On my most recent trip to my local Ford dealer (for routine maintenance), I asked the counter service advisor, the following question:
"What was the greatest odometer mileage of a 4 cylinder Ford that they see come into their dealership, for routine maintenance?" The answer, surprised me a bit. He said, "that's easy, we have a courier parts running, Ford Ranger that comes in on a regular basis with over 750,000 miles on it. We also have a woman who comes in regularly with an older Ford Focus with between 500,000 - 600,000 miles. The body is starting to fall apart, but the engine is still running strong. Both come in for Motorcraft 5W20 Blend." I was surprised, mostly, because most of us don't think of either of those vehicles for likely candidates to see that kind of odometer mileage. Maybe a handful of Toyotas or Hondas, but not Rangers or Focus. When I looked at the Ford Focus forum, the person with the highest odometer mileage in a survey, responded to me that he used "only" the dealer sourced Motorcraft oil. He lives around Toronto and had 400,000 miles on a 2001 Focus Zetec.
That statement made me initially think, "duh, well all the vehicles that come in for Motorcraft Blend." Upon thinking about it, those mileage figures are impressive for any vehicle, or motor oil, much less, a low dollar motor oil. Maybe real world experience trumps the UOA's that we are so quick to argue about. On one of the Ford F150 forums, I dug up the following quote from one of the members, from a few years back:
"Motorcraft oil 5W20 will have for a base, an acid washed white Gp III base oil that is extremely pure. According to the techs I have spoken with, it's about 50% synthetic base blended oil. In the formulation you'll find averages 80 ppm moly which comes into play on parts where the temps exceed 305F. That would be like cylinder walls, pistons, etc. It makes a major difference in the life of an engine and is a fabulous thing to have in the formulation. You'll find boron averages at 230 ppms. Boron is a multifunction additive in that it is a detergent and a friction modifier. Oils using boron are going to provide better engine life and better fuel mileages. Motorcraft, I'm hearing now is using a splash of nano-borates. While I haven't personally seen it, and it certainly isn't going to flash out in spectroscopy, if it's there, it's like the titanium in other oils. It brings more lubricity to the oil. You'll also find the newer magnesiums in Motorcraft oils. These are used as a detergent, but primary use is to stabilize the base over longer periods. It doesn't take much of it to work. Amsoil is now using it so they can get their extended drain intervals. Amsoil is using about 15 ppms and Motorcraft is at 10 average. It's been long suspected that Ford is subsidizing the Motorcraft oils. I can believe it. For the price you are paying and the value of the components in the bottle, it's a major bargain. It shows some of the lowest wear metals in spectroscopy and is built to go the recommended distances that are in the current owners manuals. You can certainly pay more for an oil but it's doubtful that it will equal Motorcraft. Yeah, it's really that good."
On this forum a couple of years back, ModularV8, came to the same conclusion. He mentioned how 1) Ford is consistently, one of the worlds top R&D spenders, year in and year out & and that Ford is said to be "subsidizing" this oil. 2) the non standard Boro nitrides used, and the 3) purity of this "group II/II+ or group III" of the base oil involved. Sounds like a motor oil that is "sand bagging it." More to it, that is on the surface.
I will also add, Google the "hero F150 engine" on Youtube. It makes a strong argument for using Motorcraft blend, after that Ecoboost engine was tortured and disassembled for the world to see at the Detroit auto show. Makes me wonder if the engine was designed for the motor oil, or the motor oil was formulated for the EcoBoost?Or does it really matter?
Personally, I'm driving a 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid, with 111,000 miles on the clock. Has had Motorcraft 5W20 Blend, every 5,000 miles as a former government car, for the first 60,000 miles. At which point, I've been depleting my stash of Motorcraft 5W20 FULL synthetic every 6,000 miles or so. No consumption over those intervals. I've been averaging a bit higher than most Ford hybrids: 40 mpg in winter, 47-49 in summer. 80% highway driving. I don't know if the oil is a factor, but it hasn't hurt, that I can see. Stash is almost gone. Going back to Motorcraft, when it was $11 for a 5 qt jug was a no brainer. However, I'm moving on to Mobil 1 0W20 next. Am I making a long term mistake? I hope to reach 400,000 miles one day.
