What is best Motorcraft alternative?

[Hallmark]

I consider CP's Motorcraft 5W20 to be a 'gold standard' for synthetic blends of that viscosity. However, I am increasingly frustrated with attempts to purchase it at Walmart, thereby saving about $5/jug vs. AutoZone & other vendor prices.

My local Walmart usually only displays 1-2 jugs of the Motorcraft. Today, I put two jugs in the cart and noted that one seemed to display a short fill. Upon further examination, I saw that one jug's foil was open and some product, e.g. about a quart was missing. In disgust, I alerted an employee and left the store after being informed that additional quantities were not available.

I need to find a more dependable supply of comparable oil at similar prices for my 3.0 Fusion which has always used MC.

Any recommendations would be appreciated.

 

[BGK]

Motorcraft doesn't manufacture oil; someone else does and puts it in their bottles. What makes you think their oil is better than most major brands? Where I work, BMW brands oil; however their highest performance cars are supposed to use only Euro spec Castrol or equivalent! Unless you have a worn out engine or an engine that isn't compatible with synthetic oil, I don't see why people scrimp and not buy a quality synthetic!

 

[chubbs1]

I wouldn't get too picky to be perfectly honest, there are so many good lubes. Personally I would try a run of Quaker State Ultimate Durability, very solid (proven) performer and just a few bucks more. Arguably the best oil for the money at Walmart. If you like your high dose of boron though, you are going to have to get PU. I don't think that is necessary, but that is some great stuff.

 

[volk06]

Why are you wanting an alternative to MC instead of just buying it from another place?

 

[ottotheclown]

It is Conoco Phillips and the Honda syn blend now selling at Honda looks like the same oil. Kendall syn blend with Titanium a moly sub at less cost, would be a possible replacement. Pep Boys if you have them carry this oil. $4.99 in some areas. Walmart is really a surprise that they do so well with so little talent.
Originally Posted By: BGK
Motorcraft doesn't manufacture oil; someone else does and puts it in their bottles. What makes you think their oil is better than most major brands? Where I work, BMW brands oil; however their highest performance cars are supposed to use only Euro spec Castrol or equivalent! Unless you have a worn out engine or an engine that isn't compatible with synthetic oil, I don't see why people scrimp and not buy a quality synthetic!

 

[Hallmark]

Originally Posted By: BGK
Motorcraft doesn't manufacture oil; someone else does and puts it in their bottles. What makes you think their oil is better than most major brands? Where I work, BMW brands oil; however their highest performance cars are supposed to use only Euro spec Castrol or equivalent! Unless you have a worn out engine or an engine that isn't compatible with synthetic oil, I don't see why people scrimp and not buy a quality synthetic!


I acknowledged that Motorcraft oil is sourced from CP (aka ConocoPhillips). I didn't say it is better than other brands albeit it displays well in used oil analysis.

 

[RAK]

Conoco Phillips (who processes Motorcraft oil) also manufactures Fram Syn oil FYI. I think Freddy's sells Fram---

 

[Hallmark]

Originally Posted By: volk06
Why are you wanting an alternative to MC instead of just buying it from another place?


Walmart is $14.87 vs. $18.99 at other sources.

Yes, I know that the difference is miniscule when considering that it is only about $10/year for 5K/6 month OCIs. Maybe I'm just being cheap. I CAN afford the difference...perhaps I should just say pee on Walmart and support local vendors.

 

[tomcat27]

Originally Posted By: RAK
Conoco Phillips (who processes Motorcraft oil) also manufactures Fram Syn oil FYI. I think Freddy's sells Fram---


Fram oil?!?!???

Hmmm.. I have never seen that - but certainly a perfect match for the OCOD !!!

 

[dubie2003]

Do yourself a favor and have a small stash so that when you need an OC, you are good to go and next time you are out if they have another bottle, pick it up. In the mean time, just go to AZ and get what you need for now and keep looking at Walmart when you are there to stock up.

 

[Ken2]

Well....you don't need to change the oil every 6 months unless you make many short, cool trips where the engine never warms.

And, you don't need Motorcraft brand oil nor a synthetic blend oil. If your Ford engine needs an oil that meets a specific spec, Ford M2C153-H, Ford WSSM2C930-A, or whatever, buy any oil that meets that spec. ConocoPhillips uses "synthetic blend" as a marketing tool, not as necessarily better oil than a top quality conventional oil.

 

[RF Overlord]

I have similar issues with my local Wally's. They're ALWAYS out of stock of MC 5W-20 jugs. I once bought 2, out of a total of 5 on the shelf, that had the foil tampered with. I brought them back inside and exchanged them at the returns desk. Wouldn't you know it, the next time I was there, those same two tampered jugs were right back on the shelf.

Now I check every one before it goes in the cart.

 

[FZ1]

Just pick a full synthetic and watch for the oil and filter deals at Autozone.

 

[ChrisD46]

Try other WM's ...I always find Motorcraft Synthetic Blend 5w20 at mine . Pennzoil Conventional is a good alternate as well as Quaker State Ultimate Durability OP mentioned .

 

[smithph]

Originally Posted By: dubie2003
Do yourself a favor and have a small stash so that when you need an OC, you are good to go and next time you are out if they have another bottle, pick it up. In the mean time, just go to AZ and get what you need for now and keep looking at Walmart when you are there to stock up.


Ditto, man needs to start a stash of oil and filters. The just in time OC inventory thing does not always work out.

 

[stranger706]

Originally Posted By: Hallmark

My local Walmart usually only displays 1-2 jugs of the Motorcraft. Today, I put two jugs in the cart and noted that one seemed to display a short fill. Upon further examination, I saw that one jug's foil was open and some product, e.g. about a quart was missing. In disgust, I alerted an employee and left the store after being informed that additional quantities were not available.

I need to find a more dependable supply of comparable oil at similar prices for my 3.0 Fusion which has always used MC.

Any recommendations would be appreciated.


That stinks. Yeah I see stuff like that at Walmart a few times a year. Last month I went there to buy 2 jugs of PU. I always check the containers for "tampering" and wouldn't you know, one of the jugs had a broken plastic cap lock (Pennzoil does not use foil, just the plastic cap locks). I removed the cap and the oil in the jug was BLACK and smelled AWFUL. Obviously someone had filled it with used oil and returned it. I took the jug back to the TLE desk and they just kinda shrugged and took it from me without seeming to care at all.

So for now I've gone back to shopping the specials at the local parts stores.

 

[BGK]

Fram oil? A brilliant new marketing idea! Lets see...Mobil 1 sells oil and filters, Royal Purple sells oil and filters, Pennzoil sells oil and filters, and I think Quaker State, Valvoline, Castrol, etc. do also.

 

[Falcon_LS]

I'm a fan of Motorcraft lubricants myself, and I think they are excellent value for money - especially considering it is a Group II/III mix.

Quite a few suggestions have been made here, including CP's other products such as Kendall. If I were in your shoes, and wanted to go with a conventional or synthetic blend, I would go for Pennzoil conventional.

 

[CROWNVIC4LIFE]

I just came back from Walmart near me..They had just 4 jugs of Motorcraft 5W20 Blend at 14 bucks a piece..I bought all 4 of them.

 

[addyguy]

I'd find a supply of Kendall GT-1.