5W20 oil

[dru]

the 5-20 switch was solely fuel-economy driven.

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.

if fuel economy is the case, why back spec older models? does ford get some sort of better fuel efficency rating if their older models produce better mileage?

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

the zetec name was just that, a name.

the 2.0 zetec used in the foci/escorts is the exact same engine as the 1.6 introduced in the 1981 escort. in 1986 displacement was bumped to 1.9, then 2.0 in 1997. in '00 it was put into the focus, then dropped in '05 due to the "hemi" no longer meeting emissions standards, being replaced with the DOHC 2.0 duratec (mazda). it was essentially the same engine the entire time and at some point, ford started calling it a zetec. it was never available in a 2.3 liter displacement.

im not sure how the crazy rumor that its a honda engine came about...maybe because the zetec (its "real" name is CVH) recieved variable cam timing at some point?

 

[rurouni20xx]

thats right it was a 2.0 the rumor was that the 1.7 and 2.0 were the same engine just dif heads. i didnt see how w/ the math on the bottom ends were dif but if its the same block and vvt w/ dif internals i could see how that could be. it was just wierd that a few ppl found that the cold air intakes and headers for both engines were almost the same part number and were interchangeable. thats where it looked like they were the same engine just dif displacement. sorry goofed on the displacement number got used to reading 2.3 on here...lol

 

[JohnnyO]

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.

Exactly. I have done used oil analysis on several of my vehicles over the years.
My wife has a 2003 3.0 Vulcan Taurus that specs 5w-20 and I've found no difference in lab results between Motorcraft Blend and Mobil 1 when run for 5000 miles. Her car now has 110,000 miles on it and runs like new and the UOA's and wear metals are still fine.
I am currently running Mobil 1 0w-30 Fuel Economy Formula in my Sport Trac, for what it's worth. The 4.0 SOHC specs 5w-30 oil and Mobil says the 0w-30 meets all warranty requirements. My 5000 mile UOA was fine, I'm going to run it for the factory recommended 7500 miles this time and get another one.

UOA's:
www.blackstone-labs.com
Costs about $25.

 

[heeler]

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.

You are not alone in that opinion.
I refuse to use that light of an oil in the heat we have here on the gulf coast.
I ran Mobil 1 10-30 synthetic,using the Mobil 1 filter for the seven years and 130,000 miles i owned my 3.0 equipped 02 Ranger with nary a problem.
And i changed oil and filter every 10,000 miles.
They started suggesting this in 2002 and my brother owns a 2001 with the the 3.0 and they suggest using 10-30.
Using 5-30 or 10-30 WILL NOT hurt these engines.
It's all about meeting gas mileage and emissions curves dictated by Washington D.C.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

10-30 was never a reccomendation for the 3.0. if you check your underhood sticker closely, it'll say 5-30 somewhere on it.

running 5-30 or 10-30 will not hurt the engine...but neither will running 5-20 (and youll get better mileage and theoretically have better power).