What oil to use

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I've just purchased 2001 Escort with 130,000 miles on it. Engine seems in great shape and no issues with burning oil. Ford says to use 5w/20 oil meeting their spec. WSS-M2C153-H. Would any problems arise from using 10w/30 Valvoline Max-Life as I have quite abit of this in stock.

Thanks in advance for any advice.
 
IMHO, you could use the 10-30 in the summer (although you probably should use 5-30) but in the colder months definitely run 5-20 or 5-30
 
Originally Posted By: hpichris
You'll be fine in this weather. Switch to 5W when it gets cold.



+1
 
Your Maxlife 10W-30 will work just fine. There is very little diff between the cold pour points of Maxlife 5W and 10W oils, I think both are listed around -36F. No need to switch to 5W in the winter.
 
Originally Posted By: hpichris
You'll be fine in this weather. Switch to 5W when it gets cold.
+1
thumbsup2.gif
 
Originally Posted By: hate2work

Your Maxlife 10W-30 will work just fine. There is very little diff between the cold pour points of Maxlife 5W and 10W oils, I think both are listed around -36F. No need to switch to 5W in the winter.


pour point is not a cold start indicator that one should go off of for making a determination...
 
Originally Posted By: jcwit
Would any problems arise from using 10w/30 Valvoline Max-Life as I have quite abit of this in stock.



I doubt you will notice a difference unless you're doing extremely short trips. I'd use it in the summer and buy the cheapest 5w-20 available for the winter.

What type of usage is this thing going to see? It's in beater range ..but beater range can just as easily be the car that's going to take the daily pounding on a long commute as it could be the short casual use 3rd car.
 
Gary, it started out as looking for a winter car to replace a Geo Metro with 200,000 miles on it. As it turned out the Escort is in excellent shape, clean as a pin inside with NO rust or dents ect on the outside. Granted the milage is high but was over the road milage with oil changes every 3,000 miles and maintence every 5 to 6 thous miles, so its going to end up as a daily driver for 2 retired folks. one way trips at around 20 miles one way.
 
Originally Posted By: jcwit
Gary, it started out as looking for a winter car to replace a Geo Metro with 200,000 miles on it. As it turned out the Escort is in excellent shape, clean as a pin inside with NO rust or dents ect on the outside. Granted the milage is high but was over the road milage with oil changes every 3,000 miles and maintence every 5 to 6 thous miles, so its going to end up as a daily driver for 2 retired folks. one way trips at around 20 miles one way.


Okay. Sounds like a decent trip length to offset a good bit of the economy penalty issues with heavier oil. You should be able to manage 6month OCI's.
 
I know those Zetec engines intimately.
A little rough at idle, but torquey and tough.
Also, they are NON interference if the cam belt pukes.
The Zetec in an Escort ZX2 has a variable exhaust cam. It works by oil pressure. Use a 0 or 5-20, or 0 or 5- 30.
Sure, in summer you'll be OK with the 10-30, but lifter sticking and VCT problems can occur when cold until the engine warms up a bit.
 
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