Oil mixture for a ford Explorer question

[GhostFlame]

Hey gang I need some advice

I have
2 qts of Pennzoil Conventional 10w40 15 yrs old SJ
1 qt walmart synthetic 5-30 2 months old
3 qts Motorcraft syn blend 5-20 2 years old

I 'd like to use this up. any problems putting the soup into my '06 Explorer?

Manual calls for 5-30 will the 2 qts of 10-40 balance out the 3 qts od 5-20?

I don't have any engine that calls for 10-40 or 5-20 anymore. I will chnage now and again in late October.

 

[Astro14]

Simple answer: you can, but I wouldn't.

Here's why, sure you end up with an average of 5W30, more or less, but you've increased amount of oil that is above or below the desired viscosity...in other words, you have an excess of too heavy and too light, so there is more variation...kind of like going back to GRP I....and while 15 year old oil is probably OK - why risk it in your relatively new truck?

Why not just get 2 QTs of the Motorcraft and save the rest for the lawnmower? or your oil can?

 

[GhostFlame]

Originally Posted By: Astro14
Simple answer: you can, but I wouldn't.

Here's why, sure you end up with an average of 5W30, more or less, but you've increased amount of oil that is above or below the desired viscosity...in other words, you have an excess of too heavy and too light, so there is more variation...kind of like going back to GRP I....and while 15 year old oil is probably OK - why risk it in your relatively new truck?

Why not just get 2 QTs of the Motorcraft and save the rest for the lawnmower? or your oil can?


So the 5-20 syn blend is okay? I do have a few qts 5-30 M5000 on the shelf from a recent oil special at pep boys.
I have a Kohler engine (lawn mower) and the only oil it likes is 10w30. I thought about using the 10 40 in there but, on a Kohler forum they all said don't use the 10-40

 

[chubbs1]

Go for it, just don't run an extended drain. 4K or there abouts, it won't hurt anything.

 

[Astro14]

I think the 5W20 is OK, but I will likely get flamed for saying it...personally, I only use what is OK from the owner's manual...but I haven't read an Explorer manual since I got rid of a '96...

As far as the mower...it's air cooled, splash lubed - I figure it's not too picky on oil type...but clearly others disagree...

Last time I found myself with a couple of "orphan" quarts - all different...I just took 'em to Advance and recycled them when I picked up 5 QTs of M1 and a filter for $28...maybe that's the best suggestion - you know what you bought is good for the engine and your rid of the orphans...

 

[GhostFlame]

Originally Posted By: Astro14
I think the 5W20 is OK, but I will likely get flamed for saying it...personally, I only use what is OK from the owner's manual...but I haven't read an Explorer manual since I got rid of a '96...

As far as the mower...it's air cooled, splash lubed - I figure it's not too picky on oil type...but clearly others disagree...

Last time I found myself with a couple of "orphan" quarts - all different...I just took 'em to Advance and recycled them when I picked up 5 QTs of M1 and a filter for $28...maybe that's the best suggestion - you know what you bought is good for the engine and your rid of the orphans...


Thanks, my dad who has been gone for 7 yrs would hit me over the head if I recycled good oil, LOL. He would say waste not want not. Anyway I think I'm gong to use it in the '06 explorer since everyone seems to agree it won't hurt anything. and go with a shorter OCI, that'll keep my Ole Man's ghost off my back!

 

[kkreit01]

I wouldn't put all 5w20 in the 4.0. There's a reason why Ford doesn't recommend it. It's about the only mainstream engine Ford says "not to".

 

[GhostFlame]

got it. I'm going to blend in the 2)10-40,1)5-30 and 2)5-20 and drain it at 4000 miles. before it gets cold in Octorber or so.

 

[yaris0128]

Id do it if that old 10w40 wasnt in the mix

 

[jorton]

Originally Posted By: yaris0128
Id do it if that old 10w40 wasnt in the mix
Same here. 15 years old 10w30 would have been ok, though.

 

[GhostFlame]

What will hapen if I use the 10-40? You're scarin' me.

Some say yes some say no. I feel like I'm at my inlaws.

 

[yaris0128]

Well your Pennzoil Conventional is just plain old. Your 06 car manual does not want anything thats 10w40 or in SJ spec. So that is enough for me no to use it. Its ONLY two quarts. So your not saving much money by using this super old oil in your nice explorer. Go pick up another 2qts of something you like in a pretty bottle in 5w30 and use it. Theres no way Id use 15yr old oil in a car Im still making payments on.

If you see in my sig my yaris has a nice blend of oils. They are all the same 5w30 spec and all SM syn. So I dont mind mixing that. Its better than throwing it away. I need to stick to one brand and I wouldnt have this problem. Also Id definately use 5w20 in your 5w30 truck if you dont live in a high heat area. Ive got 5w20 in my 5w30 del sol right now!

 

[kkreit01]

Here's an idea: Use the 10w40 in mower, or other OPE. Take the MC5w20 to Walmart and exchange for MC 5w30. Tell them your wifey bought the wrong kind.

or....

Use only 1 qt of 5w20 per 4 of 5w30 -- if you really want to use it up. IIRC, the 4.0 only takes 5 qts. Buy a $14 jug of 5w30 already! (lol)