Oil Question...

[Original_Ranger84]

Ok so I am running Mobil 1 Full synthetic 5-w30 and a motorcraft filter, and its been about 6,000 miles so I need to change the oil again, the problem is I want to switch to the Motorcraft Synthetic blend but I got 5-w20 (cause apparently they don't make 5-w30?) And everywhere I read says that 5-w20 is recommended except the one sticker under the hood of my truck which says 5-w30.

Its got the 99 FF 3.0L v6, I figure it would be fine switching to 5-w20 cause its pretty cold in AK and even colder in the winter. And My dad seems to think it would be fine but do you guys think it will be fine... cause if the motor goes I am going to do whatever I can to get a turbo diesel in it.

 

[superds]

... cause if the motor goes I am going to do whatever I can to get a turbo diesel in it.

If that's the case I would recommend running it with no oil in it.

 

[hoosier1104]

AMSOIL all the way right here.

 

[adsm08]

Motorcraft does make a 5-30 synthetic blend for the 4.0s. It most commonly comes in 5 qt jugs. P/N XO-5W30-5QSP (the 5 qt jug).

5-20 is just fine for your 3.0 though. A few years back Ford revised it's oil specs and now the pre-92 small blocks, the 4.9s, and the Colognes are the only engines that they recommend 5-30 for. The rest can get 5-20 and be fine.

I think it was done to improve fuel economy, because years ago they said everything should run 5-30, but I haven't seen any ill effects from it. I know a guy with an 86 Taurus 3.0 running 5-20 in the original engine, over 300K miles and no problems from using the 20 weight so far.

 

[Original_Ranger84]

If that's the case I would recommend running it with no oil in it.

Well I can't afford not to have my truck right now, and I can't afford to purchase and ship a motor/trans combo plus everything else i need to alaska either. I want to get the most out of this one and then go to the other one.

AMSOIL all the way right here.

Can't afford that plus I already got the oil and I don't trust any of those amsoil or lucus products...

Motorcraft does make a 5-30 synthetic blend for the 4.0s. It most commonly comes in 5 qt jugs. P/N XO-5W30-5QSP (the 5 qt jug).

5-20 is just fine for your 3.0 though. A few years back Ford revised it's oil specs and now the pre-92 small blocks, the 4.9s, and the Colognes are the only engines that they recommend 5-30 for. The rest can get 5-20 and be fine.

I think it was done to improve fuel economy, because years ago they said everything should run 5-30, but I haven't seen any ill effects from it. I know a guy with an 86 Taurus 3.0 running 5-20 in the original engine, over 300K miles and no problems from using the 20 weight so far.

Cool, Yeah I was looking for the 5 qt. jug of 5-30 but the walmart up here doesn't sell em. they actually just recently started carrying the 1 qt bottles of 5-30 like a month or 2 ago...

 

[LearjetMinako]

I would advise against using a 5w-20 in a 5w-30 oil weight engine. It will work, but the engine valves will tick. I tried it my 96 2.3L Ranger, because the Ford dealer said that it would best. About 100 miles on the 5w-20, I changed the oil because the cam ticking was loud. Even on my friends F-150 with a 4.2L. The Ford dealership changed his oil with 5w-20, his cams started ticking too when before his engine was quite.

Go by the oil cap or sticker under the hood for oil weight. And for winter use, you can always try a 0w-30 for a thinner oil upon start up.

 

[adsm08]

If there is a Ford dealer there I'd just get it from them. I know the dealership has a stigma of charging more for stuff, but on things like oil and filters their price and Wal-Mart's price are the same because the brand holder (Ford) basically tells all the retailers that carry the item "This is what you are allowed to sell it for".

 

[hoosier1104]

Can't afford that plus I already got the oil and I don't trust any of those amsoil or lucus products...

My uncle sells so I got the family discount which is at cost. I saved $20 total.

 

[superds]

Well I can't afford not to have my truck right now, and I can't afford to purchase and ship a motor/trans combo plus everything else i need to alaska either. I want to get the most out of this one and then go to the other one....

