I cant believe all my google searches couldn't find this but wondering just what the 3.5L Ecoboost is calling for in oil weight and is it still saying synthblend? Thanks

 

5W-30 synthetic blend.

 

Yes, everything I've seen about Ecoboost is 5w-30. I've also read that some dealers mistakenly change with what most other Ford uses, 5w-20. I'd be very particular to make sure I only used 5w-30 in an Ecoboost.

 

5w-30 it is. I have the dealer change my oil every time and I make sure to read the dealer's ticket to ensure that the service writer prescribed the correct oil before I leave the lot. Of course once the oil change is done, there's really no way to tell.

 

I believe the reason why its synthetic blend is because Motorcraft oil is either blended or fully synthetic.

 

5w30 it is. Use oil that meets API certs and Ford spec WSS-M2C929-A for warranty coverage resons.

Keep your OCI at 5000 or less, Ecoboosts have a reputation for higher than normal fuel dilution. I believe it's a byproduct of direct injection.

Motorcraft semi syn 5w30 is a great oil for the price. I'd steer clear of the higher priced full syn oils, being that I wouldn't run a longer OCI. Unless you have money to burn, then the best performing oil I've heard about from the forums seems to be Pennzoil Platinum.

 

There's another reason for running full synthetic oil - heat. Turbos are hot and the EB's turbos are cooled by both oil and water, so the oil is going to be exposed to quite a bit of heat. Synthetic oils handle higher heat better then non-synthetics. I'm sure the blended oils do fine, but synthetic will handle it better.

In addition, synthetics have lower friction than non-synthetics, so it follows they'll have less friction than a blended oil. What'll I use? Synthetic.

 

I don't want to start a huge argument on the merits of sythetic vs "conventional" oils, but I have to take issue with your statement.

API specifies the acceptable viscosity range for a 5W-30 oil at different temperatures, and ANY API certified 5W-30 oil will fall into that range, regardless if it's Synthetic, Conventional or a blend.

Synthetic oils can be designed "thinner" than conventional oils, which is why you see the 0W-xx type oils available, but to say that a synthetic oil is thinner than a conventional oil of the same API spec is false.

 

I didn't say synthetics are thinner. I said they have less friction. But, what I should have said is that they decrease the friction in the assemblies they lubricate. Poor choice of words on my part.

There have been plenty of studies done that show the reduced friction, and I've seen it myself through improved economy when I've changed out conventional engine, t-case, or differential oil to synthetic. In fact, that's exactly why synthetics aren't recommended for break-in. They don't allow the rings to seal properly, and that's a bad situation.

 

I misread your post. Maybe I've seen too many posts of the type I'm arguing against.

Still, on a theoretical basis, that friction comes from viscosity . . . .

 

Full synthetic too for me boys. Hey, I ain't gonna scrimp a few bucks on me truck's blood. Helps me old haid too, knowing I'm using the best. I think.

 

For the EcoBoost 3.5L V6, I just follow the owner's manual, which states to follow the oil life monitor. That's about 7500-8000 mile change intervals. Also to use 5W-30 that meets WSS-M2C946-A which is at the least a non-synthetic 5W-30 API SN etc... (like Pennzoil non-synthetic). I don't understand where all the conjecture and Internet advice regarding shorter OCI's and the use of full synthetic is coming from if we're to follow the manufacturer's recommendation that is backed by a 5-year 100k mile powertrain warranty

 

Yup, this right here. There's no requirement for synthetic anything, the oil is just supposed to meet WSS-M2C946-A. The Motorcraft oil sold in Canada isn't advertised as anything but conventional. It's just marketing, a few drops of synthetic oil in a quart of dino makes it a synthetic blend. Doesn't really mean anything.

Yup. I believe the overwhelming majority of fuel dilution issues are caused by driving style. Repeated short trips and lots of idling contribute to fuel dilution. The UOA on my last truck showed "

 

Not an eco-boost, but speaking of the 5 year 100k mile power train warranty. My F-150 is 12 yrs old with 197k miles and I've used Mobil 1 synthetic since the first oil change and have done all the oil changes myself, so I can confirm the oil used. Only thing I've done on the engine is plugs/wires/coils and intake gasket/isolator bolts.

 

Just got my new 2016 F150 with the 3.5 Ecoboost. After the break in period I'll run full synthetic oil. I have a 2003 Explorer with over 200,000 miles that I've used full synthetic oil in since new and have had absolutely no problems with. In fact, I can't remember if I've ever even changed the plugs in it! Still runs strong, no oil consumption, no smoking. I still be driving it if I didn't need something bigger for towing.