Question about Motorcraft 5W-20 oil

[NJ_Car_Owner]

Hi All!

New here, been coming this site whenever I needed info ... not really a car guy but have some general questions about oil that I think I have correct but all of you know more about this than I ever will. I have used Mobile 1 a long time ago (1985) due to driving a lot of mileage. I know that synthetic oil flows when cold where conventional does not - 2 bottles of both in a car trunk back then told the story - really scientific! And the valve tapping disappeared within seconds with Mobile 1. I haven't used synthetic since then as most of the cars I've owned said in the book 4500-5000 miles and/or 6 months and time was usually the factor in changing the oil. We just traded my wife's car in because it needed a rear seal replaced and figured to not put the money into an 10 YO car with 111,000 miles on it as to what next may go wrong. So we buy a Certified 2016 Ford Edge with 6500 miles on it and it has an oil monitor which tells us when it is the correct time based on our driving habits - I'm not used to this as in the manual it says we can go up to 10,000 miles or 1 year between changes ... it may be time to use synthetic again.

Strictly speaking about Motorcraft oil/filters only because it seems that dealers do the oil change with tire rotation (The Works) for about $39 with synthetic blend (and at this point a $10 rebate so $29) which is about the same price as what Jiffy Lube charges for just the oil change. The manual specifies 5W-20 (Ford Spec WSS-M2C945-A), the car has their 3.5L V6 engine and takes about 6 quarts. The car is going to be a daily driver and used mainly for anytime there are longer distance drives which won't be many.

So here are my questions ...

Does all 5W-20 flow about the same at colder temps (20 F) whether it is synthetic blend compared to synthetic? My thinking is yes but based on my experience with Mobile 1 I'm not 100% sure my thinking is correct. Living in NJ I doubt the car will see many -35 degree days.

Would there be any benefit to thinking about full synthetic as I'm not looking to extend oil changes just protect the engine better? I don't want to void any warranties by extending past when the oil monitor says it's time. I guess if a full synthetic handles cold and heat better then there may be a benefit.

Assuming if there isn't a huge price difference in full synthetic and it would be better - is the Motorcraft synthetic worth it? I'm not going to be changing my own oil and if I can get "the Works" at a good price it should be much better than going to Jiffy Lube and getting whatever oil and filter they throw in.

Thanks for any and all info!

 

[skyactiv]

Have a Ford dealer do the oil changes rather than a Jiffylube. Your Ford will do great on Motorcraft 5W20.

 

[SatinSilver]

I've had very good experiences at the Ford Quick Lane, although I go when I think it won't be too busy. Which is usually midweek and midafternoon or early morning. I pull up in front of the second bay and get the same guy each time. They take their time, oil level is perfect and one time he cleaned an area in the engine bay where there's some ps fluid leaking.

 

[sir1900]

Quote:

Does all 5W-20 flow about the same at colder temps (20 F) whether it is synthetic blend compared to synthetic? My thinking is yes but based on my experience with Mobile 1 I'm not 100% sure my thinking is correct. Living in NJ I doubt the car will see many -35 degree days. smile


With the climate in NJ, whether you run conventional, semi-syn or syn, it won't make a difference in terms of flow. If you live in North Dakota, that's a different story.

Quote:
Would there be any benefit to thinking about full synthetic as I'm not looking to extend oil changes just protect the engine better? I don't want to void any warranties by extending past when the oil monitor says it's time. I guess if a full synthetic handles cold and heat better then there may be a benefit.


Sure.

Quote:
Assuming if there isn't a huge price difference in full synthetic and it would be better - is the Motorcraft synthetic worth it? I'm not going to be changing my own oil and if I can get "the Works" at a good price it should be much better than going to Jiffy Lube and getting whatever oil and filter they throw in.


Any brand name synthetic that meets Ford spec will be just fine. Avoid Jiffy Lube if you care about your vehicle. You may wish to consider purchasing the oil yourself at Walmart and taking it to the dealer for them to change.

 

[DuckRyder]

I’ve had pretty good luck with Ford Quick Lane too, Motorcraft 5/20 blend is fine and Motorcraft filters aren’t as problematic as other Puro made filters.

 

[CT8]

Follow the oil meter.

 

[NormanBuntz]

Follow the oil life monitor and use a Ford Quick Lane location. You can't lose.

 

[Triple_Se7en]

I would use full synthetic for 10k OCIs. I would also use a Wix or mid-grade Fram oil filter, instead of Motorcraft.

Lastly, those $500 car payments every month (6K yearly) could easily be applied to a new rear main seal, on a vehicle with only 111K on the odometer.

 

[NJ_Car_Owner]

Thanks for your responses!

