I have a Ford f150 4.2 liter engine 2002. Don' know if I should use a thicker oil for hot South Texas weather. I have 78,000 miles on my pickup please help me decide before i change oil again. Observation has been that it seems to loose viscosity pretty quick in this hot weather where I live. Maybe it is my imaginination. Thinking of castrol 20w50.
motorcraft 5w20 synthetic blend
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There's no need unless you're doing some heavy duty towing or something else that would place a large load on the engine. From what I have read here it seems that you will save fuel using a 5-20 instead of 20-50. If you use a 1,000 gallons a year and save 1- 2% that means 10 -20 gallons or $40- 80 per year.
Also it is unlikely that the operating temperature of your engine will be significanty hotter in warm weather.Much like the human body is 37C in most conditions, engine temperature won't vary much unless you are towing or leadfooting it pretty heavily.
Also it is unlikely that the operating temperature of your engine will be significanty hotter in warm weather.Much like the human body is 37C in most conditions, engine temperature won't vary much unless you are towing or leadfooting it pretty heavily.
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No i do not believe so, I go to fordtrucks.com(ford truck forum)
from dealers, forum guys, and ford mechanics, the 4.2, 5.4, and 6.8 need a thinner oil due to the small upper end and the timeing chain.
** I am not sure of the info, its just what I hear, and I allways used 5w20 in my 01 f250 with the 6.8 V10. It loved it.
from dealers, forum guys, and ford mechanics, the 4.2, 5.4, and 6.8 need a thinner oil due to the small upper end and the timeing chain.
** I am not sure of the info, its just what I hear, and I allways used 5w20 in my 01 f250 with the 6.8 V10. It loved it.
It is a great oil and should be fine. You could also consider going with the 5w30 MaxLife as it is a great oil and would provide a little better protection and higher mileage protection.
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Observation has been that it seems to loose viscosity pretty quick in this hot weather where I live.
May I ask what you base this on?
Observation has been that it seems to loose viscosity pretty quick in this hot weather where I live.
May I ask what you base this on?
Using 20W-50 could totally FUBAR your engine.
There's nothing wrong with Motorcraft 5W-20 synblend.
Modern 5W-20 protects as well as the 5W-30 that Ford used to spec.
There's nothing wrong with Motorcraft 5W-20 synblend.
Modern 5W-20 protects as well as the 5W-30 that Ford used to spec.
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Don' know if I should use a thicker oil for hot South Texas weather.
Don't.
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Will my engine be better protected with castrol 20w50 castrol oil
No ...but it probably won't be harmed. I'm sure that somewhere someone starts the same engine with a 5w-20 or 5w-30 in cold enough weather that it simulates a 20w-50 in Texas for some part of their driving event. I'm sure that their engine survives. You'll be wasting some fuel in the warmup process.
Don' know if I should use a thicker oil for hot South Texas weather.
Don't.
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Will my engine be better protected with castrol 20w50 castrol oil
No ...but it probably won't be harmed. I'm sure that somewhere someone starts the same engine with a 5w-20 or 5w-30 in cold enough weather that it simulates a 20w-50 in Texas for some part of their driving event. I'm sure that their engine survives. You'll be wasting some fuel in the warmup process.
Do NOT run 20-50 weight in these engines, the hydraulic lash adjusters are not designed to run this thick of oil and will cause them to not be able to bleed down correctly. Also with the tight tolerences of this engine can cause oil starvation to certain parts expecially at high rpm
Please stick to 5-20, 5-30, 0-20, 0-30 weights
Please stick to 5-20, 5-30, 0-20, 0-30 weights
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Originally Posted By: BoostFiend
Do NOT run 20-50 weight in these engines, the hydraulic lash adjusters are not designed to run this thick of oil and will cause them to not be able to bleed down correctly. Also with the tight tolerences of this engine can cause oil starvation to certain parts expecially at high rpm
Please stick to 5-20, 5-30, 0-20, 0-30 weights
So, do people who use 5w-20 run into these issues @ 50F? That's when a 5w-20 is heavier than a 20w-50 @ 100F. They're equal @ about 95F (95f for the 20w-50 and 50F for the 5w-20 -if I used the visc calc correctly)
You've got to put this "tight clearances" thing in perspective. It's the same partial myths about VTEC and whathaveyou. If anyone has issues with a higher visc oil at operating temp ..then they HAVE TO HAVE the exact same issue with a lighter oil at a cooler temp. He's in Texas, not Nebraska.
This is NOT a recommendation for the use of 20w-50 oil. Merely an attempt to get people to adjust their views that may be constructed from "notions". He should use 5w-20.
