5W20 oil

[Tdbo]

Just purchased a 2003 Supercab 2WD with a 3.0 and noticed Ford's mandate for the 5W20 oil. Anyone know the reason for the change? I have run 5W30 in my 2000 Taurus 3.0 since new (167K) without any issues. Was curious if anyone has run either 5W30 or 10W30 in their 3.0's since this change and could give their impressions.

 

[GoodysGotaCuda]

ive run 5w-20 and 5w-30 in my 3.0L at times, either or

 

[rurouni20xx]

5w20 motor oil was developed when ford and honda worked together to make the 2.3 zetec engine for the focus. the 520 oil is recommended for better fuel economy and is thinner to better lubricate the parts, and is not recommended to interchange w/ 530 for lubrication issues. the 1030 should be avoided in a 520 engine for even greater risk of this.

 

[GoodysGotaCuda]

I'm personally not sold on the 5w-20 for better lubricating. I believe it was done more for a half-ass attempt from ford for better mileage. I think it sacrifices lubrication. Just my opinion.

 

[rurouni20xx]

its def thinner, even when you pour the two out of a bottle you can see the difference. the 530 flows slower. the 520 fits in the tighter cranks better, the crank to rod and rod to pin clearances are tighter so thinner is better for that type of engine.

 

[Rearanger]

You won't know about 5-30 v 5-20 lubrication without used oil analysis. I am testing a change to 0w-30 right now to see how it performs. Starting to notice lower mileage bumps from previous 5-20 use. I'll run this for 3k and do an oil analysis, if not better (mostly lead #s) then I'll go back to 5-20.

 

[mixwell]

I've been using 10 30 for a while now on my truck as it is higher mileage and I live in so cali and weather isn't too much of a concern. soo far no issues here.

 

[dru]

doesnt the 5w30 thin its way to 5w20 after a thousand miles or so?

 

[WNY964x4]

all i know is that my 2000 is specified for 5-30

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

the 5-20 switch was solely fuel-economy driven. either 5-30 or 5-20 will provide adiquate lubrication...but there is no advantage to switching to 5-30 from 5-20. 10-30 could potentially cause some valve trane oil starvation issues, particularly in colder weather.

ford and honda have never developed an engine together.

 

[GoodysGotaCuda]

its def thinner, even when you pour the two out of a bottle you can see the difference. the 530 flows slower. the 520 fits in the tighter cranks better, the crank to rod and rod to pin clearances are tighter so thinner is better for that type of engine.

So what else did they change on the 3.0L? They used to run 5w-30, I haven't noticed any real changes, but apparently they went through and tightened things up?

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

no. the bottom end is exactly the same between "5-30" and "5-20" engines. in fact, ford has started suggesting people run 5-20 in engines originally marked for 5-30.

 

[GoodysGotaCuda]

no. the bottom end is exactly the same between "5-30" and "5-20" engines. in fact, ford has started suggesting people run 5-20 in engines originally marked for 5-30.

Thats my point

 

[WNY964x4]

hate to thread jack , but wicked , can you read my newest thread and help me out a little

 

[rurouni20xx]

the 04 civic was rumored to be a ford/honda project and the focus arrived shortly thereafter, thats why all the aftermarket parts for the 1.7 ivtec engine (intake manifolds headers etc) will work on the same yr sohc focus. they even shared the same cat eye headlight design. hell the focus uses the same turn signal clicker as a honda 50cc scooter, which i found hilarious. the newer model fords wont work w/ the newer civic parts, but the cat eye body fuktus and cat eye body sohc civic shared very similar engine design, body design, suspension design, and even exhaust routing. it was for these engines that had the tight internals and required the 520, thats which engine it was developed for. a friend of mine put 530 in one of those fuktus and almost immediately burned the rod bearings up. very slow to rev etc when it warmed up, and when he went back to 520 the bottom end was clunking, not very heavily but enuff to let you know that you skrewd up. rangers and other vehicles didnt see much dif in oil from what ive read, but that particular engine was very touchy and very like the civic in every way. thats where i got that info from, and i still think they worked together on that engine.