Thought you guys could discuss this one. I am a fleet mechanic for the 5th biggest utility in the USA. I was told to just use the 15W40 diesel oil and not worry about it 'cause they only say to use 5W20 for milage reasons. I am changing oil on 2006 ford rangers with the 3.0L and aprox 5,500 miles on them.
replacing 5W20 with 15W40
- Thread starter wingdr
- Start date
- Status
You work for knuckleheads.
Good luck, especially on those sub 10°F morning starts in Ohio. Police CVPI fleet managers were told Ford may, indeed, void the warranty if they can trace an engine failure to a non-recommended oil.
...and I wonder why I don't let other people touch my truck
wingdr:
Your location says Ohio.
What is the range of the fleet you maintain?
Whole state? Columbus area? Dayton? Cleveland?
Will you be running 15W40 year-round or just beginning now?
They might suppose that by March the 15 degree nights are done.
The 3.0L on the Rangers... I think that's the Vulcan V6. It is an older-style Ford motor. It might actually do OK on 5W40 or 10W40. If it was summer only in Ohio, that would probably work.
As far back as 1987 that engine was specced for 5W30, in the Taurus.
I'd suggest you try to persuade your boss to carry bulk 10W30 for them, if not 5W30. The 10W30 might actually be cheaper, since the additives cost less in it.
Your location says Ohio.
What is the range of the fleet you maintain?
Whole state? Columbus area? Dayton? Cleveland?
Will you be running 15W40 year-round or just beginning now?
They might suppose that by March the 15 degree nights are done.
The 3.0L on the Rangers... I think that's the Vulcan V6. It is an older-style Ford motor. It might actually do OK on 5W40 or 10W40. If it was summer only in Ohio, that would probably work.
As far back as 1987 that engine was specced for 5W30, in the Taurus.
I'd suggest you try to persuade your boss to carry bulk 10W30 for them, if not 5W30. The 10W30 might actually be cheaper, since the additives cost less in it.
15W40 won't kill your engine (even in the winter) but is definitely not the preferred grade.
I certainly wouldn't and would not recommend others to use it but at the same time, I can't see why it'd cause a problem. After all, doesn't Bryan run 15W40 year-round in his truck up in Alaska?
If I remember correctly, at below zero temps, oil is very thick and will barely pump with the oil pump. But wouldn't the residual oil left in the bearings stay there and provide enough lubrication until the engine warms up (enough) to allow for the oil to flow?
I certainly wouldn't and would not recommend others to use it but at the same time, I can't see why it'd cause a problem. After all, doesn't Bryan run 15W40 year-round in his truck up in Alaska?
If I remember correctly, at below zero temps, oil is very thick and will barely pump with the oil pump. But wouldn't the residual oil left in the bearings stay there and provide enough lubrication until the engine warms up (enough) to allow for the oil to flow?
Michael Wan-
Unless the oil film on the cylinder wall was deposited cold, otherwise (assuming that you are dealing with a sufficiently warmed up engine's cylinder wall), the thermally-thinned 15W40 will still flow and drip back down into your oilpan due to gravity (it "thins" when it's warm so the film left behind would be microns thin....)
15W40 is definitely not a good idea esp. in cold winter areas (Oh you say?)
Unless the oil film on the cylinder wall was deposited cold, otherwise (assuming that you are dealing with a sufficiently warmed up engine's cylinder wall), the thermally-thinned 15W40 will still flow and drip back down into your oilpan due to gravity (it "thins" when it's warm so the film left behind would be microns thin....)
15W40 is definitely not a good idea esp. in cold winter areas (Oh you say?)
The Gelation Index is of most concern in cold temperatures. -5°C(+23°F) to -40°C(-40°F)
I work for the utility in NYC and Westchester county and up until 2005 only dino 15w40 was used in all vehicles all year round because it was a "fleet" oil regardless of the manufacturer's recommendation and changed at 6 month intervals and the vehicles are kept for 10 years. The only vehicles I recall that had engine problems were Dodge mini Ram cargo vans with 2.2 and 2.5 4 cylinder engines model years 1987 thru 1994. Whether that was oil related or not I can't say. There were other engine failures but that was traced to the lack of oil and there were few. In 2005 they switched to Amsoil synthetic in two grades, 15w40 for the diesel part of the fleet and 5w30 for the gas part of the fleet with annual oil changes.
It gets below 0 here several times a year, but has gone down to 15 below on occasion. I did try to persuade mngt that since we keep vehicles with gas engines to between 180,000 and 200,000 that it would be better in the long run to use even a 10W30. They say that they are only going to purchase one grade of oil and that is what I am to use.
I don't really care as long as they last two or three more years. By then I hope to be retired!!!!
I don't really care as long as they last two or three more years. By then I hope to be retired!!!!
I mighy add that the only oil filters used are orange Fram Extra Guards. In the case of the Dodge mini vans, the engines were replaced by Dodge under an extended warranty at around the 6 or 7 year part of their tenure.
I can just hear the knock now.
If it were to get to -20F with 15w40 in a Ford Ranger...........YIKES!
10w30 would be perfect, tell the management that they will be increasing their costs and decreasing their productivity but doing such a dumb thing.
Bring them the owner's manual and show them the warning where they will be potentially damaging their engines in the cold mornings.
That'll turn them around.
Bring them the owner's manual and show them the warning where they will be potentially damaging their engines in the cold mornings.
That'll turn them around.
You mind me asking what brand 15W40 they are using. This way we know who to blame if things don't go right.
What about Miami Ohio?
I did tell them my thoughts. I am just the mechanic, not in supervision. The attitude is , if we don't spend till next yr, we saved that much more this yr. I have gone as much as 14,000 between oil changes in chevy vans. I even re-sleeved a diesel once and could not get back to change the oil for a year! Now we are using Castrol Tection 15W40. The only good part is, it is Castrol.
- Status