Oil Recommendations for 2012 DI Focus

[Tucson Five-O]

Hi Guys,

Bought a 2012 Ford Focus in late November.

The dealer I bought it from has a "Maintenance for Life" program, meaning they'll change the oil/filter and rotate the tires every 5,000 miles for free for the life of the vehicle.

They use Motorcraft 5W-20 and the great Motorcraft FL-910S filter.

I am concerned about the intake valve buildup issue with the DI engine. As such, I am strongly leaning towards Pennzoil Ultra 5W-20 with the published 5.0% Noack figure.

Other choices would be Pennzoil Platinum 5W-20, although the 12.8% Noack is higher than I would like to see.

And Mobil 1 5W-20 is another possibility with its 2.75HTHS which probably would have a lower Noack than Pennzoil Platinum, I would think.

Seeing the last few used oil analysis for the 2.0L DI Focus leaves me less concerned about fuel dilution issues, but I'd rather play it safe regarding the volatility, buildup issue.

And if only there was an easy way to see if the MC oil was adequate, regarding intake valve buildup, that would be great.

I am historically a SOPennzoil UltraS user, but it's tough to beat free, if the Motorcraft oil is up to the task. I know it's a 60/40 Group III/II oil, but I'm skeptical its Noack is much under 14%.

Any opinions would be most appreciated.

Thanks,
Gary

 

[Bill in Utah]

I'd use what Ford is recommending and have Ford and your dealership do ALL the oil changes with it so if you have any problems you have ammo towards them.

I doubt using Pennzoil Ultra is going to help the situation and all it WILL DO is give them something to blame (again) if something goes wrong.

The DI is a concern. Your transmission is more of a concern for me after all the problems I'm having with our Focus.

Take care, Bill

 

[The_Jake]

Originally Posted By: Tucson Five-O
Hi Guys,

The dealer I bought it from has a "Maintenance for Life" program, meaning they'll change the oil/filter and rotate the tires every 5,000 miles for free for the life of the vehicle.

Any opinions would be most appreciated.

Thanks,
Gary


My opinion....you would be crazy to do any oil changes if they do them for free. If you want to be sure your engine stays clean try adding a can of seafoam or marvel mystery oil to the oil at 4000 miles every 5th oil service.

 

[Bill in Utah]

Originally Posted By: The_Jake


My opinion....you would be crazy to do any oil changes if they do them for free. If you want to be sure your engine stays clean try adding a can of seafoam or marvel mystery oil to the oil at 4000 miles every 5th oil service.


That would do nothing for the DI concerns. Plus IF something happens and they do a used oil analysis and something shows up more ammo for them.

I agree with letting them have at it!

Bill

 

[volk06]

Motorcraft oil and oil filter will enable the engine to last longer than any other part of the vehicle. Let them do it for free MC is a very good oil and has quite a bit of group III in it. The 2.0 has shown excellent used oil analysis.

 

[Tucson Five-O]

volk06,

How many miles do you have on yours? Any change in idle quality, mileage or responsiveness?

Recently someone posted a link to a Ford article detailing how the 2.0L DI engine PCM monitors the intake air flow and adjusts the intake timing events to allow some of the fuel to backwash across the intake valve faces as needed to clean the buildup.

 

[volk06]

Originally Posted By: Tucson Five-O
volk06,

How many miles do you have on yours? Any change in idle quality, mileage or responsiveness?

Recently someone posted a link to a Ford article detailing how the 2.0L DI engine PCM monitors the intake air flow and adjusts the intake timing events to allow some of the fuel to backwash across the intake valve faces as needed to clean the buildup.


8,000 miles. No problems to date. We get the works package at the ford dealer with 5K OCI, this will change once we're out of warranty and I'll go up to 10K with full synthetic. Reason for 5K is it is driven in town 75% of the time in stop and go traffic.

 

[skyship]

This is the result from the LM oil finder:

Engine Duratec
Capacity : LubeCap 4,3 liter
Use : Normal
· Intervals : Change 10000 miles / 12 months
· Products : Longtime High Tech 5w30
Use : Severe
· Intervals : Change 6 months / 5000 miles
· Products : Longtime High Tech 5w30

(That is specific for US cars not German ones)

This is the result from Castrol but check I have the correct engine:

Magnatec 5w30 A1
Focus 2.0 Duratec-HE 16V (118kW) 2011 -

If that is the wrong engine, this is the Castrol link:
Castrol oil finder

Ford in the US are using a cheap part conventional oil and have no real interest in how long your engine will last after the warranty expires, they just want to add up their fuel economy CAFE bean counting credits.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: The_Jake
Originally Posted By: Tucson Five-O
Hi Guys,

The dealer I bought it from has a "Maintenance for Life" program, meaning they'll change the oil/filter and rotate the tires every 5,000 miles for free for the life of the vehicle.

