This might be "Old Hat" to all you other V10ers,
But I found If when I change My oil, if I park my
truck slightly up hill, I will also drain the oil from
the oil cooler.

 

The oil cooler is part of the oil filter mount. Remove the filter and it drains. How would an incline change things?

 

>The oil cooler is part of the oil filter mount. Remove the
>filter and it drains. How would an incline change things?
I parked on my drive way on a down hill, and did not seem to get as much oil from the "filter" than I did when I parked it on the "up hill"
No big deal, just thought it made sence to me.

 

I dunno how it is on the pick-ups but on my E-series, there is a remote oil filter mount back by the tranny, with hoses going to it that the oil filter screws onto. It makes it terrifically handy to change, cause it's right out there all by itself and I don't have to play contortionist to get the oil filter on or off. A big plus is that the screw-on on points straight down so I can fill the oil filter with clean, fresh oil (thanks SO MUCH to someone on this board that brought that to my attention) and I can get it on without spilling a drop. It's definitely the most accessible oil filter location I've ever seen and used. Which is good for me cause I have to change my oil every 45-60 days. and I did finally break down and install MotorCraft 5W-20, after again, someone here on this board explaining it's benefits and Ford's recommendations. What would I do without you all ???

Ken, 1998 E-350 XLT V-10 ClubWagon. 1999 Ford Contour SE Zetec 2.0 liter ATX.

 

Ya, just about everyone on here is great.
But there are a few that like to beat you up a little
if they see you are not perfect like they are.
Then you have the guy's like the Monsta, and NoMo,
that will come to your rescue
and they set them straught, but for the most part this is a great place to learn a lot.

 

BTW what are the benefits of using 5w20, rather than 5w30 ?:-X23

 

Benefits of using the OEM recommended oil (5w20 now for all
Ford v-10's ever made).

Reduced wear - most wear comes at start up
Better gas mileage
Running a better SAE rating of oil - it is not just the
weight, but all the other letters. 5w20 in all weights meets
the newer, higher standards.

As for filling the filter on an oil change - let's
the engine get opil pressure almost instantly instead
of waiting to fill the empty new filter. Always a good idea!

-Jim
2001 E-450 Superduty

 

I'm not trying to start a flamer here but I would like some clarification if you would, Jim.

>Reduced wear - most wear comes at start up

Both oils are 5W base. One would not be better than the other at start up.

>Better gas mileage

I am waiting on specific, scientific proof on this one. Would you happen to have it? I'm speaking of comparing 5w-30 vs. 5w-20 and I'm not referring to fleet improvements.

>Running a better SAE rating of oil - it is not just the
>weight, but all the other letters.

Both oils exceed API SL/CF and ILSAC GF-3. (This is assuming use of Mobil 1 SuperSyn 5W-30 and Pennzoil/QS 5W-20.)

>5w20 in all weights meets the newer, higher standards.

Which standards are those? The only differences in the FORD specifications between the 30 weight and the 20 are the LAST alpha-numeric character in the specification and that only denotes- Factory fill.

Do you really think they choose to use this lighter oil to help YOU? or them...

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 01-Aug-02 AT 11:57 PM (EST)]Monsta - I *thought* that like for like (eg dino juice to dino juice) the API rating on the 5w20 was actually higher. I certainly could be mistaken. Also, the oils actually exceed the ratings rather than meet them typically. I believe (but have no proof) that the properties of the new 5w20s are superior to a typical similar type of 5w30.

Likewise, in theory the first # on the oil is the cold temp wieght, and 5 weight oils would behave the same, but only at the SINGLE temp specified. Is it 0 degrees celcius? At any starting temp above that you are between the first and second number. Say 50% of the way between 5 and 20 is thinner than 50% of the way between 5 and 30. That equals better mileage and less start up friction. When I pour a bottle of 5w20 it sure runs thinner than 5w30 at the same outside temperature.

I think Ford choose the oil to get better gas mileage ratings on their trucks like they desperately need (govt requirements), and lower warranty claims to put $$$ in their pockets as their engineers are pressured to do. I just do not see anything sinister in going to a new weight of oil.

Both benefit me as an incidental side effect.

I have been in the car/truck industry all my life working with/for the big 3 and believe I have a decent understanding of at least some parts of the business. You may disagree.

OEMs are not generally out to screw their customers. They **** them off more than they would like through the dealer network, beauratic screw ups...etc. Pissed off customers do not re-buy. Re-buy is the most important market they have.

If you are truly interested and just do not believe me, I can oficially ask an engineer at Ford who was in program management in their engine group why they went to 5w20. Assuming you do not believe me, but would believe my relating info from a Ford employee in a position to know. He will give me the straight no BS answer.

