Motorcraft oil
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 144
Likes: 1
5-20 is the specified weight, not 5-30.
As for brand, take your pick. Just use the proper weight. The Motorcraft Synthetic Blend is cheap enough at Walmart or any Auto Zone, etc. That coupled with a Motorcraft filter and you are covered should you ever have an engine failure. OEM replacement products used.
I personally use Mobil 1 Synthetic w/Motorcraft filter.
Thats just me...I have full synthetic in everything.
As for brand, take your pick. Just use the proper weight. The Motorcraft Synthetic Blend is cheap enough at Walmart or any Auto Zone, etc. That coupled with a Motorcraft filter and you are covered should you ever have an engine failure. OEM replacement products used.
I personally use Mobil 1 Synthetic w/Motorcraft filter.
Thats just me...I have full synthetic in everything.
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 567
Likes: 0
From: Mandeville, La
Originally Posted by veronese1
5-20 is the specified weight, not 5-30.
As for brand, take your pick. Just use the proper weight. The Motorcraft Synthetic Blend is cheap enough at Walmart or any Auto Zone, etc. That coupled with a Motorcraft filter and you are covered should you ever have an engine failure. OEM replacement products used.
I personally use Mobil 1 Synthetic w/Motorcraft filter.
Thats just me...I have full synthetic in everything.
As for brand, take your pick. Just use the proper weight. The Motorcraft Synthetic Blend is cheap enough at Walmart or any Auto Zone, etc. That coupled with a Motorcraft filter and you are covered should you ever have an engine failure. OEM replacement products used.
I personally use Mobil 1 Synthetic w/Motorcraft filter.
Thats just me...I have full synthetic in everything.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,365
Likes: 6
From: Ketchikan, AK.
since the motorcraft is a synthetic blend, does it still have the 3 month/3000 mile rule applied? i just did an oil change this afternoon, and used all oem just for the sake of knowing its what ford calls for.... well, that and my local wally world sells the oem filters, but not the oil. i didnt ask my parts guy about how long it should last. thanks...
New User
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
I too bought the Motorcraft synthetic blend at Wal-Mart . I changed oil at the 3K mile mark and bought the Motorcraft filter there too. I think it is the same filter my daughters 99 ZX2 took. I will keep the 3K mile changes as I have done that with all my vehicles for a long time. By the way my 4.2 v6 takes the 5 Qt jug plus a 1 qt bottle for a total of 6. Do the v8's Do the v8's take 6 qts too?
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 567
Likes: 0
From: Mandeville, La
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Junior User
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 89
Likes: 0
From: Missouri
i'm 99% sure the 5.4 holds 7 quarts but i can't remember for sure, i've slept since the last time i changed the oil.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,479
Likes: 4
mattd17 - No the 3 month 3,000 mile rule is old rule and now a common myth! Change at the interval your owners manual says to according to your driving.
3,000 mile or 3 month was a rule used many years ago. Oils are much better these days, and the engines burn cleaner, hence the reason why the intervals in the owners manuals have increased!
Changing it any earlier is just throwing money down the drain. If you don't believe me get an analyzer kit and compare a 3,000 mile oil change to the interval specified in the owners manual. The answer, there will be no significant difference in the oils contents.
The 5.4 3 valve holds 7 qts with new filter. The Motorcraft 820S filter is an excellent filter!
Stay with the MC 5w-20 oil since it's a synth blend. Going to full synthetic is just money out of your pocket. Full synth oil only shows it's benefits to extend oil change intervals. The MC synth blend is so good you will see no difference between it and a full synth oil. Just change it at the specified interval.
3,000 mile or 3 month was a rule used many years ago. Oils are much better these days, and the engines burn cleaner, hence the reason why the intervals in the owners manuals have increased!
Changing it any earlier is just throwing money down the drain. If you don't believe me get an analyzer kit and compare a 3,000 mile oil change to the interval specified in the owners manual. The answer, there will be no significant difference in the oils contents.
The 5.4 3 valve holds 7 qts with new filter. The Motorcraft 820S filter is an excellent filter!
Stay with the MC 5w-20 oil since it's a synth blend. Going to full synthetic is just money out of your pocket. Full synth oil only shows it's benefits to extend oil change intervals. The MC synth blend is so good you will see no difference between it and a full synth oil. Just change it at the specified interval.
Last edited by KevinM; Nov 1, 2006 at 09:56 AM.
Junior User
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 82
Likes: 0
I would go with Castor Oil GTX. I used the motorcraft oil and after a second glance the code that is refrenced on the back is not the code in our book.. If you look at it closely it goes throught the number sequence and then has a -A at the end. The oil recommend for our truck say is should conform to the specification XXXXX-H. Castor Oil conforms to all of the requirements down to the apropriate spec code. Now what the difference is between the two specifications I do not know.
Tuned
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 479
Likes: 1
From: Bartlett, TN
Good question.
Im like others here. Specs say change every 5,000 in my book. Im not gonna throw money down the drain and use up the dino oil until its needed.
HOWEVER, I was at Wally World just yesterday and saw the 2006 5.4L show one of 2 filters..... One "metric" thread, and one "Standard" thread. If memory serves me, #'s 820S versus 400S. How do you know which you need other than visually looking at the filter. There is quite a visual difference in the two.
Im like others here. Specs say change every 5,000 in my book. Im not gonna throw money down the drain and use up the dino oil until its needed.
HOWEVER, I was at Wally World just yesterday and saw the 2006 5.4L show one of 2 filters..... One "metric" thread, and one "Standard" thread. If memory serves me, #'s 820S versus 400S. How do you know which you need other than visually looking at the filter. There is quite a visual difference in the two.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,479
Likes: 4
The 5.4 calls for the 820S. The MotorCraft 5w-20 is a synthetic blend, Castrol GTX is not. Go with the MC oil not only is it a synth blend but it also meets the Ford spec WSS-M2C930-A.
BTW the MC 5w-20 is the factory fill.
BTW the MC 5w-20 is the factory fill.
