Toyota 0w20 in a Windstar ????

[JustinC25]

I work at a Toyota Dealership and can get the Full synthetic 0w20 for about 3.50 a quart.
My Wife drives a 2003 Ford Windstar that gets autrocious gas mileage (16 mpg) My van calls for 5w20 semi synthetic (at least that is what is recomended by motorcraft) I have been running Motorcraft 5w20 semi syn, and Motorcraft filters with a 3k OCI. Can I switch to 0w20 with a 5k OCI, will it improve my gas mileage? Even a little? And who makes the Full Synthetic 0w20 for Toyota? I can't get a MSDS on it yet. I know it is not Mobil like all the other Toyota oils. Oh I almost forgot the van has 37,000 Miles.

 

[ToyotaNSaturn]

Of course, Toyota doesn't make the 0w-20 product, but my bet is on Mobil given the product in question Other than Pennzoil Platinum, are there any other readily-available 0w-20 products on teh market?

Improved MPG? Doubtful. My 96 Windstar was lucky to see 20MPG on the highway. It's simply not a terribliy efficient engine.

If your car calls for 20wt oil, 0w-20 will work A-OK. As for 5000 miles, probably. The ONLY way to truly know is to send in an oil sample for analysis. $20 well spent.

 

[dave1251]

I think that Ford recommends a 5,000 Mile OCI so and 5W-20. So you can use it for a 5,000 miles and you won't have any problem's.

 

[Gary Allan]

I think the biggest impact on your mileage will be eliminating the number of cold starts that she sees. That's about the only way you can get down to 16mpg with a 3.0 in anything (unless it's a jeep) is to have few miles/cold starts.

 

[milwaukee]

Wierd. My 1998 Windstar with 150K gets @19 mpg with 75% city miles.

All this with the ancient 3.8 engine.

I use 10w30 "whatever is onsale" including store brands.

 

[JustinC25]

Last tank of fuel I noted 19.5 mpg. Mostly highway,
no real change in driving habits. but this is the BEST I have ever seen in my Windstar.
This was noted on Sunocco Regular Gasoline, with Motorcraft 5w20 100 miles before my LOF.
Changed oil with the same.
oh yeah, A motorcraft FL400s

 

[Hirev]

I would make sure what ever 0w20 you put in your Ford it meets current Ford WSS-M2C930-A specification. It requires additional testing documentation beyond GF-4.

As far as who makes Toyota 0w20 oil I don't know. But if its not Mobil 0w20 than it most likely is Nippon oil (AKA ENEOS) 0w20. Historically these are the two oil companies Toyota in Japan and Toyota USA do business with. Eneos Synthetic 0w20

 

[Chris Meutsch]

0 does not equal death. It only equals slightly thinner oil at startup. Use it and be happy.

 

[obbop]

"Use it and be happy"

 

[The Critic]

Wouldn't be one bit surprised if this stuff is rebottled Mobil 1 0w20, since ExxonMobil made Toyota branded motor oils.