2.3L ('83-'97) Oil spec change for 1997 Ranger 2.3L ?

[BobH]

The owner's manual for my 1997 Ranger 2.3L engine calls for 5W30 oil. Auto parts stores and some online posts say the recommendation has changed to 5W20, based on Ford specification WSS M2C930-A. The specification apparently is not readily available online, and interpretations of it differ.

Is there a definitive source for this? If I do switch to 5W20, does it matter whether it's conventional or synthetic blend?

 

[scotts90ranger]

The engine won't care if it's 5W20 or 10W30 normal or synthetic or mixed, whatever... they're not known for low oil pressure or having bearing issues anyway...

 

[19Walt93]

I'd use 5W30 like the manual says. Multi viscosity oil isn't "multi viscosity', it's more stable when temperature changes. 5w30 will get no thicker when cold that a 5 weight and no thinner when hot that a 30 weight. 5W20 in Texas sounds like a poor combination to me.

 

[Bill]

Ford issued a TSB in 2002 stating what engines 5w20 could be used in. The 2.3L Lima was on the list. You can use 5w20, or 5w30. And since you are in Texas where it is hot, you could use 10w30. There are some engines where 5w20 isn't recommended because the oil pumps aren't able to maintain adequate pressure when the oil gets hot. The 2.6/2.8/2.9/4.0 Cologne V6 is one of them.