Originally Posted By: noble_nut
Hello all,
What a great forum! I'm a huge gearhead, but now realize I'm a lubrication neophyte. I'll try to follow the recommended format:
1. What kind of vehicle you have
2006 Noble M400
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
5w30 synthetic...no other info given
3. Where you live
Louisiana
4. How you drive (easy? hard? fast? slow?)
Hard...with frequent autocross/road course
5. What your daily drive is like (short trips? long trips? city? highway?)
Mix...but rarely city.
6. Whether your car has any known problems
No problems, other than it is radar bait
The car has a new motor, now with ~3k miles on it. Break in was on 5w30 dino, followed by 20w50 valvoline vr1. The motor is based on the 3.0L Ford duratec, but has forged pistons, modified oil passages, piston squirters, and is twin-turbocharged. Oil capacity is about 9 quarts.
I tracked the car last autumn as a "test-drive" before purchase, and oil temps never went above 120 C during 30 minute runs. Ambient temps then were mid-60s.
I stumbled onto this site, and have been transfixed for the past week trying to figure out what to use. Now I feel schizophenic!
I decided on Amsoil... then read some detractors posts. Then I researched redline...and there was some chatter about high wear numbers on UOAs. My brain is swirling with UOA results, HT/HS ratings,TBNs, flash points ...aaaaarrrrggghhhh!!!
OCIs will be ~3k and price per oil change isn't a big concern. BTW, oil filter is Motocraft FL-820S (per 'manual').
I'll be tracking this car in the Texas summer heat, and need help given the lack of information available for this application! Which oil and which viscosity?!?!
Thanks!
I have a M400 2005 in the uk i would only use 5w 40 shell helix ultra fully synthetic on track and off. the uk being a colder climate is why we use a 5w 40 i think u should start with 5w 30 as you have warmer climate and see how u get on do not use a 10w or 20w in fact only use a 5w