Hi all, I've been lurking here a while and I think I'm afflicted with the sickness. This occurred to me the other day as I was mowing/mulching what is hopefully the last of the season's fallen leaves and daydreaming about my upcoming OCI on my Briggs-powered lawnmower and the switch to something new and exciting such as Rotella 15w-40.
Anyway, my dilemma is this. I have a 2001 Ford Focus 2.0 'Zetec' DOHC with about 140k miles. Doesn't seem to consume any perceptible amount of oil so far. It will be hitting the 5k mark in the next couple hundred miles. Currently running MC 5w-20 blend with no issues whatsoever. I do short-trip the car a few times a week but I drive a 17-mile trip to work 5 - 6 nights a week so I'm hoping that will negate the few short-trips... maybe? I just purchased this car from its original owner in NC back in July. He informed me that the car's always been fed a 5w-20 synthetic blend. He didn't specify a brand, but being that he worked at a Ford dealership I can surmise that it was more than likely MC. I can't see any reason to try a different oil on the next OCI but there's that itch to try something new... I missed out on a couple of KMart Smitty's deals and I missed out on the Napa Synthetic deal. I was going to try 0w-20 but didn't really want to extend OCI's as I really enjoy the oil change ritual; again, that sickness. And, being that I need to change the valve cover gasket soon, which I had planned to coincide with this upcoming OCI, I really don't want to wait for a chance and the good Autozone clearance deals. With this one, I will likely get the same MC 5w-20 syn blend unless someone else has any better suggestions?
My second upcoming OCI is not as upcoming. Earlier in the year I purchased a 2004 Mercury Mountaineer 4.6 with about 120k miles on it. My wife short-trips it maybe once or twice a week, more highway runs with it. Running the same MC 5w-20 blend as the Focus. Per the OLM it's about 65% (3200ish miles assuming it's mileage-only) through the OCI. I know with the full 6 quarts of a fresh change it doesn't hit 'Max' but I was a bit alarmed the other day as the level on dipstick is sitting about 1/32" above 'Min'. I have an extra 1/2 quart left from the focus that I will probably top it off with. Since the previous owner didn't even know what oil was in it, I have no clue as to the maintenance history, but it appears that it wasn't as babied as the Focus was, though it's newer and has less miles. The oil filter, when I changed it, felt as though it was put on with an impact wrench, and the drain plug didn't thread in and out super smoothly as I was expecting. There are no visible leaks on the engine but I do have some doubts about the PCV valve, so I may take a look at that. My rational side says to just run another OCI of MC blend 5w-20 and see if the consumption levels off. Then I have these BITOGer voices in my head telling me that maybe PHM 5w-30 would slow consumption... maybe just 5w-20... then it all goes to a blur.
Both vehicles are running the prescribed Motorcraft filters and unless I find something of equal or better quality I will probably continue with MC filters.
I'm not going to ask because I already know, yes, I'm overthinking it but I think I'm in good company here. Anyone have any directions to point me in?
Anyway, my dilemma is this. I have a 2001 Ford Focus 2.0 'Zetec' DOHC with about 140k miles. Doesn't seem to consume any perceptible amount of oil so far. It will be hitting the 5k mark in the next couple hundred miles. Currently running MC 5w-20 blend with no issues whatsoever. I do short-trip the car a few times a week but I drive a 17-mile trip to work 5 - 6 nights a week so I'm hoping that will negate the few short-trips... maybe? I just purchased this car from its original owner in NC back in July. He informed me that the car's always been fed a 5w-20 synthetic blend. He didn't specify a brand, but being that he worked at a Ford dealership I can surmise that it was more than likely MC. I can't see any reason to try a different oil on the next OCI but there's that itch to try something new... I missed out on a couple of KMart Smitty's deals and I missed out on the Napa Synthetic deal. I was going to try 0w-20 but didn't really want to extend OCI's as I really enjoy the oil change ritual; again, that sickness. And, being that I need to change the valve cover gasket soon, which I had planned to coincide with this upcoming OCI, I really don't want to wait for a chance and the good Autozone clearance deals. With this one, I will likely get the same MC 5w-20 syn blend unless someone else has any better suggestions?
My second upcoming OCI is not as upcoming. Earlier in the year I purchased a 2004 Mercury Mountaineer 4.6 with about 120k miles on it. My wife short-trips it maybe once or twice a week, more highway runs with it. Running the same MC 5w-20 blend as the Focus. Per the OLM it's about 65% (3200ish miles assuming it's mileage-only) through the OCI. I know with the full 6 quarts of a fresh change it doesn't hit 'Max' but I was a bit alarmed the other day as the level on dipstick is sitting about 1/32" above 'Min'. I have an extra 1/2 quart left from the focus that I will probably top it off with. Since the previous owner didn't even know what oil was in it, I have no clue as to the maintenance history, but it appears that it wasn't as babied as the Focus was, though it's newer and has less miles. The oil filter, when I changed it, felt as though it was put on with an impact wrench, and the drain plug didn't thread in and out super smoothly as I was expecting. There are no visible leaks on the engine but I do have some doubts about the PCV valve, so I may take a look at that. My rational side says to just run another OCI of MC blend 5w-20 and see if the consumption levels off. Then I have these BITOGer voices in my head telling me that maybe PHM 5w-30 would slow consumption... maybe just 5w-20... then it all goes to a blur.
Both vehicles are running the prescribed Motorcraft filters and unless I find something of equal or better quality I will probably continue with MC filters.
I'm not going to ask because I already know, yes, I'm overthinking it but I think I'm in good company here. Anyone have any directions to point me in?