5W20 Oil
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From: Gainesville, MO
5W20 Oil
I was reading about the 5W20 oil Ford now recomends. I am using 5W30 now. How much mileage increase would I possibly see from going to the 5W20? Just a thought. It is a 3.0 FFV. Thanks.
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From: Kentucky
Originally Posted by Brother65
I was reading about the 5W20 oil Ford now recomends. I am using 5W30 now. How much mileage increase would I possibly see from going to the 5W20? Just a thought. It is a 3.0 FFV. Thanks.
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The 3.0 engine is a fairly stressed engine and while I am a supporter of the 153-H oils, they have their applications and limits. I wouldn't recommend the 5w-20 for this engine. I would suggest using a 5w-30 oil made by the Cononco/Phillips conglomerate. These would include Kendall, Phillips, and Conoco oils. Reason is that C/P no longer produces a straight dino oil. Their minimum basestock is a synthetic blend as of May this year. It should produce low wear metals for your engine.
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From: Metro Detroit (Redford)
Originally Posted by Flash
The 3.0 engine is a fairly stressed engine ...
Post Fiend
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From: Running Springs CA
"76" is another ConocoPhillips brand, depending on what is available in your area. Motorcraft oil is also made by them. I also was not aware of any problems with the 3.0 Vulcan engine, except being somewhat gutless. Its not even OHC.
Jim
Jim
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From: Metro Detroit (Redford)
Originally Posted by jimandmandy
...the 3.0 Vulcan engine, except being somewhat gutless.
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Cargo Master
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From: NH
Ford switches to the 5W20 for 2 main reasons. (I may be wrong)
1) The closer tolerances in the newer motors and
2) to meet the fleet MPG set by the government.
I have been told that the 5w30 will be better and have better protection in the winter than the 5w20. And as mikemc said the increase in MPG you see may not even be measurable.
I run Amsoil and have run 5W30 in my 2.0L and now 0w30(I did see a MPG increase with this oil).
In my truck ('83 351W w/carb)I run the XL7500 10w30. I will be switching over to there standard 10w30 shortly.
1) The closer tolerances in the newer motors and
2) to meet the fleet MPG set by the government.
I have been told that the 5w30 will be better and have better protection in the winter than the 5w20. And as mikemc said the increase in MPG you see may not even be measurable.
I run Amsoil and have run 5W30 in my 2.0L and now 0w30(I did see a MPG increase with this oil).
In my truck ('83 351W w/carb)I run the XL7500 10w30. I will be switching over to there standard 10w30 shortly.
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Posting Guru
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A stressed engine is one that has a displ/hp ratio of over .70. A high stressed engine is over .88. a severely stressed engine is over 1.00. There is nothing mechanical about the 3.0 that makes it a stressed engine, it has to do with a little engine having to work extremely hard to produce 150 hp. Remember back when the Oldsmobile 455 only had 185 HP? Your little six banger is having to produce almost the same work but it is no where near a match for a 455 which didn't have to work very hard to make those few ponies. A 2004 3.0 has a ratio of .86
Post Fiend
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From: Metro Detroit (Redford)
The '92 is listed at 145 hp, so 183/145 = 1.26. But I think you meant hp/displacement ratio which for the '92 would be 0.79. No wonder the 300 straight six lasts forever: 145/300 = 0.48!
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From: South Dakota
Originally Posted by 7283-F250
I have been told that the 5w30 will be better and have better protection in the winter than the 5w20. And as mikemc said the increase in MPG you see may not even be measurable.
.
.
There is absolutely no difference in cold start up between a 5-20 oil and a 5-30 oil.
They both behave like a 5 wt oil at non-operating temps. There is a difference between 5-30 and 10-30 as far as startup lubrication in severely cold climates.
Post Fiend
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From: Metro Detroit (Redford)
No difference in the API rating, but there can be a lot of difference within the rating. For example, Valvoline Durablend lists the following cold temp properties for 5w20 and 5w30:
Grade / Pour Point / CCS viscosity (-30C) / MRV viscosity (-35C)
5w20 / -36C / 4700 / 15000
5w30 / -39C / 5400 / 19000
So the 5w20 would flow better on cold start.
Grade / Pour Point / CCS viscosity (-30C) / MRV viscosity (-35C)
5w20 / -36C / 4700 / 15000
5w30 / -39C / 5400 / 19000
So the 5w20 would flow better on cold start.
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From: South Dakota
Actually the 5-30 would flow better as it has the lower pour point, wouldn't it?
Yes there is small differences in pour points between a 5-20 and a 5-30, but no more than 1-3 degrees C on average in my findings.
I should have said that there is not really any noticeable difference between a 5-20 and a 5-30 in cold start up.
FWIW, the temps that TallPaul shows in degrees C I've converted to deg F for those of us that are die hard English units freaks...
F = (1.8*C) + 32
5w20 pour point equates to -32.8 F
5w30 pour point equates to -38.2 F
IMO, it really comes down to spliting hairs in this case.
Yes there is small differences in pour points between a 5-20 and a 5-30, but no more than 1-3 degrees C on average in my findings.
I should have said that there is not really any noticeable difference between a 5-20 and a 5-30 in cold start up.
FWIW, the temps that TallPaul shows in degrees C I've converted to deg F for those of us that are die hard English units freaks...
F = (1.8*C) + 32
5w20 pour point equates to -32.8 F
5w30 pour point equates to -38.2 F
IMO, it really comes down to spliting hairs in this case.
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From: Metro Detroit (Redford)
Yeah, I know, lousy metric stuff is confusing. I am using it more and more just because so much of the data is given that way.
In practical applicaiton, likely nobody would notice the difference between the two oils I listed. It is strange that the 5w20 has much lower CCS and MRV at the given temps, but a higher pour point. But what is really odd is the 5w20's MRV is listed one degree above its pour point. That does not seem right.
Anyway, from my readings the MRV (mini rotary viscometer) is the best number to compare cold properties because it best simulates what is happening within the cold engine. CCS is a cold cranking viscosity. Really all these numbers are below practical applicaiton as there is a rule of thumb that the coldest an oil should be used is about 15F above its pour point. Pour point, I believe is 5 degrees (C or F ?) above the point at which it won't pour (more or less solidified). Hey, as an example, I put sme straight 40 weight (not even rated for cold properties) in a freezer to about zero F and it did not pour!
In practical applicaiton, likely nobody would notice the difference between the two oils I listed. It is strange that the 5w20 has much lower CCS and MRV at the given temps, but a higher pour point. But what is really odd is the 5w20's MRV is listed one degree above its pour point. That does not seem right.
Anyway, from my readings the MRV (mini rotary viscometer) is the best number to compare cold properties because it best simulates what is happening within the cold engine. CCS is a cold cranking viscosity. Really all these numbers are below practical applicaiton as there is a rule of thumb that the coldest an oil should be used is about 15F above its pour point. Pour point, I believe is 5 degrees (C or F ?) above the point at which it won't pour (more or less solidified). Hey, as an example, I put sme straight 40 weight (not even rated for cold properties) in a freezer to about zero F and it did not pour!
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From: Running Springs CA
Originally Posted by 7283-F250
Ford switches to the 5W20 for 2 main reasons. (I may be wrong)
1) The closer tolerances in the newer motors and
2) to meet the fleet MPG set by the government.
1) The closer tolerances in the newer motors and
2) to meet the fleet MPG set by the government.
2) Bingo! Outside the US/Canada, the very same Ford engines specify thicker oils.
Jim
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