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Please don't run 10w30 in this engine.. it will sludge it up quick and in a hurry, even if it is synthetic.
Use 5w30 at the HEAVIEST, 5w20 if the temperature will go below 0F
Well, that is a new one. I thought I heard them all, coming from an air-cooled V-twin discussion board. You think car guys have oil opinions, I've seen fights over oil types.
Oil will NOT "sludge-up" by itself.
I'm guessing thaty straight 50 weight could be used in these engines without major damage, but it would not sludge up. Sludge comes from contamination, not type of oil.
Well, that is a new one. I thought I heard them all, coming from an air-cooled V-twin discussion board. You think car guys have oil opinions, I've seen fights over oil types.
Oil will NOT "sludge-up" by itself.
I'm guessing thaty straight 50 weight could be used in these engines without major damage, but it would not sludge up. Sludge comes from contamination, not type of oil.
I think the 50 weight might be an exaggeration manifested from previous oil discussions. That was a little rough on those heavy oil pumps in the '60s. These light oil pumps today would have a shortened life span pumping the heavy straight weight oils. Although, I would go straight 30 or 40 out in the triple digit temperature areas (Remember, all things are relative). Then one must consider that the thicker oil does retain the heat longer even though the oil thins out at higher temperatures. Oh! The dilemma of it all!
That contamination statement regarding sludge is dead on. Always has been and I cannot see that ever changing.
05 Escape Limited 3.0 - MC 5w-20 02 Mustang GT 4.6 - Used Mobil 1 for about 30,000, now use MC 5w-30 (could never let it go 5000, besides MC is a very well put together oil for the price) 97 F150 Off Road 4.6 - MC 5w-30 97 Probe 2.0 - MC 5w-30 95 Probe GT 2.5 - MC 5w-30
What's all this talk about oil viscosity? Use what Ford recommends, 5W-20, they built the damn engine, they should know what kind of oil to put in it.
I use any reputable brand oil that may be on sale, as long as it is the viscosity the car maker recommends, in this case 5W-20. I have always preferred Pennzoil and have used for over 40 years in my cars and never had a problem. Actually Pennzoil and Quaker State are the same oil basically, they merged quite a few years ago. I never figured out the advantage of using synthetic oil instead of regular oil, to me it just seemed like over priced oil and since I change my oil every 4000 miles, it seems like a waste of money.
Here's a question; what's the real difference between Mobil 1 and any other synthetic (other than the obvious hype)?
Specific additive levels. Every producer has their favorite blend of Velveeta. Mobil 1 in it's various forms has shown to do well in independent analysis tests of it's various desirable properties.
Somebody menitoned it earlier, but the motorcycle world has heated debates about oil. MC riders are typically fanatical about this stuff, but there are more myths perpuated as a result as well. The main reason is that the engine oil is used in the tranny and wet clutch, which provides a whole new set of circumstances for oil, mainly shearing issues that are not present in car usage. Googling motorycle and oil analysis may bring up some good discussions or articles. Quaker state has a decent FAQ on their site in regards to typical myths, though some of it comes across as pure marketing crap. Motorcycle Consumer News and Sport Rider have done test articles that can be found on their respective websites
Last edited by license2ill; 12-05-2005 at 05:08 AM.
I see a few people her recommending MC oil ( I presume they mean MotorCraft). I did not know that Ford was in the oil business also besides building automobiles and trucks. Do they have wells and pump there own oil or do they just refine it at one of their refineries..
All seriousness aside, does anyone know who makes MotorCraft oil for Ford?
Stock oil comes from the major refineries. Then they are differentiated by additives and blends. This is how they meet certain certifications and derive synthetics. Who makes MC? Possibly Havoline but I'm not sure. I've used it for many years and at less than $2 per semi-synthetic quart it's got a good price.
Oil is probably like oil filters. About half a dozen companies actually make the product but different oils/filters have different specs and they just stamp the name on the product per end sellers request. I use Wix filters and they are the same as NAPA Gold products.
Unless Ford just made a recent change, MC oil is produced by Conoco/Phillips. The 'synthetic blend' is actually group II + upto 50% group III (5w-20, 5w-30, 10w-30 weights). The formulation is almost identical to the other Conoco/Phillips brands: Trop Artic, Conoco Hydroclear, Kendall, etc.
All the Conoco blends are excellent motoroils. Many good UOAs for MC on Bobistheoilguy.
I've used MC (or Trop Artic when MC is sold out) in my rides for the past 10 yrs.
As previously mentioned, I used to use Mobil 1 in my GT, but no longer can justify the $$, especially since I'm not interested in pursuing extended oil drain intervals. Nowdays most (reputable) petroleum motoroils do use group II+, and/or group III (severly refined/hydrocracked) base stocks in meeting the new API SM requirements.
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That was a little rough on those heavy oil pumps in the '60s. These light oil pumps today would have a shortened life span pumping the heavy straight weight oils. Although, I would go straight 30 or 40 out in the triple digit temperature areas (Remember, all things are relative). Then one must consider that the thicker oil does retain the heat longer even though the oil thins out at higher temperatures. Oh! The dilemma of it all! 
