'01 F150 5.4L 125K mi.... time for 5w20 HM??

superrangerman2002 · #1 (**permalink**) 11-04-2009, 09:29 PM

Hey guys,

It's been a super long time since I've been active on this forum....suprised to see my old UM still active.

Any who, sold my '06 Cummins and bought a '01 F150 that has no payments.

Truck has had a rough life, but the motor and tranny are solid and no leaks.

I have started a Auto-rx cleaning cycle, and I'm wondering if a 5w20 HM are really worth the hype.

Acording to the service records, my truck has had steady diet of 5w30 house brand oils.

I'd like to go back to using MC 5w20, but I'm wondering if the 5w20 HM oils are really worth the hype compared to a plain jane 5w30.

jim henderson · #2 (**permalink**) 11-05-2009, 02:19 PM

What is HM oil?

Assuming the oil meets spec for your truck it is OK to use.

The 5W20 may be the recommended weight for your model year. Somewhere around 2002 or 3 I think Ford went to that. I have read different things such as they went to 5W20 for a touch more mileage or that the new 5W20 was a very good semisyn spec from Ford.

YOur truck has done well with 5W30, so unless it is burning oil, you are probably good to go for many more years with that. The 5W20 might work a little better in your bitterly cold(I assume) winters there in the Dakotas.

Good Luck,

Jim Henderson

Is HM High Mileage? If so I have heard it does have some benefits as far as softening engine seals and preventing leaks. So if after cleaning out your engine, you discover it burns a little oil, you might go with High Mileage oil.

superrangerman2002 · #3 (**permalink**) 11-05-2009, 07:23 PM

HM = High Mileage oil.