Motorcraft 5W20

[cubewhiz]

When I went to Advance, the guy there told me there was a discount if you get Motorcraft oil with the Motorcraft filter. The only weight they had was 5W-20 Synthetic Blend. I asked him if that would be appropriate for my engine and he said that it's what is used for all Ford applications now. Is this true? Is it fine to run 5W-20? I'm pretty sure my 89 2.9 calls for either 10W-30 or 5W-30. Should I use the Motorcraft oil or should I use the jug of Valvoline I have in the garage?

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

This is a good question!
Subscribed.

Richard

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

I wouldn't run it in anything that old. I would be running 10w30 in that engine.

All the newer Fords are using 5w20 in them to squeeze every bit of fuel economy out of them they can. The 4.0L SOHC still to this day uses 5w30 though. And also all the Eco boost vehicles use 5w30.

 

[rangerbum]

It is true that Ford now recommends 5w-20 in all of their NEW rigs. All the 08s and up for the most part, and now that they have phased out most of the older motors, all use it.

It won't hurt to use it, but it is not recommended by ford for our trucks. I have a 2.3, and I trust Ford with their knowledge. The fact is, our engines just aren't as refined or even built like the new ones, so I have a hard time finding good reasons to use it in my ol reliable that's always done just fine on 5w 30. Its tried and tested, so its good enough for me not to mess with.

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

IIRC 5w20 was being used from 04 on?

 

[70roadrunner]

personally, i wouldnt use 5W-anything in my rigs, unless in severe cold weather. i use either 20W-50 in all of mine, even a sprint car.

 

[exbass94]

In short, the parts guy is wrong. 5w-20 is not used in EVERY Ford engine, even the new ones. It's used in most of the newer ones, but not all. I would not use 5w-20 in anything that wasn't specifically speced for it. Stick with 5w30 or 10w30.

 

[exbass94]

personally, i wouldnt use 5W-anything in my rigs, unless in severe cold weather. i use either 20W-50 in all of mine, even a sprint car.

Thicker is NOT necessarily better. 20w50 is far from the ideal oil in most engines.

 

[cubewhiz]

Thanks for the replies. I have a jug of Valvoline 10W30, so I'll just use that.

 

[press 1 for english]

personally, i wouldnt use 5W-anything in my rigs, unless in severe cold weather. i use either 20W-50 in all of mine, even a sprint car.

The 5W comment makes no sense whatsoever.

 

[det107]

IIRC 5w20 was being used from 04 on?

My oil cap has 5w-20 printed on it-

 

[shane96ranger]

My 97 F150 says 5W-20, as does my 06 Escape.

 

[jrpdash9]

my 2.9 like thicker oil.. just saying

 

[doorgunner]

Everybody knows that 5w is only used in short stroke '08 & up/cold weather....

also used down South to fry turkeys (drains off a lot better)

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

My 97 F150 says 5W-20, as does my 06 Escape.

Somebody must have changed the cap on the '150, it should have originally said 5W-30.

It was one of those engines Ford backed up on and said to run 5W-20 after the fact in a TSB.

My brother still runs 5w-30 Motorcraft '97 4.6 in his per the original spec, his theory is the guy that designed the engine knew better than the guy that wanted to improve fuel economy. A couple months ago with 140k miles when he dropped the pan to change a seepy pan gasket while he was regearing it and had the front diff out. The inside of the engine looked like it was put together a week before and it still had the crosshatch in the bores. He did a and put it back together.

My '02 5.4 gets 5W-20 just like it calls for, my Ranger gets 10W-30 like what the engine originally called for.

OHC engines or engines with phasers do not like to deviate from the stock spec of oil... unless you enjoy putting phasers and/or tensioners in. IMO get out the manual and do as it says.