Patman published the list and it is correct:
Oil 1 = Motorcraft syn blend 5w-20
Oil 2 = Royal Purple 5w-20
Oil 3 = Royal Purple 5w-30
Oil 4 = M1 0w-30
Oil 5 = M1 5w-30
I'm approaching 3000 miles on a new engine and am going to go with one of these oils. I'm going to use something a little beefier at temperature than a 20 weight, despite Ford's recommendation. The vehicle is a new F-150, 4.2 V6. They recommended 5w-30 for this engine, and the 3.8 before that, for years until they needed to up the CAFE ratings overall. I'm inclined to believe that what was good before would still hold, strictly in terms of longevity of engine.
Even though it will be synthetic oil that I use, I will still change at 4-5000 miles. I'm really not interested in seeing, with analysis, how far I can push it. It's not an issue of economics but one of confidence once I get a baseline. I may test at 4000 just to see where I'm at, but I'd rather just change earlier and feel better about it than be worrying about it somewhere out on the extreme of the life of the oil.
I'm leaning toward the RP 5w-30. I started another post (Roger Maris) in which I was trying to get some insight into the M1 0w-30. I think that that one is second choice. We'll see how that thread develops.
I expect to be using a K&N filter, as well, for what appears to be a good balance between filtration efficiency (10-15uM) and oil flow. It's very well built, also.
I really appreciate all of the feedback. The civility and level of intellectual engagement in these pages is delightful.
[ January 15, 2003, 10:37 PM: Message edited by: YZF150 ]