thicker oil in ford 4.6 engines question?

[aztec12]

my dad has a 2001 ford lobo in mexico(f150)4.6 engine that we use mostly wen we go on vacation down there.Anyways,i was reading the manual and it clearly says to use 5w20 oil except in mexico to use 15w40.!!!!
what do you guys make of this? the 2 week that i was there temps where in the high 90's for the most part,and no the truck doesn't feel sluggish at all.
as far as i know we have the same engine tolerances so why do they make it seem that all we can use here in the states is 5w20 but no more than 10w30 and thats pushing-it

 

[TR3-2001SE]

It is the same as almost any car overseas vs u.s. Cafe standards required companys to specify these light weight oils. However they are performing very well in used oil analysis on this site. I am still not convinced yet and run 0w-40 and 10w-40 oils in my cars that are past 100,000 miles. Gets very warm around here this time of year.

 

[JustinH]

Perhaps 5w20 isn't available in mexico?

 

[Whimsey]

Perhaps the oil in Mexico is not up to the same standards as it in the US. So they spec a "safe" oil to use in the engines. Not the ideal oil but a safe "fallback" oil to use considering the local circumstances.

Just a guess

.

Whimsey

 

[Eddie]

+1 for Whimsey. I also noticed in my Mazda owners manual that in some countries the oil/filter change & spark plug change interval is about 1/3 shorter in countries South of the USA. Must have to do with lower quality of oil that is generally availiable. Ed

 

[Merkava_4]

Quote:

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Anyways,i was reading the manual and it clearly says to use 5w20 oil except in mexico to use 15w40.!!!!

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Seriously?

If that is really true and it actually says that, then this thread is going to be a bombshell. I can't see how an engine could run on 15w40 if it's speced for 5W-20.

 

[1999nick]

Inasmuch as Ford wants to advertise the fuel economy obtained when using 5W20 motor oil, that is the weight they have to specify in the US. Actually, many weights of oil would perform satisfactorily. For example, a check of the owner's manual for a 1980 Pontiac Bonneville mentions many different weights of satisfactory oil. Nine, to be exact. They are as follows:

30weight from 40 degrees to over 100
20W20, 20W40 & 20W50 from 20 degrees to over 100
10W30 & 10W40 from 0 degrees to over 100
10 weight from 0 degrees to 60
5W30 from below -20 degrees to 60
5W20 from below-20 degrees to 20

Looks like back in those days they did not trust 5W30 and 5W20 like they do now. Kinda odd that 20W20, i.e. straight 20 weight, was good for 20 degrees to over 100, while multigrade 5W20 was only good up to 20 degrees.

This Pontiac also had a normal OCI of 7500 miles and recommended a filter change every other oil change, but at least once a year.

 

[aztec12]

well i went to walmart in mexico to check the oil section and they have some mexican brands but for the most part its castrol and Q S oils.I didnt see any 5w20's few 5 and 10w30's
most of the oil grades where 15w40 and higher up to 20w60
and yes its all SL,SM

 

[Merkava_4]

Do they have Castrol GTX 10w30? If so, run that.

 

[jorton]

Most people in Mexico don't have new or late model cars because anual registration renewal fees are too high. Rates are based on year model so used 10 - 15 year old cars(manufactured in Mexico, USA and Canada) are in highest demand. They won't need 5w-20 before 2011, there.

 

[wingdr]

Well, we have 2005 ford rangers that have run 15w40 since the first oil change. Now on their 5th change and 30,000 miles with no problems so far. They are driven extremely hard for meter reading for a lrg utility, Tim

 

[theedge67]

Are they V6 rangers? If so they run the 4.0L and that engine is spec'd for 5-30, so that is not as big of a difference than 5-20.