Motorcraft Synthetic Blend $29 as Walmart

[Plumb Bob]

Pricing too low could damage their dealership network. There's always the option of not buying it.

 

[Japanese]

Even if this bottom grade oil was $18 a jug I still wouldn't buy it.

Dirt cheap production, minimum standard junk with a top shelf price. (still better than Rotella)

But why that bad fame of that oil?
Do we have any data that it performs bad? After all it needs to be changed at about 3,000 miles.
Ford owners usually like it.

 

[RazorsEdge]

I’ve never understood why this oil used to be so popular with a lot of members here back in the day

It burned off quickly years ago when we were using it in our Crown Victoria, wasn't impressed at all.

 

[wtd]

I have been using it in my 2014 Mustang GT since it was new with no issues.

 

[JavierH19]

But why that bad fame of that oil?
Do we have any data that it performs bad? After all it needs to be changed at about 3,000 miles.
Ford owners usually like it.

It's offensive to see at such a low quality low cost product being sold for so much. They wanted 25 previously now 29 for a cheap oil that'll cake your rings even with early 5k intervals not even halfway through the powertrain warranty.

 

[Japanese]

It's offensive to see at such a low quality low cost product being sold for so much. They wanted 25 previously now 29 for a cheap oil that'll cake your rings even with early 5k intervals not even halfway through the powertrain warranty.

But everything goes up. Groceries still going up. Why shouldn't motor oil? In this case is a matter of economics, not related to the quality of the product. Probably its manufacturing went up.

 

[JavierH19]

But everything goes up. Groceries still going up. Why shouldn't motor oil? In this case is a matter of economics, not related to the quality of the product. Probably its manufacturing went up.

I find it very hard to believe a mass produced syn blend with a whatever pcmo additive pack can cost that much to make even if they had poor economies of scale compared to other mass market oils. If it was a very small blender without the ability to lower materials costs due to the small order quantity maybe. Walmart sells full syn for $17.98 made by warren and I know they're not selling it at cost or a loss.

 

[TiGeo]

My '13 Focus spent most of its life on this since new..changed over to other oils after 100k (free dealer changes up until then) but still....good enough . Runs perfectly. 142K mi. Issue is value at this point.

 

[Panda87]

But why that bad fame of that oil?
Do we have any data that it performs bad? After all it needs to be changed at about 3,000 miles.
Ford owners usually like it.

It was spec’d for my 2014 Navigator for the entire OCI, which is about 7500mi. It’s likely why the Ford 5.4 3v engines were notorious for timing system problems like bleeding chain tensioners and VCT solenoid issues.

Mine had Meineke and Midas service records, but it was likely whatever the cheapest swill they had in barrels getting pumped into it and run for the whole OCI (or longer…) so I can’t blame the Motorcraft oil, but the inside of my engine is coated in a thick, rough textured black carbon material. The thermostat wouldn’t get the coolant above 174f when I bought it and was running scans on it during the drive home from Indy to North AL. I’m sure that didn’t help issues either. Running the proper 195f thermostat in it now and HPL PCMO 5w-40, soon to be HPL Supercar 5w-40.

 

[GW.]

I’m sure the oil is fine but I see no reason to seek out a $29 syn blend or even a $20 syn blend.

 

[pbm]

Too much for a blend and at that we don't know the blend ratio. It could be 25% syn or less. I would choose Supertech or Quaker State Full Synthetic for that price and less. I just bought 24 5qt jugs of Quaker State Full Synthetic from Autozone for $20 a jug as they were discountinuing it.

Were those 25 jugs SQ? For only a dollar more ($20.97) you can get a 5qt. jug of SQ rated QS Full Synthetic at Walmart right now.

 

[tmorris1]

How cheap was it back then? Because it really isn’t in the same price category as a full synthetic and should have always been priced not that much more than a conventional.
People hear synthetic blend and they assume 50% synthetic base when in reality it has probably been more like 10-25%, and group 3 at that.
The only blend I ever used was Schaeffer and it was mostly because of Bob Winters. He had a lot of people convinced that it was just as good as a full synthetic but I still have my doubts about that…

I don't remember the exact price, but when I joined BITOG forum it was the darling of the forum at the time. People always touted the used oil analysis and considered it a geat oil for the price. It apparently isn't a deal based on price now. Phillips Trop-Artic and Kendall were supposedly close blends or twins of it made by the same company if I remember correctly. I never used it much (but also never had a problem with it either). My son used it in his 2010 Crown Vic until he could start getting MaxLife cheaper, but I'm not sure that engine cares what it gets.

 

[tmorris1]

It's offensive to see at such a low quality low cost product being sold for so much. They wanted 25 previously now 29 for a cheap oil that'll cake your rings even with early 5k intervals not even halfway through the powertrain warranty.

A couple years ago you could get a 5qt jug for $17 at Wal-Mart or out local Bomgaars. I don't know if it would "cake" your rings as there are lots of Fords running it from dealer oil changes. I can buy Mobil 1 Extended Performance for the same price now and it a much better oil.
I would guess my 2006 Ford Focus ran on it for the first 93k miles until I bought it. I did 1 free dealer oil change after that and then switched to Mobil 1 Extended Performance 0w20 and have put another 210k on it since. Can't be that bad, but definitely not a good deal $$ wise anymore.

 

[nascarnation]

It used to be about 60% Grp 3 but that was blended with Grp 1 at the time. That was years ago no idea now.

I and many here were big fans of the now gone Trop Artic which was exactly the same stuff at half the price. used oil analysis were impressive. Current used oil analysis show Motorcraft blend is a poor choice for the Ecoboost no idea why Ford keeps rolling with it.

Back in the day that Trop Artic was a buck fifty a quart at Walmart and I used a lot of it based on positive vibes from BITOG.

 

[GMBoy]

Were those 25 jugs SQ? For only a dollar more ($20.97) you can get a 5qt. jug of SQ rated QS Full Synthetic at Walmart right now.

Yes they were Full synthetic. True Walmart prices beat everyone daily.

 

[pbm]

Yes they were Full synthetic. True Walmart prices beat everyone daily.

What I meant was that the QS 'Full Synthetic' that you bought at AZ was most likely SP rated since they were 'discounting' it but it may have been the most recent SQ rated. It probably wouldn't make much difference in your application or mine but Quaker State was the first brand I saw at Walmart to be SQ in every viscosity. The Pennzoil and Supertech synthetics at my local Walmart are still SP rated.

 

[GMBoy]

What I meant was that the QS 'Full Synthetic' that you bought at AZ was most likely SP rated since they were 'discounting' it but it may have been the most recent SQ rated. It probably wouldn't make much difference in your application or mine but Quaker State was the first brand I saw at Walmart to be SQ in every viscosity. The Pennzoil and Supertech synthetics at my local Walmart are still SP rated.

I went an checked and yes they are SP.

 

[pbm]

I went an checked and yes they are SP.

Still an excellent oil that will serve you well.