Put In 5w30 Instead Of 5w20 In Moms MGM By Mistake

[crazyoildude]

I went to visit my mom and decided to change her oil on her 2004 Mercury Grand Marquis...So my brother picked up some 5w30 QSUD instead of the 5w20.. I don't like sopus oils because the jugs always leak but he chose that because it was priced good.. I did not notice it was 5w30 until it was already in the crankcase.. There were 5 quarts of 5w30 and one quart of 5w20..
The engine did not seem to care at all, how many others use 5w30 in a 4.6 modular?

 

[mrsilv04]

It won't matter a bit. Not at all. I use 5w30 in a V-10 Triton.

 

[crazyoildude]

I know it won't hurt i was curious how many use 5w30 in those engines

 

[OneEyeJack]

It'll be just fine and on top of that you'll be better at reading labels. What's not to like about that?

 

[Merkava_4]

Those engines originally spec'd 5w30 before 5W-20 showed up.

 

[Kuato]

No worries, I used 5w30 in the 4.6 engines I owned.

 

[CT8]

won't matter

 

[19jacobob93]

Drain that right now before it explodes!

 

[demarpaint]

Run it, and ask her if she notices any thing different.

 

[C4Dave]

I use 5w30 in my 1999 Grand Marquis 4.6. No problems noted. It was originally spec'd for 5w30, and says so on the oil cap.

 

[RF Overlord]

I use 5w30 in my 2003 Marauder and in the ex's...mine because it's supercharged and hers because it has almost 200,000 miles.

 

[OVERKILL]

I recently ran PU 5w30 in our 5.4L. My parents run 5w30/0w-30 in theirs. I usually run a 0w30 though.

 

[nolesfan]

No offense, but it's a 4.6L Ford V8; it really doesn't matter which of the two you run. My dad used to use 5w20 or 5w30 in his Town Car. No mileage or performance difference between the two.

 

[crazyoildude]

My brother is the one that filled it i read labels...lol

 

[EA82]

I ran 5w30 in my 04 4.6 van, it uses slightly less oil with 5w30 in.
I've switched between 5w20, 5w30, 10w30 whatever I find on sale, those engines don't care.

 

[SirTanon]

My 2003 Mercury Sable, with the 3.0 liter Duratec, was originally spec'd at 5w30 when it was new, but was back-spec'd to 5w20 when that came out. I ran 5w30 in it at least half the time I owned it, and never had a single problem. Your 4.6 liter won't even notice the difference.

Just run the 5w30.

 

[00Max00]

I would more worried if I put 5W20 in a car that specifies 5W30...

 

[Triton_330]

I use 5w30 in my 2001 F-150 with the 5.4L Triton Modular (the 4.6L's big brother). Though it was around 1999 or 2000 when the recommendation changed from 5w30 to 5w-20, it's the same engine as those spec'd for the 5w30.

All 4.6L and 5.4L engines from 1997 to 2003 should be using 5w30.

But... The generation change in 2004 wasn't just in the looks of the the vehicles, but the engines as well. The 97-03 modular V8 engines are 2 valves per cylinder; the 04-10 modular V8 engines changed, most of which being 3 valves per cylinder (and some 4v, such as the Lincoln Intech).

I don't know whether anything changed as far as tolerances/clearances goes between generations, and since your (OP) car in question is a 2004, I can't specifically answer yes or no based on my own knowledge...

But, what I can say is:

Even if the tolerances/clearances did change somewhat... Using 5w30 in a car spec'd for 5w-20 will not bare any harm.

Here's the way I see it, personally:

One grade up from spec is safe 99% of the time.
Two grades up from spec is safe maybe 50 to 75% of the time.
Three grades up from spec is... stupid.

One grade down from spec is safe maybe 75 to 99% of the time.
Two grades down is safe maybe 50% of the time.
Three grades down is... stupid.

So, judging by this, (which is JMO), since 5w30 was spec'd for 97, 98, and 99 [?] Triton/Modular Ford engines: IF there was no change in tolerance/clearance (from 97-03 to 04-10), then all modulars should be running 5w30 anyway; IF there was a change, then you're only going up one grade, and that isn't likely at all to cause harm.

Just my two cents worth.

~ Triton

 

[FloatingBrick]

I change the oil on 2 Ford 4.6s and will use 5W20 or 5W30 depending on stash composition and/or sale price.

With that said, I try to lean to the 5W20 on the 00 since it could potentially have the timing chain guide problem. I also use Motorcraft filters on this one, as Ford recommends.

 

[oldmaninsc]

I've used mostly 5W-20 in my MGM, but the last time I changed oil I only had 5w30 so I used it. Maybe SLIGHTLY less responsive, but still runs just great. No real noticeable change in MPG.

I've been using 5w30 or 10w30 in the F150.