Motorcraft oil

[vwalburn]

Looking at doing the first oil change on my F-150 with the 3.5L engine and just wanted to get everyones' opinion on the Motorcraft 5W-30 oil. Is it a great oil to stick with? Too old to do my own oil changes so I'll be going to the dealer for the free oil changes.

 

[I<3oil]

It's nothing spectacular but it's good enough to run with regular OCIs.

 

[JavierH19]

Nothing wrong with going to the dealer to prevent an injury. It's fine to use just don't run it for more than 5k miles in that EB. But if one was doing their own oil changes it'd be the last oil I'd use. 26 bucks for a synthetic blend is a bad deal since you can get much better oil for less still. But the dealer will use what they use.

 

[bullwinkle]

Looking at doing the first oil change on my F-150 with the 3.5L engine and just wanted to get everyones' opinion on the Motorcraft 5W-30 oil. Is it a great oil to stick with? Too old to do my own oil changes so I'll be going to the dealer for the free oil changes.

As long as your dealer uses Motorcraft... My Ford stealer didn't!

 

[brandon9715]

Motorcraft oil is solid for what it is. Nothing special, but not worse than anything else on the shelf. If you don’t plan to run extended OCIs or stress the oil severely, the oil will work well.

 

[Bill7]

Looking at doing the first oil change on my F-150 with the 3.5L engine and just wanted to get everyones' opinion on the Motorcraft 5W-30 oil. Is it a great oil to stick with? Too old to do my own oil changes so I'll be going to the dealer for the free oil changes.

Owning a Ford, and using the factory OEM Motorcraft Synthetic Blend oil, seems like a solid choice.
But, synthetic blend oil is typically made up of 80% conventional oil, which will leave deposits in higher heat situations (like engines with twin turbos or engines with long timing chains that are hard on oil).

My biggest fear with those engines is the long timing chains and preventing them from wearing out.
For some reason, Ford timing chains seem to wear out quicker than a rubber timing belt would have lasted.
Since the timing chain is deep inside the engine, labor is very high to replace a worn timing chain on ecoboost engines.

https://www.f150forum.com/f118/timing-chain-replacement-cost-563111/

Using a full saps Euro 5W-30 (Acea A3/B4) with high levels of anti-wear additives phosphorous and zinc could prevent more wear and help the timing chain last longer.

 

[Fordiesel69]

Because your engine has twin turbos I personally would feel more comfortable using a full synthetic for no more than 5K intervals. Ford used a combination of port fuel injection and direct injection which will still soot the oil up pretty fast.

If instead you have the 3.5L non ecoboost (natural aspirated) then by all means the motorcraft is just fine for 5 or 6k. Those are easy on oil.

 

[cptbarkey]

Its expensive for what it is and there is better values out there.

 

[JavierH19]

Owning a Ford, and using the factory OEM Motorcraft Synthetic Blend oil, seems like a solid choice.
But, synthetic blend oil is typically made up of 80% conventional oil, which will leave deposits in higher heat situations (like engines with twin turbos or engines with long timing chains that are hard on oil).

My biggest fear with those engines is the long timing chains and preventing them from wearing out.
For some reason, Ford timing chains seem to wear out quicker than a rubber timing belt would have lasted.
Since the timing chain is deep inside the engine, labor is very high to replace a worn timing chain on ecoboost engines.

https://www.f150forum.com/f118/timing-chain-replacement-cost-563111/

Using a full saps Euro 5W-30 (Acea A3/B4) with high levels of anti-wear additives phosphorous and zinc could prevent more wear and help the timing chain last longer.

True I'd run a ll-01 rated euro oil if it was mine as i run 5w-40 in my 2021 gm truck but he's going to the dealer and they don't use anything that good.

 

[wavinwayne]

It's perfectly suitable for the F-150 and normal OCIs.

 

[Hermann]

The cam phasers on that EcoBoost, would greatly appreciate at least a 5w-30 Group III synthetic every 4-5K.

 

[AEHaas]

I used Motorcraft 5W-20 semi-synthetic motor oil in my wife's Lamborghini Murcielago. I have used the same oil in other sports cars that specify 5W-40 grade oils. I personally like this oil and feel that semi-synthetic oils may have advantages, in many cases, over some fully "synthetic" oils.

ali

 

[Bear906]

If you've got an EcoBoost engine, why not ask the Service Advisor at your dealer what the upcharge would be to use Motorcraft Full Synthetic instead of Synthetic Blend for your free oil changes? If it's available and reaonably priced, I'd spring for that.

I ran mostly Motorcraft Synthetic Blend 5W20 and 5W30 in my naturally-aspirated Fords for over a decade, with a few mid-winter oil changes with their Full Synthetic. 5K mile OCIs. Engines were clean inside and ran great when I sold the vehicles; one had 200K miles and has gone on to rack up many more miles since.

As mentioned above, the Synth Blend is nothing special, but if I ever purchase another naturally-aspirated Ford, it'll get 5K mile oil changes at the dealer and I'll have no worries at all about the oil.

 

[mco30mco]

Looking at doing the first oil change on my F-150 with the 3.5L engine and just wanted to get everyones' opinion on the Motorcraft 5W-30 oil. Is it a great oil to stick with? Too old to do my own oil changes so I'll be going to the dealer for the free oil changes.

Buy the oil and filter of your choice and let them use that. There is plenty of good advice on here.
Best of both worlds.

 

[Triple_Se7en]

Looking at doing the first oil change on my F-150 with the 3.5L engine and just wanted to get everyones' opinion on the Motorcraft 5W-30 oil. Is it a great oil to stick with? Too old to do my own oil changes so I'll be going to the dealer for the free oil changes.

Avoid the dealer - buy your own full synthetic oil - let any reputable shop do the oil change for you - then keep all the receipts showing the product name - date and viscosity. Make sure you watch the work being performed. Very few new vehicle dealerships allow that. They make you wait in nearby waiting rooms. No thanks Bud.

 

[tasch72]

Motorcraft Synthetic Blend is perfectly acceptable, especially for free dealership oil. It'll meet your powertrain warranty requirements.

If you run out of free oil changes, I would switch to a full synthetic. Quaker State and Castrol's synthetics are more affordable than MCSB.

 

[OilStainedNapkin]

I used Motorcraft 5W-20 semi-synthetic motor oil in my wife's Lamborghini Murcielago. I have used the same oil in other sports cars that specify 5W-40 grade oils. I personally like this oil and feel that semi-synthetic oils may have advantages, in many cases, over some fully "synthetic" oils.

ali

How long were your ocis?

 

[Rinspeed]

Looking at doing the first oil change on my F-150 with the 3.5L engine and just wanted to get everyones' opinion on the Motorcraft 5W-30 oil. Is it a great oil to stick with? Too old to do my own oil changes so I'll be going to the dealer for the free oil changes.

I used it for several years in my 3.5 EB, good oil just not quite worth what they are asking today. I switched to Pennzoil Platinum.

 

[AEHaas]

How long were your ocis?

2,000 - 4,000 miles often depending on time rather than miles used.

ali

 

[slomo]

But Amsoil says their oil can run 20,000 or 25,000 miles now. You guys are using the wrong oil. Theirs is better than yours.