What oil should I use for Ford Focus

[FordFocus]

1. 2000 Ford Focus SE 2.0 L Zetec 87,000 miles.
2. Manual says: Motorcraft 5W30 Super Premium Motor Oil
Ford Specification:WSS-M2C153-G with API certification mark
Manual recommends oil changes every 5000 miles
3. Location: Grand Rapids MI
4/5. Car is driven mostly shoter trips in city. Longer trips in summer.
6. No engine problems

I had been bring this car into valvoline for changes until the last change. They used 5w30 sometimes and 5w20 othertimes. I want to use really good oil for this car. I prefer synthetic. I also do oil changes every 3000 miles. The last oil change I did myself and I used Mobil 1 5W30 full synthetic and a motorcraft oil filter. Should I have used 5W20 or the 5W30 like the manual says. Thanks for your help.

 

[Clarence_Iba]

Any 5w-30 Syn will do fine, but no reason to change at 3k.

Has this engine been back-spec'ed to 5w-20 like the Mod v8's? If so, MC 5w-20 is as good as it gets for the price. 5k OCI's no problem.

 

[addyguy]

Waste of oil/money to do 3k changes, but especially so on syn.

If you insist on this, use the cheapest oil you can find.

 

[FordFocus]

"Has this engine been back-spec'ed to 5w-20 like the Mod v8's? If so, MC 5w-20 is as good as it gets for the price. 5k OCI's no problem."

I don't know, how would I find out?

I was thinking of going to 5k oil changes after the first run of sythetic thru the car. Should I go with a different filter like Mobil 1 or is motorcraft a good one to use?

 

[CourierDriver]

Originally Posted By: FordFocus
1. 2000 Ford Focus SE 2.0 L Zetec 87,000 miles.
2. Manual says: Motorcraft 5W30 Super Premium Motor Oil
Ford Specification:WSS-M2C153-G with API certification mark
Manual recommends oil changes every 5000 miles
3. Location: Grand Rapids MI
4/5. Car is driven mostly shoter trips in city. Longer trips in summer.
6. No engine problems

I had been bring this car into valvoline for changes until the last change. They used 5w30 sometimes and 5w20 othertimes. I want to use really good oil for this car. I prefer synthetic. I also do oil changes every 3000 miles. The last oil change I did myself and I used Mobil 1 5W30 full synthetic and a motorcraft oil filter. Should I have used 5W20 or the 5W30 like the manual says. Thanks for your help.


use mc 5w20 it will b fine blended

 

[Hemi426]

I'd go Pennzoil Ultra 5w-30 and do 7,500 mile OCIs.Make sure you use a quality filter also.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

You say the car runs good. Well, stick with the VWB and your 3-4 K OCI with the motorcraft. Forget Synthetic.

 

[FordFocus]

So which one 5w30 or 5w20. This is my main question. Why one vs. the other?

ARCOgraphite- what do you mean "VBW"? Valvoline......
would sythetic be better for the car?

 

[SAJEFFC]

I have the exact same engine in my 2000 Escort ZX2. 2000 was the last year Ford called for 5W30 in this engine. In 2001 they spec'd it for 5W20 and back spec'd all the prior years to 5W20 also. I've been running Mobil 1 5W30 in mine also. Car has 71k miles on it and is pristine under the valve cover. I did one run of Motorcraft 5w20 blend last summer and it just sounded a little noisier to me. Probably nothing but it is quieter on 5w30. Either one will be fine per Ford so you sure can't go wrong with M1 5w30. Just my 2 cents. Forgot to add that I saw no difference in gas mileage between the two weights for what its worth.

 

[Bluestream]

Use Motorcraft 5W20; it would let you down...

 

[sdude2k2000]

My wife's '00 Ford Focus has the SOHC (spi) engine, and it calls for only 5w30 (no 5w20 backspec). The DOHC (zetec) should run 5w20 fine. Just be sure which one you have, lol.

 

[hardcore302]

5w-30 valvoline hm.

 

[Ben99GT]

For 3K intervals? Motorcraft Synthetic Blend, Havoline, Pennzoil, etc.

 

[gene_c]

My daughter got 260,000 miles out of a 2001 Focus using Motorcraft 5-30 at 5000 miles. The car was running great when she sold it, oil changes were done by Firestone with coupons. Firestone branded filters used. No engine problems during ownership.

 

[CROWNVIC4LIFE]

Since your car really calls for 5w30 I would use 5w30 Motorcraft Blend every 5K miles or 6 months and call it a day.

Motorcraft is awesome!

 

[Bill in Utah]

Originally Posted By: ARCOgraphite
You say the car runs good. Well, stick with the VWB and your 3-4 K OCI with the motorcraft. Forget Synthetic.
Originally Posted By: FordFocus
So which one 5w30 or 5w20. This is my main question. Why one vs. the other?

ARCOgraphite- what do you mean "VBW"? Valvoline......
would sythetic be better for the car?


Gasp..

I agree with Arco...

Ok, bump the OCI up a few thousand to 5k and all will be great unless a LOT of short trips.

Take care, bill

PS: VWB - Valvoline white bottle ie their conventional oil. Excellent choice! And NO syn will not be "better" for the car.

 

[FordFocus]

ok, thanks for everyone's replies. I think I am going to stay with Mobil 1 5W30 and do 5000 mile oil changes.

 

[Bill in Utah]

Originally Posted By: FordFocus
ok, thanks for everyone's replies. I think I am going to stay with Mobil 1 5W30 and do 5000 mile oil changes.


One word then...

WASTE..

Bill

 

[csimon01]

Okay, it's settled then M1 5w30 and 7500 OCI's...

 

[FordFocus]

why would this be a waste Bill? should I going longer intervals. I was paying $30 for Conventional blend changes and now I can do synthetic myself for about $24. This saves me 6 dollars and I can run the synthetic longer before it needs changing.