Like I said before - I am amazed this seems to be such a religeous topic for some people. The general argument I am hearing is Ford told me to run 5w30 in my manual, so that's what I run. Ford did not change the engine and now tells people to run 5w20 in all v-10s. Either we believe the Ford recommendation or we don't. If we don't, run 20w50. If we do, go on the latest best info IMO.

There is no magic reason why info from would be good from Ford when they say to run 5w30 instead of 10w30 or 10w40 (gee, deja vu on this whole debate - I am on the same side again, like when I defended 5w30...). There is no magic reason why suddenly the same engineers with more knowledge now and a wider range of lubricants available recommend 5w20 and this would suddenly be bad info. It just doesn't stand up to reason by my way of thinking. Generally these guys advance the arts of engine and lubricant design and manufacture over time - a time honored and proven tradition.

Say 5w30 - Ford good.
Say 5w20 - Ford bad?

-Jim

 

>I just do not see anything sinister in going to a new weight of oil.

Well, yes. I do not see anything sinister about the change over. Yet, I am still cynical about it.

>OEMs are not generally out to screw their customers. They
>**** them off more than they would like through the dealer
>network, beauratic screw ups...etc. Pissed off customers do
>not re-buy. Re-buy is the most important market they have.

AGREED!! :-)

>If you are truly interested and just do not believe me, I
>can oficially ask an engineer at Ford who was in program
>management in their engine group why they went to 5w20.


Jim, I would like the "un-official, official" answer if you can obtain it. But PLEASE do not think that it is because I do not respect your opnion and wealth of knowledge or that I do not believe what you are saying.
The 5W-20 vs. 5W-30 debate is a hotly contested debate on these boards. Few understand the change over (and the make up of motor oils in general but that's another story...) and having a "un-official, offical" answer on these boards would be a good thing to reference to in the future.

(BTW, I am changing my oil this weekend and I'll be putting in 5W-20 just for the heck of it. )

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 02-Aug-02 AT 00:09 AM (EST)]Done. Here is the letter I just sent. May take a few days
to get back an answer:

----------------------------------

XXX

Can you ask someone in the engine group (V-10 if possible but not required) why Ford went to 5w20 for the v-10 instead of 5w30? I'd rather hear a real engine engineer answer rather than the official line.

There is a LOT of controversy on this out on the internet.

I will not attribute to you in any way but would love the straight scoop if I can get it. I have made some speculation and have no problem being wrong if I am, but I'd rather not list any opinions here so as to not bias the answer. The more reasons, the better.

Thanks in advance,
-Jim

P.S. I think I edited my above response while you were typing yours!

 

Gentlemen...I'm waiting for the answer..my 1st oil change is coming due..I'm with Monsta...what's the unofficial-official opinion? Is it ok to use 5W30---or must we use 5W20?
Thanks,
Lisa

 

Lisa, I'm going with 5w20 and will change it frequently.

 

>Gentlemen...I'm waiting for the answer..my 1st oil change is
>coming due..I'm with Monsta...what's the unofficial-official
>opinion? Is it ok to use 5W30---or must we use 5W20?
>Thanks,
>Lisa

I believe the older, ie; 98 & 99 V-10's call for 5W-30. And the 2000+ V-10's all call for 5W-20 in the owners manuals. Since then, Ford has come out and said that 5W-20 is perfectly good for ALL V-10's. I have always used Mobil 1 5W-30, but since Ford's recommendation, I have switched to Motorcraft semi-syn 5W-20. For all the reasons above and the fact that it's $1.77 @Wally World as opposed to $5-ish. I have to change oil every 60+/- days, so the savings helps alot. And never, ever, ever, EVER use the 'orange' filter, even if unsubstantiated, the rumors I've heard just aren't worth the $2 you'd save. Use the Motorcraft filter, they sell them right next to the orange filters @Wally World. They're $4 intead of $3.

Ken 1998 E-350 V-10 XLT ClubWagon

 

I got this right back when my Ford friend got back from vacation:

----
Jim,

I was involved in two different oil weight changes when I worked on the xxxxxxxxxxxxx engine, so I have some first hand familiarity with the data and why the change was made.

Ford is making a general move to a lighter weight motor oils across the board and has been for the last several years. The reason for doing this is fuel economy. We have durability data that shows that the lighter weight oils work just fine and they lower the engine friction compared to the heavier weight oils. If there happens to be some particular reason why the V-10 went to it in addition to fuel economy, I don't know, and it would take quite a bit of digging to find this out. However, I do not think there's any special reason and know that the general trend is for fuel economy. Again, testing does indicate that it is no problem to use these lighter oils. Minor changes might be made to the engine to better accommodate the lighter oils, and in some cases the use of the heavier oil would actually harm the engine based on insufficient lubrication, through small diameter oil channels designed for the lighter oil.

Personally, I think this oil issue is much ado about nothing. Just put in what the manual says.

Cordially,

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx