Why does Ford recommend synthetic blends?

[wgtoys]

Synthetic blend is a marketing name and doesn't actually tell you much.

Is Motorcraft oil better than Castrol GTX or Pennzoil conventional just because Motorcraft says sythetic blend on the label?

No.

 

[JM19]

Originally Posted By: robl
I just checked in my FORD manual for my 2007 and it shows the section about oil and says it is 4.5 qts, then says Motorcraft Synthetic or Synthetic Blend 5W-20 oil, but then has an * when I look at the bottom, it very clearly states

*Ford does not require or recommend the use of synthetic or synthetic blend, it only need meet the Ford Spec Ms-xxxxx


Just curious, what model is this for?

 

[Sayjac]

Originally Posted By: Johnny
. Not sure about all FoMoCo factories, but Shell got the bulk contract about 3 or 4 years ago. Remember when the Ford oil was called Rotunda? That was also made by Conoco but the factory fill at that time was Texaco.
Interesting information. I don't know how those things work in the automotive industry but if it's like other businesses, it would go out on bid. Local Ford dealer used to use Valvoline in his quick lube bays. Now he uses Castrol, low bid I would assume, and you would likely have to ask for Motorcraft, at extra cost.

I do remember the Rotunda name. Thanks for the info.

 

[Alex38]

I was the "lube tech" aka oil-changer at our local Ford Dealer for about 3 years when I was in College. For about the first year, we used Motorcraft oil for everything. Then it switched to Quaker State for everything except the Diesels, which continued to get Motorcraft oil in them. Johnny is correct, each dealer can use whatever is cheapest, as long as it meets the correct specification. I'm sure all of the customers assumed it was all Motorcraft oil, but then again, 99% of them wouldn't have cared. If they were that interested, they would be doing it themselves. The owner of the Ford dealer also owned a Chevrolet dealer in town, and occasionally he'd have me go over there to help out. Wanna guess what went into the Chevys? CITGO oil at that time (1999-2003ish).

 

[Rob_Roy]

Originally Posted By: Alex38
The owner of the Ford dealer also owned a Chevrolet dealer in town, and occasionally he'd have me go over there to help out. Wanna guess what went into the Chevys? CITGO oil at that time (1999-2003ish).


Our local Cadillac and Chevrolet dealerships all use CITGO products as well.

 

[CROWNVIC4LIFE]

All this is very interesting..I assumed I always got Motorcraft when I went to Ford... Now I am very unsure...The sticker they put on the top corner of the windshild said Motorcraft so I assumed it was Motorcraft

Then again you never should assume anything.

 

[06VtecV6]

Originally Posted By: JM19
I have a quick question that I was hoping someone could answer for me...

Why does Ford recommend synthetic blends exclusively for nearly all of their vehicles? It seems to me like overkill for cars that aren't even high-performance in their lineup.

If a conventional oil meets Ford spec WSS-M2C930-A, for example, couldn't it be used in a Ford vehicle without a problem?


If it was not for Ford Motorcraft oil transforming the performance of my newly bought Honda V6 back in early 2006, I would not be here today nor would I be such a connoisseur of oil!! This Motorcraft in Hondas is/was not just a fad but the oil truely wakes up the livelihood of the asian v6 metal and at the time, I was mildly despondent of my purchase having to take a HUGE hit on fuel economy with the V6 coming from a 4 cyl Integra LS.

I am a Merkava-driven Valvoline Maxlife convert/lover now that it was released in 5w-20 in my markethood.

 

[Sayjac]

Originally Posted By: 06VtecV6
If it was not for Ford Motorcraft oil transforming the performance of my newly bought Honda V6 back in early 2006, I would not be here today nor would I be such a connoisseur of oil!! This Motorcraft in Hondas is/was not just a fad but the oil truely wakes up the livelihood of the asian v6 metal and at the time, I was mildly despondent of my purchase having to take a HUGE hit on fuel economy with the V6 coming from a 4 cyl Integra LS.

Back in 2001 when we purchased a new Civic, Motorcraft was the first, IIRC perhaps only, 5w20 I could find in a 5qt jug(or 1qt.) at Walmart. I didn't know if the syn blend "hydrocracked" business was for real, but I liked what read on the bottle, and the price was right. 5w20 was difficult to find back then, so Motorcraft was sort of ahead of the curve, IMO.

 

[SHAMUS]

I have been under the impression for Ford's recommendation is the increase in oil change intervals, 5K/6months vs 3K/3months.

 

[artificialist]

Originally Posted By: Shamus
I have been under the impression for Ford's recommendation is the increase in oil change intervals, 5K/6months vs 3K/3months.
I'm not so sure about that, given all of the long lasting Ford engines that received cheap bulk oil and changed every 5000 miles.

The other thing that causes oil to last so long in Fords is the oil sump size. Most modern V6 Fords take 6-7 quarts, and nearly every SOHC 2V V8 takes 6.5 quarts, 7 quarts on SOHC 3V V8 engines.

Older Fords, IIRC took less, except for the 300/4.9 L6 which required 6 quarts.

 

[Bryanccfshr]

My 3valve 4.6 only needs 6 quarts. My 5.4 in my f150 needs 7

 

[daves87rs]

Originally Posted By: Johnny
Money, money, money. The Formula Shell in bulk is less expensive.



Yep...still the cheapest oil around here...

 

[Steve S]

GPII and some GPIII makes a syn blend ,but how much better is it than a GPII+ Hydroisomerized oil?

 

[Johnny]

IMHO, not much if any.