I needed to get the oil changed in my '02 F-150 (5.4 engine, 35K miles) and I was going to be busy all weekend, so I took it to walmart while I picked up some things. I told the guy exactly what I wanted, 5-20W motorcraft with a motorcraft filter. So I get my things and go back to the auto dept. and my truck was still in the service bay (there was no one ahead of me, so it should of been done already). So I asked the guy if there was a problem and he told me they where out of 5-20W motorcraft. Ok, I told the guy to forget it, I'll go somewhere else. Then the guy tells me, "We already drained the oil." Then he tells me that I'm using the wrong oil anyway and that I should use 5-30W. Well, I was getting ready to lose it, but managed to calm down. I told him to go ahead and use the 5-30W. I know there isn't much difference in the weight, and its pretty hot down here so the oil should start to flow pretty easily. Do you guys think this may cause any problems? Just wondering.

 

no problems at all lots of people run higher than 5w 20 the only thing that suffers is the gas mileage

 

I would have made him put Mobile 1 or Ford 0-20W synthetic (which they keep on the shelf) in it,with no extra charge. You could go back next weekend and make them put the right oil in with a new filter and that way you would flush out your oil system.

 

5-20W synthetic blend motorcraft should be on the shelf, but they only had 2 qrts. left. They should have checked that before they drained the oil. As for Mobile 1 thats about $5/qrt. compared to $1.50 for the motorcraft, I don't think they would have gone for that. The only thing I got was the 6th quart at no additional charge, the price only includes 5. I'm not really concered about the oil to get it changed any sooner than normal. It just got me PO'ed because I didn't get what I asked for. Oh well, if you want it done right, do it yourself........

 

thats what you get when you take your truck to a store that sells diapers. Go to a REAL auto shop next time, one that employs REPUTABLE mechanics. Wal-Mart just lowers the standards of living for those who shop there. Trust me, read up on Wal-Mart. You will be suprised on how many american jobs they ruin.

 

I buy my 5-20w motorcraft oil and filter from wallyworld also and it seems like they only keep a case of oil on the shelf of the 5-20 and they are always out of it, but about ten cases of the other brands. I have to plan over the next three months to get the oil while it's in stock. You would think that Wal-mart would get a clue that the Motorcraft 5-20w synthetic is good oil, it does'nt stay on the shelf very long, and they should invest into more than one case at a time to sell. Sorry to hear about your experience. We all live in a (hurry up) type life now days, but there is a line to draw for ourselves. We have to make the time because nobody will do it for us.

 

5w30 motorcraft oil is semi synthetic also. Its good stuff. Just make sure you got that motorcraft filter on there.

 

come on dont be hating on walmart, walmart is cool man!

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lol except when you let them touch anything on your truck

 

i took my truck to wallmart to ahve the oil changed once in my 2002 f150 4.6 and they wanted to put 7 quarts in it. they said with the filter it takes 6.7 quarts of oil. i had to get my owners manuel out and show the guy thats its only 6 with the filter.

 

You can never be sure what you're getting when someone else changes your oil. I just make time to do it because I can be positive that my favorite brand goes in and is filled to the quantity I desire. Plus, if anyone strips the head of the drain plug, it's going to be me!

 

Right, but if a reputable shop strips the drain plug, they pay to fix it!!!

Seriously, I agree, I prefer to do my own oil changes and anything else that needs to be done.

 

www.walmartwatch.com

I was a contractor for Wal-Mart and I am sooo glad I had other customers to support my business. I did a lot of repair and network jobs for 5 area Wal-Mart stores. It took them 6 months and several dozen phone calls to get them to pay their bill. I now absolutly refuse to do any work for them. After talking to several other local contracters who have worked for them, its the same story. They go from contractor to contractor, not paying anybody.

Now I own a retail store and sell consumer electronics. I just cannot believe the amount of people that will drive 20 minutes away at $1.89 gallon gas to save a frickin nickle on an ink cartridge. Or the huge number of people who have the ***** to buy product at walmart and come to our hometown friendly store and waste my time asking me how to connect their dvd player that they bought at walmart (same price as me) to their crappy junk brand Tv (bought from wal-mart) so they can make sure they buy the right cables at walmart. I have alway prided my self in knowing that I shop by QUALITY, not price. I buy things that are built well and I try to buy things that are made by fellow americans. My computer is a top of the line IBM, my TV was made in Greenville, TN, my truck is a Ford, my kitchen cabinets were made ina town about an hour away. I dont buy crap to save a dollar and expect it to die next year. So many people do, I just cant believe it. My friend buys a new TV (from Walmart) almost every year and its ok because every she knows that shops there has to replace their stuff all the time.

BUY AMERICAN from places of business that treat their employees like HUMAN BEINGS and pay fair wages. Sears, JC Penny, Radio Shack, Meijer, KMart, etc.

 

going back to the original question, the 5w30 oil will not hurt your truck at all. There are no internal differences between the engines Ford recommends 5w20 for versus 5w30. The 5w20 is just an effort by ford, honda,etc to get a tiny bit better EPA fuel mileage numbers.

I use 5w20 until the vehicle is out of warranty and then switch to 5w30. (the use of 5w20 is to avoid any potential excuse from ford if an engine problem should develop while truck is still in warranty).

 

Thanks for those who stuck to the original question. It was not my intent to bash wal-mart or start a wal-mart vs. the little guys thread, but everyone is entitled to their opinion.......

 

Really. I couldn't sit through a Wal-Mart comercial, much less have one of them work on my truck.