First, Hi everybody. I've lurked around here for several years but today is my first post! My name is Jordan, I live near Atlanta, GA and I want to figure out what the best and most cost-effective oil would be for my new car.
1. What kind of vehicle you have
2010 Ford Fusion with 3.0L v6 with just over 46k miles
2. What your owner's manual says -- not just viscosity, but certifications (look for acronyms like API SM, ILSAC GF-4, etc.) and change intervals as well
The owner's manual states 5w-20 at 7500 mile intervals for "regular" service. The "severe" service interval is 5000 miles.
Ford says use Motorcraft SAE 5w-20 or equivalent meeting Ford spec WSS-M2C930A and API certified for gasoline engines.
3. Where you live
a bit north of Atlanta GA. I also road-trip to Tampa FL about once a month.
4. How you drive (easy? hard? fast? slow?)
When I'm not on the interstate I'm a moderate driver. I don't chirp the tires if I can help it. Once on the interstate I'm an 80mph kinda guy, and I love the v6 for the high speed passing torque. I have been trying to reign in my heavy foot to improve my fuel economy, but when you are on the road as much as I am, well, you get tired of being on the road!
5. What your daily drive is like (short trips? long trips? city? highway?)
I would say that 90% of the miles I put on a car are highway miles. My work commute is a 70 mile round trip mostly highway, but at rush hour so generally in the mornings I'm sitting in stop and go traffic for 30-45 minutes. The afternoon isn't usually as bad... maybe 15 minutes or less of stop and go. Of course this is Atlanta, so that changes daily.
When I go to Tampa it's about 470 miles one way, and I generally set the cruise control at 5mph over the limit and go. Interstate the whole way.
6. Whether your car has any known problems
It requires gas to go? (No known mechanical issues.)
The Walmart around the corner is offering a $24 oil change. Quaker State oil, no idea what filter... but it's tempting. I have to buy six quarts of oil for this engine. I think I spent $27 on my last oil change that I did myself. I used regular dino Pennzoil in the yellow bottle.
I love synthetics, when I was running my old escort I used the Mobil 1 extended life oil and filter. However I cannot run extended drain intervals with the new car or I will void my warranty. I will change my oil at least every 7500 miles, so the extended life stuffs aren't a real option for me.
I'd also like a recommendation for a good filter. I'm pretty sure my engine takes the Motorcraft FL-500s filter.
I was using the Mobil 1 extended life filters on my escort, but I cannot find them in the correct size for the Fusion. Right now I'm running a fram.
Many thanks to all who take time to respond.
-Jordan
1. What kind of vehicle you have
2010 Ford Fusion with 3.0L v6 with just over 46k miles
2. What your owner's manual says -- not just viscosity, but certifications (look for acronyms like API SM, ILSAC GF-4, etc.) and change intervals as well
The owner's manual states 5w-20 at 7500 mile intervals for "regular" service. The "severe" service interval is 5000 miles.
Ford says use Motorcraft SAE 5w-20 or equivalent meeting Ford spec WSS-M2C930A and API certified for gasoline engines.
3. Where you live
a bit north of Atlanta GA. I also road-trip to Tampa FL about once a month.
4. How you drive (easy? hard? fast? slow?)
When I'm not on the interstate I'm a moderate driver. I don't chirp the tires if I can help it. Once on the interstate I'm an 80mph kinda guy, and I love the v6 for the high speed passing torque. I have been trying to reign in my heavy foot to improve my fuel economy, but when you are on the road as much as I am, well, you get tired of being on the road!
5. What your daily drive is like (short trips? long trips? city? highway?)
I would say that 90% of the miles I put on a car are highway miles. My work commute is a 70 mile round trip mostly highway, but at rush hour so generally in the mornings I'm sitting in stop and go traffic for 30-45 minutes. The afternoon isn't usually as bad... maybe 15 minutes or less of stop and go. Of course this is Atlanta, so that changes daily.
When I go to Tampa it's about 470 miles one way, and I generally set the cruise control at 5mph over the limit and go. Interstate the whole way.
6. Whether your car has any known problems
It requires gas to go? (No known mechanical issues.)
The Walmart around the corner is offering a $24 oil change. Quaker State oil, no idea what filter... but it's tempting. I have to buy six quarts of oil for this engine. I think I spent $27 on my last oil change that I did myself. I used regular dino Pennzoil in the yellow bottle.
I love synthetics, when I was running my old escort I used the Mobil 1 extended life oil and filter. However I cannot run extended drain intervals with the new car or I will void my warranty. I will change my oil at least every 7500 miles, so the extended life stuffs aren't a real option for me.
I'd also like a recommendation for a good filter. I'm pretty sure my engine takes the Motorcraft FL-500s filter.
I was using the Mobil 1 extended life filters on my escort, but I cannot find them in the correct size for the Fusion. Right now I'm running a fram.
Many thanks to all who take time to respond.
-Jordan