Do NOT run 20-50 weight in these engines, the hydraulic lash adjusters are not designed to run this thick of oil and will cause them to not be able to bleed down correctly. Also with the tight tolerences of this engine can cause oil starvation to certain parts expecially at high rpm
Please stick to 5-20, 5-30, 0-20, 0-30 weights
So, do people who use 5w-20 run into these issues @ 50F? That's when a 5w-20 is heavier than a 20w-50 @ 100F. They're equal @ about 95F (95f for the 20w-50 and 50F for the 5w-20 -if I used the visc calc correctly)
You've got to put this "tight clearances" thing in perspective. It's the same partial myths about VTEC and whathaveyou. If anyone has issues with a higher visc oil at operating temp ..then they HAVE TO HAVE the exact same issue with a lighter oil at a cooler temp. He's in Texas, not Nebraska.
This is NOT a recommendation for the use of 20w-50 oil. Merely an attempt to get people to adjust their views that may be constructed from "notions". He should use 5w-20.
Going to 20-50 from 5-20 is a huge step.
I wouldn't do it for that vehicle.
A 5-30 is an option for you, however.
I wouldn't do it for that vehicle.
A 5-30 is an option for you, however.
South texas weather is no different than weather all over the country in the summer. Millions of cars/trucks see 95-105 temps for much of the summer and perform fine. Go with what Ford says and use the 5w20
Nope, no need to up the viscosity. Texas heat is insignificant to the enine oil temperature. Run 5w20 and don't worry about it.
I agree, if your cooling system is in good working order, a 20-grade won't hurt a thing in that weather.
Originally Posted By: BoostFiend
Do NOT run 20-50 weight in these engines, the hydraulic lash adjusters are not designed to run this thick of oil and will cause them to not be able to bleed down correctly. Also with the tight tolerences of this engine can cause oil starvation to certain parts expecially at high rpm
Please stick to 5-20, 5-30, 0-20, 0-30 weights
I believe the word you are looking for is clearance. In simple terms.
-Clearance is the nominal space between parts
-Tolerance is the allowable range of that nominal space.
I could design a part that had over an inch of clearance but a couple ten-thousands of tolerance. Total waste of money but you get the idea. We do lots of tolerance stack-ups a work.
Anyway, if it makes you sleep better go to a 5W30 but I can't in good faith recommend 20W50.
Do NOT run 20-50 weight in these engines, the hydraulic lash adjusters are not designed to run this thick of oil and will cause them to not be able to bleed down correctly. Also with the tight tolerences of this engine can cause oil starvation to certain parts expecially at high rpm
Please stick to 5-20, 5-30, 0-20, 0-30 weights
I believe the word you are looking for is clearance. In simple terms.
-Clearance is the nominal space between parts
-Tolerance is the allowable range of that nominal space.
I could design a part that had over an inch of clearance but a couple ten-thousands of tolerance. Total waste of money but you get the idea. We do lots of tolerance stack-ups a work.
Anyway, if it makes you sleep better go to a 5W30 but I can't in good faith recommend 20W50.
Originally Posted By: Gary Allan
BoostFiend said:
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Originally Posted By: Junior
Originally Posted By: BoostFiend
Do NOT run 20-50 weight in these engines, the hydraulic lash adjusters are not designed to run this thick of oil and will cause them to not be able to bleed down correctly. Also with the tight tolerences of this engine can cause oil starvation to certain parts expecially at high rpm
Please stick to 5-20, 5-30, 0-20, 0-30 weights
I believe the word you are looking for is clearance. In simple terms.
-Clearance is the nominal space between parts
-Tolerance is the allowable range of that nominal space.
I could design a part that had over an inch of clearance but a couple ten-thousands of tolerance. Total waste of money but you get the idea. We do lots of tolerance stack-ups a work.
.
yes you are correct , thank you
Originally Posted By: BoostFiend
Do NOT run 20-50 weight in these engines, the hydraulic lash adjusters are not designed to run this thick of oil and will cause them to not be able to bleed down correctly. Also with the tight tolerences of this engine can cause oil starvation to certain parts expecially at high rpm
Please stick to 5-20, 5-30, 0-20, 0-30 weights
I believe the word you are looking for is clearance. In simple terms.
-Clearance is the nominal space between parts
-Tolerance is the allowable range of that nominal space.
I could design a part that had over an inch of clearance but a couple ten-thousands of tolerance. Total waste of money but you get the idea. We do lots of tolerance stack-ups a work.
.
yes you are correct , thank you
I don't know much about the 4.2L, which does not have variable cam timing, but I have a little info to share on the modular 4.6, 5.4 and 6.8L Fords, with variable cam timing. Their internal hydraulic parts are calibrated for a 5W20. I have it direct from a Ford powertrain engineer on the modular engine team and a guy who has done extensive tuning work on these engines and has a business doing it, that the wrong viscosity oil changes the operational characteristics of the cam timing mechanism. I don't have a lot of detail to explain why but apparently the farther you get from the calibrated viscosity the farther off nominal the system operates. Perhaps someone with more knowledge could chime in. My conversations with my experts are ongoing so I'll share any further tidbits.
I don't know about variable cam timing, but I do know that my CVPI runs way better with 5W-20 in it.
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