Any opinions would be most appreciated.

Thanks,
Gary


My opinion....you would be crazy to do any oil changes if they do them for free. If you want to be sure your engine stays clean try adding a can of seafoam or marvel mystery oil to the oil at 4000 miles every 5th oil service.


No. If he runs a decent oil, he doesn't need additives, particularly not a solvent.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Originally Posted By: skyship
This is the result from the LM oil finder:

Engine Duratec
Capacity : LubeCap 4,3 liter
Use : Normal
· Intervals : Change 10000 miles / 12 months
· Products : Longtime High Tech 5w30
Use : Severe
· Intervals : Change 6 months / 5000 miles
· Products : Longtime High Tech 5w30

(That is specific for US cars not German ones)

This is the result from Castrol but check I have the correct engine:

Magnatec 5w30 A1
Focus 2.0 Duratec-HE 16V (118kW) 2011 -

If that is the wrong engine, this is the Castrol link:
Castrol oil finder

Ford in the US are using a cheap part conventional oil and have no real interest in how long your engine will last after the warranty expires, they just want to add up their fuel economy CAFE bean counting credits.


















The part where Ford doesn't care about the engine after the warranty is true, but the 2.0 Duratec in the Focus is an EXTREMELY reliable engine - probably one of Ford's best. Most of them on the road probably didn't get the oil changed at the recommended interval and are using bulk, cheap, conventional 5w-20. No sludge problems that I've ever heard of.

 

[volk06]

Originally Posted By: skyship
This is the result from the LM oil finder:

Engine Duratec
Capacity : LubeCap 4,3 liter
Use : Normal
· Intervals : Change 10000 miles / 12 months
· Products : Longtime High Tech 5w30
Use : Severe
· Intervals : Change 6 months / 5000 miles
· Products : Longtime High Tech 5w30

(That is specific for US cars not German ones)

This is the result from Castrol but check I have the correct engine:

Magnatec 5w30 A1
Focus 2.0 Duratec-HE 16V (118kW) 2011 -

If that is the wrong engine, this is the Castrol link:
Castrol oil finder

Ford in the US are using a cheap part conventional oil and have no real interest in how long your engine will last after the warranty expires, they just want to add up their fuel economy CAFE bean counting credits.



Once again you post a bunch of non-sense. Ford specs 5w-20 for this engine NOT 5w30. Motorcraft is not some cheap conventional oil, which is what they recommend but of course don't require. These engines last just fine on 5w-20 and have excellent UOA. Do you have any PROOF of an engine failing due to using 5w20 when it is spec'd for it???? Thats right you don't....

 

[blackman777]

Originally Posted By: The_Jake
If you want to be sure your engine stays clean try adding a can of seafoam or marvel mystery oil to the oil at 4000 miles every 5th oil service.

Yeah and void your engine warranty.
My answer is a simple one:
Let the dealer do all your 5000 mile oil changes, but bring your own bottles. Otherwise they might put-in any old junk oil. I prefer Mobil 5w-20 then stick with that thickness. Switch to Mobil 1 5w30 when the engine warranty expires.

Also you might want to avoid Ford air filters and oil filters, since they are not very good. (Actually no OEM filter is much good.) Mobil 1 is the best oil filter.

 

[kam327]

Absolutely let the dealer keep doing it forever. You'd be a fool not to. Show me an objective comparison of two identical engines with identical service lives and OCIs but different oils showing a clear correlation between NOACK and sludge /varnishing and I might change my advice. If there was one I'd think the many synthetic fans here would have linked it by now.

 

[skyship]

Originally Posted By: Miller88
Originally Posted By: skyship
This is the result from the LM oil finder:

Engine Duratec
Capacity : LubeCap 4,3 liter
Use : Normal
· Intervals : Change 10000 miles / 12 months
· Products : Longtime High Tech 5w30
Use : Severe
· Intervals : Change 6 months / 5000 miles
· Products : Longtime High Tech 5w30

(That is specific for US cars not German ones)

This is the result from Castrol but check I have the correct engine:

Magnatec 5w30 A1
Focus 2.0 Duratec-HE 16V (118kW) 2011 -

If that is the wrong engine, this is the Castrol link:
Castrol oil finder

Ford in the US are using a cheap part conventional oil and have no real interest in how long your engine will last after the warranty expires, they just want to add up their fuel economy CAFE bean counting credits.


