Happy New Year!
Comments? What say you about the previous statements?
"What was the greatest odometer mileage of a 4 cylinder Ford that they see come into their dealership, for routine maintenance?" The answer, surprised me a bit. He said, "that's easy, we have a courier parts running, Ford Ranger that comes in on a regular basis with over 750,000 miles on it. We also have a woman who comes in regularly with an older Ford Focus with between 500,000 - 600,000 miles. The body is starting to fall apart, but the engine is still running strong. Both come in for Motorcraft 5W20 Blend." I was surprised, mostly, because most of us don't think of either of those vehicles for likely candidates to see that kind of odometer mileage. Maybe a handful of Toyotas or Hondas, but not Rangers or Focus. When I looked at the Ford Focus forum, the person with the highest odometer mileage in a survey, responded to me that he used "only" the dealer sourced Motorcraft oil. He lives around Toronto and had 400,000 miles on a 2001 Focus Zetec.
That statement made me initially think, "duh, well all the vehicles that come in for Motorcraft Blend." Upon thinking about it, those mileage figures are impressive for any vehicle, or motor oil, much less, a low dollar motor oil. Maybe real world experience trumps the UOA's that we are so quick to argue about. On one of the Ford F150 forums, I dug up the following quote from one of the members, from a few years back:
"Motorcraft oil 5W20 will have for a base, an acid washed white Gp III base oil that is extremely pure. According to the techs I have spoken with, it's about 50% synthetic base blended oil. In the formulation you'll find averages 80 ppm moly which comes into play on parts where the temps exceed 305F. That would be like cylinder walls, pistons, etc. It makes a major difference in the life of an engine and is a fabulous thing to have in the formulation. You'll find boron averages at 230 ppms. Boron is a multifunction additive in that it is a detergent and a friction modifier. Oils using boron are going to provide better engine life and better fuel mileages. Motorcraft, I'm hearing now is using a splash of nano-borates. While I haven't personally seen it, and it certainly isn't going to flash out in spectroscopy, if it's there, it's like the titanium in other oils. It brings more lubricity to the oil. You'll also find the newer magnesiums in Motorcraft oils. These are used as a detergent, but primary use is to stabilize the base over longer periods. It doesn't take much of it to work. Amsoil is now using it so they can get their extended drain intervals. Amsoil is using about 15 ppms and Motorcraft is at 10 average. It's been long suspected that Ford is subsidizing the Motorcraft oils. I can believe it. For the price you are paying and the value of the components in the bottle, it's a major bargain. It shows some of the lowest wear metals in spectroscopy and is built to go the recommended distances that are in the current owners manuals. You can certainly pay more for an oil but it's doubtful that it will equal Motorcraft. Yeah, it's really that good."
On this forum a couple of years back, ModularV8, came to the same conclusion. He mentioned how 1) Ford is consistently, one of the worlds top R&D spenders, year in and year out & and that Ford is said to be "subsidizing" this oil. 2) the non standard Boro nitrides used, and the 3) purity of this "group II/II+ or group III" of the base oil involved. Sounds like a motor oil that is "sand bagging it." More to it, that is on the surface.
I will also add, Google the "hero F150 engine" on Youtube. It makes a strong argument for using Motorcraft blend, after that Ecoboost engine was tortured and disassembled for the world to see at the Detroit auto show. Makes me wonder if the engine was designed for the motor oil, or the motor oil was formulated for the EcoBoost?Or does it really matter?
Personally, I'm driving a 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid, with 111,000 miles on the clock. Has had Motorcraft 5W20 Blend, every 5,000 miles as a former government car, for the first 60,000 miles. At which point, I've been depleting my stash of Motorcraft 5W20 FULL synthetic every 6,000 miles or so. No consumption over those intervals. I've been averaging a bit higher than most Ford hybrids: 40 mpg in winter, 47-49 in summer. 80% highway driving. I don't know if the oil is a factor, but it hasn't hurt, that I can see. Stash is almost gone. Going back to Motorcraft, when it was $11 for a 5 qt jug was a no brainer. However, I'm moving on to Mobil 1 0W20 next. Am I making a long term mistake? I hope to reach 400,000 miles one day.
Happy New Year!
Comments? What say you about the previous statements?