Your Opinions Please! 5w20 Short Trip Oil?

[Drew99GT]

I simply wouldn't use 5w-20 in an engine that Ford says not to use it in. What am I missing here.

Yea, 5w-30 may be no different, but Ford (biggest touter of 5w-20?) obviously tested it and is not recomending it. That says a lot IMO.

 

[TheJMan19]

I have a 2000 Mercury Mountaineer (Ford Explorer) with the 5.0L pushrod V8 with 68,000 miles and I run Mobil 1 0W-20 in it. I do occasional hourlong trips but I work less than two miles from home, so I thought this oil would be great. Still seems to be holding up fine, valvetrain seems to be quieter with the 0W-20 M1 than the 10W-30 M1 that I used before. After 2100 miles, no consumption at all. I'd be a bit hesitant to use it in an 4.0 OHV, I used to have one, and it consumed 1 qt in 1500 miles on 10W-30 Chevron.

 

[mikemc]

quote:

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Originally posted by Schmoe:
No way in #ell I'd use a 5W-20 on a pushrod V6.

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The 3.0 pushrod v6 in my Ranger seems to love the Motorcraft 5w20. I'm getting close to 4K on this batch and according to my dipstick it has used no oil. The cold weather cranking numbers give full synthetics a run fo their money and I'm averaging 21 mpg with a 4x4.

 

[MikeR]

Why hasn't anyone mentioned fuel dilution? Won't short trips and idling thin that 5w-20 out even more?

Potential fuel dilution notwithstanding; 120k+ miles, Texas heat, and manufacuter's recommendations are all cases against running a 5w-20. I'd run a 10w-30 dino and change it at 3k, citing "Severe Service." Maybe even throw a quart or two of 15w-40 in with it.