The part where Ford doesn't care about the engine after the warranty is true, but the 2.0 Duratec in the Focus is an EXTREMELY reliable engine - probably one of Ford's best. Most of them on the road probably didn't get the oil changed at the recommended interval and are using bulk, cheap, conventional 5w-20. No sludge problems that I've ever heard of.


True, as it's one of the engines chosen by Volvo who then say for severe service use a full synthetic and give a range of oil grades according to temperatures. They even list a full synthetic 15w40 for hot desert conditions.
Oddly enough I took a look at the lubrication part of a Ford warranty for this engine and it did list 0 or 5w30 as acceptable grades, even though the associated handbook just said 5/20, but the OP should check his own papers because I don't recall which exact model that was for.

 

[skyship]

Originally Posted By: blackman777
Originally Posted By: The_Jake
If you want to be sure your engine stays clean try adding a can of seafoam or marvel mystery oil to the oil at 4000 miles every 5th oil service.

Yeah and void your engine warranty.
My answer is a simple one:
Let the dealer do all your 5000 mile oil changes, but bring your own bottles. Otherwise they might put-in any old junk oil. I prefer Mobil 5w-20 then stick with that thickness. Switch to Mobil 1 5w30 when the engine warranty expires.

Also you might want to avoid Ford air filters and oil filters, since they are not very good. (Actually no OEM filter is much good.) Mobil 1 is the best oil filter.


Not sure about Ford in the US, but in the EU their filters are as good as any other ones available, although we don't have such a variety on offer as in the US. I would do some serious homework to see if anyone has done a good study comparing Motorcraft filters to other brands before deciding not to use a Ford filter.

 

[skyship]

Originally Posted By: kam327
Absolutely let the dealer keep doing it forever. You'd be a fool not to. Show me an objective comparison of two identical engines with identical service lives and OCIs but different oils showing a clear correlation between NOACK and sludge /varnishing and I might change my advice. If there was one I'd think the many synthetic fans here would have linked it by now.


Although I'm not a light oil fan, that is correct as oil quality in terms of Calcium and Magnesium based detergents makes more difference in terms of how well the oil cleans.

 

[badtlc]

Let the dealer do it. Great oil. Great filter.

As for the DI deposits, just do an italian tuneup for 20+ minutes every 5,000 miles right before you get the oil changed. That should keep it in check. To this point, nobody has shown less DI deposit issues using a specific oil on engines that do have depsit issues.

Truth be told, there is no evidence showing these Focus DI engines have deposit issues. The EcoBoost engine does, though.

 

[Danh]

Originally Posted By: badtlc
Let the dealer do it. Great oil. Great filter.

As for the DI deposits, just do an italian tuneup for 20+ minutes every 5,000 miles right before you get the oil changed. That should keep it in check. To this point, nobody has shown less DI deposit issues using a specific oil on engines that do have depsit issues.

Truth be told, there is no evidence showing these Focus DI engines have deposit issues. The EcoBoost engine does, though.


The deposit issue the OP is concerned with are deposits on the intake side of the intake valves caused by crankcase oil vapors coming in contact with the hot valve. Normally, fuel in the intake charge washes these away, but not in a DI engine. So, while
an "Italian Tuneup" could do something for combustion chamber deposits, it won't help with these.

This whole issue may be overblown as it is mostly based on experience with early DI engines, particularly those from German marques. Manufacturers probably have a much better handle on this now, but because it's no more than "probably", I use Pennzoil Ultra in my DI Focus. Can't hurt.

 

[RF Overlord]

Originally Posted By: skyship
Ford in the US are using a cheap part conventional oil
You make it sound so sleazy.

MC 5W-20 is highly respected here and has proven itself to be an excellent oil. Yes, it's "part conventional", but it's a much smaller part than almost any other blend.

 

[blackman777]

Originally Posted By: skyship
Not sure about Ford in the US, but in the EU their filters are as good as any other ones available....
Air filters: http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=117009

Oil filters: Amsoil did a test and NONE of the OEM filters performed well. I wouldn't buy any of them. Other tests have shown the best are Bosch, amsoil, mobil 1, and Purolator's PureONE (just that one model; the rest did poorly).