Isn't 5W-20 more expensive too? Another money making tool?

-Kerry

 

uhhhhhhhhhhhhh NO!

5w20 is the same price , sometimes cheaper. you can get 5w20 for between 1.30 and 2.20.

 

Whatever the dealer is using for the next 2 oil changes, then 5W30 Amsoil and a Napa Gold Oil Filter

 

Another flashback to my dad's truck... he has an '02 S'crew. At the time he bought it new and for many months thereafter his complaint was the cost of the oil (he's toned down since, should have guessed the price dropped). The only Motorcraft oil at the dealer (he gets his vehicles serviced at the dealer when they're under warranty... harder for them to claim it was his fault ) was the semi-synth 5W20 and it was more expensive than the 5W30 dino... being semi-synth will do that. I see from a quick search that the prices for 5W20 and 5W30 are the same. Perhaps as more vehicles demand a product, then more companies make it... supply and demand, eh?

-Kerry

 

I would like your opinion. My neighbor has a 1993 Lincoln with a 4.6 engine which he purchased 3years ago from an estate sale with no maintenance history and 75000 miles. This engine has consumed oil since he bought it and has become worse and now has 105000 miles. He has tried oils from 5w20 to 10w40 and it now consumes a quart per 500 miles. The pcv hose and valve have been replaced and there is no sign of exhaust smoke or oil leakage. I think Rotella 10w30 may help. I welcome your opinion.

 

These modular motors have a history of eating oil... there are several threads in this forum and others where people will go through a quart or more per oil change. My recommendation based on this is to follow the under hood specs... in this case it should be 5W30. While a 10W base oil will be thicker on start-up, it may actually cause more wear and more oil consumption because of slower startup flow characteristics will wear the rings. In the long run, it's better to follow manufacturers specs with these motors.

-Kerry

 

Green, the biggest offender on the early engines like the 93 is failing valve guide seals. This causes them to burn oil. I would use no thicker than 5w30 due to the valvetrain needing oil quickly on start-ups.
Kerry, Walmart has Motorcraft oil 5w20 Semi-Synthetic for about $1.79 a qt. I always buy mine there. Their Motorcraft filters are cheaper too.

 

5w30 Mobil 1 and motorcraft filters.

105k miles.

main reason FOMOCO specs 5w20 was it helps improve their C.A.F.E rating a small percentage.

In a hot climate I suspect you could get away with 20w50 regarding cold startups and lubrication to the top end but why chance it.

 

Thanks for the advice. Since I am now doing the oil changes on the Lincoln, It will be getting Motorcraft 5w30 oil and FL820S filter and checking the oil level more often.

 

That's the best you can do without reworking the heads

 

The Wally World here never went back to stocking the Motorcraft brand, I have one of the last FL-820-S they sold back in April... that's the reason I use the old dino Mobil.

-Kerry

 

Bummer, mine quit for a bit, but then brought it back

 

The 2 Wally Worlds near me in NW NJ have Motorcraft 5W-20 for $1.98/qt. But they rarely have any in stock. I still have 1 1/2 cases left over that I bought back in March for $1.52/qt when they were "closing out" the Motorcraft line at Wally World plus about 8 FL820S for $2.97 . This is good for a minimum for 15,000 miles for me.

Whimsey

 

I want to tell the guys that think that 15W-50 or any 15W-XX's is to thick for a modular, your correct and wrong. It is to thick if your starting the engine at zero degrees or something. It would and is quite alright if it is warm out. A matter of fact if it is to thick as a few said, and was more less saying if you use it in a modular it will garnade in a short order. Why is it then that Ford used Mobil 1 15W-50, yes 15W-50 as factury fill in the modular used in the cobra mustangs.

 

What type of pistons does the 4.6 DOHC Cobra engine run, and what's the block made out of? This might have something to do with the weight of the oil.

-Kerry