I hear you. I'd like a diesel too but I still have a perfectly usable engine already in my Ranger and would like to make it last so I can save up for a diesel.

Have you looked into which diesel you want to eventually put in your Ranger?

 

[Original_Ranger84]

I would advise against using a 5w-20 in a 5w-30 oil weight engine. It will work, but the engine valves will tick. I tried it my 96 2.3L Ranger, because the Ford dealer said that it would best. About 100 miles on the 5w-20, I changed the oil because the cam ticking was loud. Even on my friends F-150 with a 4.2L. The Ford dealership changed his oil with 5w-20, his cams started ticking too when before his engine was quite.

Go by the oil cap or sticker under the hood for oil weight. And for winter use, you can always try a 0w-30 for a thinner oil upon start up.

OK so I basically have to go by the last number in terms of changing oil? I never really understood what the numbers meant. I'll try a different walmart in that case and return the oil I got.

If there is a Ford dealer there I'd just get it from them. I know the dealership has a stigma of charging more for stuff, but on things like oil and filters their price and Wal-Mart's price are the same because the brand holder (Ford) basically tells all the retailers that carry the item "This is what you are allowed to sell it for".

Hmmm. I'll try that too! Thanks

My uncle sells so I got the family discount which is at cost. I saved $20 total.

Well... I don't got a relative or close friend that works for them. lol

I hear you. I'd like a diesel too but I still have a perfectly usable engine already in my Ranger and would like to make it last so I can save up for a diesel.

Have you looked into which diesel you want to eventually put in your Ranger?

Yeah If I go with a diesel I'm gonna try to get one of those motors from mexico... The 3.0L Duratorque and a 5spd. I need the MPG's and TQ more then I need speed.

 

[adsm08]

It's actually 5-W30. The W stands for winter and indicated the oil's velocity quotient at freezing point.

The first number stands for the viscosity when it's hot. So 5-20 or 5-30, once it gets hot it's all the same. 0-30 is going to give less protection at temp.

Or at least that's how it was explained to me...

 

[exbass94]

It's actually 5-W30. The W stands for winter and indicated the oil's velocity quotient at freezing point.

The first number stands for the viscosity when it's hot. So 5-20 or 5-30, once it gets hot it's all the same. 0-30 is going to give less protection at temp.

Or at least that's how it was explained to me...

NO that is all wrong. The SECOND number is the viscosity when hot. So 5w-30 and 0w-30 are the same viscosity when hot and provide equal protection.

The first number refers to how much the oil thickens when cold. It is NOT a viscosity number. (a 5w-30 is NOT a "5 weight" when cold) Very simply, the higher the number, the more it thickens when cold. So a 0w-30 and 5w-30 are the same thing, except the 0w-30 won't thicken up as much in really cold temps.

 

[Original_Ranger84]

Alright so basically I want the last numbers to match... Thanks guys. I feel smarter every time I come here

 

[adsm08]

NO that is all wrong. The SECOND number is the viscosity when hot. So 5w-30 and 0w-30 are the same viscosity when hot and provide equal protection.

The first number refers to how much the oil thickens when cold. It is NOT a viscosity number. (a 5w-30 is NOT a "5 weight" when cold) Very simply, the higher the number, the more it thickens when cold. So a 0w-30 and 5w-30 are the same thing, except the 0w-30 won't thicken up as much in really cold temps.

Glad someone knows what he is talking about.

Like I said, that's how it was explained to me. It was half right anyway.

 

[snomaker321]

If there is a Ford dealer there I'd just get it from them. I know the dealership has a stigma of charging more for stuff, but on things like oil and filters their price and Wal-Mart's price are the same because the brand holder (Ford) basically tells all the retailers that carry the item "This is what you are allowed to sell it for".

I was thinking of using the motorcraft oil on my next oil change. I looked online and it was $3.99 at advance auto, $3.49 at autozone, and i remember a while back(maybe a year) I saw it at walmart and it was the cheapest oil they sold, even less than whatever the walmart brand is. I think it was right around $2 a quart or so