I do plan on using the oil monitor for the changes and my plan is to to use the Quick Lane for them. I pretty much figured that they have to be better than Jiffy Lube. My plan is to take my other car to them as it needs an oil change - 6 months have passed and get a "regular" The Works for it and see how it goes. I have a Quick Lane pretty much across the street from the local Jiffy Lube so it isn't out of my way.

I do have a question based on what sir1900 said about NJ climate doesn't make a difference - Back in '85 in the same climate I live now there was a difference in thickness in the conventional vs Mobile 1. I don't remember how cold it was, anywhere from 0 to 32 F, but the conventional was not sloshing around in the bottle the way Mobile 1 did; actually it was extremely thick. Has oil changed that drastically from back then? I think back then it was 10W-40 in a Ford Escort. I'm thinking cold weather startup protection but I can say I don't think I hear anything in this car now during cold weather startup but it does have a blanket or something over the engine.

Another question pops up about bringing my own oil - Will a dealer put in a customer's store bought oil? I didn't think they would allow that.

Thanks again!

 

[Spector]

If certified it has some kind of warranty with it. The MC blend is a great oil and just go with the OLM at least for the warranty period. I also doubt the dealer will permit you to bring your own oil, independents will. My Ford is also a 10,000 mile OCI and you have the option of bringing it in for a change at 5000 if that makes you more comfortable. However, nothing to lose asking them if you can bring your own oil as I am sure the MC synthetic is a very expensive oil change at the dealer vs the blend.

Back in 85 I do not believe a 5W20 existed so Mobil 1 10W40 would have flowed considerably faster than a conventional 10W40 oil. Yes, today's oils are so much better than those of the 80s-90s. As are the engines the oil goes into.

 

[Kruse]

To all the posters saying "use the Ford Quick Lane", my local Ford dealer doesn't use Motorcraft oil, not that your car can really tell the difference.

 

[alarmguy]

Originally Posted By: skyactiv
Have a Ford dealer do the oil changes rather than a Jiffylube. Your Ford will do great on Motorcraft 5W20.


^^^ That (and I actually like the Ford Oil Filters, personally I use a Motorcraft FL820s on my 08 Dodge Durango!) Im also a fan of Semi Syn oils (and conventional)

Either way you will be fine, I also have my company supplied 2012 Ford Transit and it runs on whatever Quick Change Oil place in whatever town or state I happen to be in, at any mileage I get a chance to get it changed, anywhere between 5000 and 15000 mile OCI using the cheapest oil that the quick change place offers and at going on 170,000 miles the darn engine still doesnt burn oil. I wouldnt do this with my personal vehicle just a fact of life with a company vehicle.

 

[NJ_Car_Owner]

Originally Posted By: alarmguy
Originally Posted By: skyactiv
Have a Ford dealer do the oil changes rather than a Jiffylube. Your Ford will do great on Motorcraft 5W20.


^^^ That (and I actually like the Ford Oil Filters, personally I use a Motorcraft FL820s on my 08 Dodge Durango!) Im also a fan of Semi Syn oils (and conventional)

Either way you will be fine, I also have my company supplied 2012 Ford Transit and it runs on whatever Quick Change Oil place in whatever town or state I happen to be in, at any mileage I get a chance to get it changed, anywhere between 5000 and 15000 mile OCI using the cheapest oil that the quick change place offers and at going on 170,000 miles the darn engine still doesnt burn oil. I wouldnt do this with my personal vehicle just a fact of life with a company vehicle.


Yeah, I drive a company car also, I've had 120,000 miles when the car was swapped out and it was "taken care of" by Jiffy Lube.

My concern is that our last car needed a rear seal at 111,000 miles and I am wondering why when I see people say how they have a lot more miles on their car. Of course I should probably look at it as a blessing in disguise as it was my wife's car and she relied on it wherever she went and any talk of getting a new car was met with great resistance as she LOVED that car.

I'm thinking if the full synthetic is not that expensive to just go with it, I've read somewhere that it may only be $10 or $20 dollar difference ... not a lot as long as I'm not changing oil that frequently. Heck $39 at a Quick Lane is cheap as I see the 5 quart Motorcraft Synthetic Blend at Walmart is $36 by me. Some of the full synthetics are cheaper but I'm not changing my own oil so either way someone's got to do it and it might as well be Ford.

 

[NJ_Car_Owner]

Originally Posted By: Kruse
To all the posters saying "use the Ford Quick Lane", my local Ford dealer doesn't use Motorcraft oil, not that your car can really tell the difference.


Interesting, as the coupon says Motorcraft synthetic blend and either a Motorcraft or Onmicraft (I assume this is for non Ford cars) filter.

Although I agree that as long as it's a good oil then the car doesn't care.