in Central Illinois. Winter temps rarely dip below 0*F but they can and have recently (last winter) dipped below 0*F.

Now, I have four oils in mind with reasons to use & not use each one.

1. Motorcraft Syn-Blend 5w20
2. Pennzoil Platinum 5w20
3. Mobil 1 0w20
4. Amsoil 0w20

Now, the goal is GREAT winter performance, at an economical price and to try a new oil...

Motorcraft is essentially the cheapest/best option in terms of performance for price ($11.50 for a jug). But, I am currently running it, so I would not be trying anything new. However, for $19 a jug, I can get Pennzoil Platinum, and not really gain to much in terms of specs, just a group III oil. Pennzoil Platinum 5w20 and Motorcraft 5w20 are similar in specs, so the only real reason to get PP is for the Group III. However, the next step up would be Mobil 1 0w20. It has better specs than Motorcraft 5w20 and Pennzoil Platinum 5w20, BUT I can't buy it in a jug locally, I have to pay $7 a quart. So, M1 beats Motorcraft & Pennzol in specs, but is much more expensive. However, if I decide to use M1, I am not paying $7 a quart when at $9 a quart I can get a Group Iv/V Amsoil 0w20 oil that has the best specs of all the oils, but has the highest price. Plus, I am not into extended drains, so while Amsoil would be the best oil in terms of specs, the price and extended drain is the hold up. Also, the $10 shipping adds to the overall price as well, which Kinda makes M1 look a little better...

Does any of this make sense to anybody else?

As much as I hate to do it, I think I might just go ahead with the M1 0w20 so I don't waste the Amsoil with a 5k-7K OCI.

With M1 I get better specs than Motorcraft and Pennzoil but I have to pay per quart. That is the only strike I can give M1.

 

[DieselTech]

Motorcraft as you have been using will serve you well in the winter.

The difference between mobil and PP isn't much and I'm not sure I would jump to say M1 is better

 

[lipadj46]

Any of those are great oils. I would stick with the motorcraft. If you want to try the mobil 1 0w-20 just buy it when it is on special at Autozone or Advanced Auto get 5 quarts and a filter for $30 or whatever.

 

[Nickdfresh]

They have quarts of Motorcraft Synthetic 5W-20 at Advance and using the $10 coupon in the rebates section, it's like $3 a quart.

 

[Dupree]

id pick the Mobil 1 or pp

 

[hpichris]

M1 or PP

 

[tig1]

M1 5-30EP works very well for me in the Illinois climate. What ever oil you chose, buy it at WM or AAP when on sale. At WM it's like $5.25 a qt by the 5 qt jug.

 

[Gary Allan]

Without a longer drain ..or SUPER SEVERE conditions, there's not much justification for anything other than what you're using.

 

[bobfather99]

Cant go wrong with the Motorcraft, for the price.
Wouldnt lose any sleep running that all winter!!!

 

[04SE]

Originally Posted By: tig1
M1 5-30EP works very well for me in the Illinois climate. What ever oil you chose, buy it at WM or AAP when on sale. At WM it's like $5.25 a qt by the 5 qt jug.


I can only find M1 0w20 in single quarts locally.

Originally Posted By: Gary Allan
Without a longer drain ..or SUPER SEVERE conditions, there's not much justification for anything other than what you're using.


I know, I know... That is the major hang up for me.

Motorcraft has cold pour of -45, M1 is -55 and Amsoil is -65. I will not even get close to -45. I was just wanting to experiment with a 0w20 in my winter climate. I migt just go ahead with M1 0w20 for one 5k-7k OCI to just try it. Experimenting with Amsoil would be too costly and such a waste. At least with M1 I am not wasting nearly as much and I still get a 0w20.

Who knows... I will have to see what I can find locally.

Originally Posted By: bobfather99
Cant go wrong with the Motorcraft, for the price.
Wouldnt lose any sleep running that all winter!!!


I know, I know. I just want to experiment and try a 0w20.

 

[tig1]

No WMs where you live?

 

[Antony]

Originally Posted By: 04SE

I know, I know. I just want to experiment and try a 0w20.


If that is the case, I'd suggest going with M1 0w-20 and buy it from AAP or AZ when on sale with filter. I see Mobil 1 products on sale almost always.

 

[04SE]

Originally Posted By: tig1
No WMs where you live?


Three of them in my town, and NONE of them have 0w20 in 5 qt jugs. They have plenty of single quarts for $7. I know they had it not too long ago but now none of them do.

 

[Antony]

Just to add - Advanced Auto Parts has 5 quarts Mobil 1 plus Mobil 1 Extended Performance filter for $30 right now. Might be the deal that you're looking for.

 

[sangyup81]

PP and Castrol EDGE are both on rebate right now

 

[chevrofreak]

I used Motorcraft 5W-20 synblend through most of a Montana winter and my car didn't complain. It saw PP 5W-20 for the tail end of the winter and it worked quite well also.

Our weather gets significantly colder here than yours does, so you'd be fine with the inexpensive Motorcraft, but while there's a $15 rebate on Pennzoil Platinum (the 5W-20 has awesome cold weather specs because it meets 0W-20 specs) you might as well use it.

 

[ryan2022]

Well the synthetics would be a benefit over the blends, but unless you really stretch the OCI, they wont be as wallet friendly.

The cold performance of the Motorcraft blend is really good. Its as good as some group 3 synthetics.

I remember it being -42 cold pour.

I'd probably go with it for a budget choice, or the least expensive 0w20 weight synthetics.