How many of you are using 5W-20 oil in your 5.4L engines? I'm having a heck of a time finding the brand I like (Castrol). Any suggestions on where I can find it, or recommendations of a different brand? Would it really hurt anything if I were to use 5W-30 instead? That is easy to get.

Thanks
Neil

 

I own a Supercrew and A Econoline that have the same V-8 Triton in them, The van has 20 less horses for some reason.
I can't seem to find 5-20 either. I really think that is too light of an oil. But the book calls for it. I'm using 10-30 this time. The only reason I think they call out such a light oil is that the tollerances on the machining specs of these motors sre so tight that the lighter oil can get to places to lube.
The book calls for 6 qts. Both the van and my truck take 7 qts to put them right on the full mark.

 

You do not want to add 7 qts to your motor. Yes it will show full on the stick but you will have overfilled the motor with oil. I know it looks bad when you pull the dipstick and it shows a tad above low, BUT follow the manual and not the stick.

98 F250LD 4X4

 

What do you guys think obout this information???

http://www.performanceoiltechnology.com/ford5w20.htm

 

I think the 7 quarts is right. I had a 99 F-150 4.2L and everytime I took it to Stoneham Ford Motor Company for my oil change (only had them do it so it could be on record in their comps as being done every 3k or before for resale records), they would put in the 6 quarts which was included in the $27 bill plus an extra quart. The pan etc. can hold 6 quarts, but the filter can also hold almost a quart, so to keep your level topped off at the right amount they add 7 quarts.

Ryan
1986 F-250 HD 4x4
4.10 gears, C6 trany
351W, Edelbrock 351 Performer intake
Edelbrock Performer 600cfm 4bbl carb
Edelbrock Pro-Flo air cleaner
Extreme 4x4 camshaft
Flowmaster 30 series dual exhaust
Custom headers
3" Warn body lift

 

Thanks Neil!!!
I could not for the life of me figure out why you would use such a light oil in a V-8. I have never put 5w20 in may truck or the van. I will stay with 10w30. I do remember reading something about "Better fuel economy" but I can't see how that would make such a difference. I'm also going to pay attention to the oil level on the dipstick. Not the book.

 

The oil filter does not hold a quart.

I guess the owners manuel is filled with useless info and should be disregarded. Of course the guys that designed the engine only do it for a living so I guess they don't know what their talking about.

98 F250LD 4X4

 

ultramagdan,

Your arguments do not make sense. First of all, the filter does hold a substantial amount of oil. It may not be a quart, but it is close.

Second, you point out that the guys that designed the engine know what they are talking about. You are correct on this. And, because they are also the ones who designed the dip-stick, I woul recommend using that as a reference. The owners manual is (and always will be) subject to typos.

The dip-stick is there for a reason. USE IT!

If the owners manual told you to put in 10 quarts... would you? That would be a riot!

 

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 07-Nov-01 AT 11:40 AM (EST)[/font][p]Thank you RJKobberman. I realize it's not a full quart ultramagn, but it is quite a bit, I would push 3/4 of a quart of oil, plus, do you really think it is exactly 6 quarts to fill to the exact line? It's probably either a little more or a little less. But from my experience, I would push for a little more, because I've always had 7 quarts of fluid changed at Ford Fast Lube, and whenever I do it myself it takes 7 quarts to get right on the hatched line of the dipstick, which is what I go by, not a manual. If you choose to add only 6 quarts then please do so, but I will keep doing as I and the people at Ford have always done and continue to change 7 quarts of fluid. Plus, do you really think the people who designed the engine also "designed" the manual? They give their notes and diagrams and findings to a writer/publisher to creat e a users guide. As do the companies who make computers or tvs or microwaves...the people who make the microwaves don't make the manuals, they hire someone to write up a report on it. I think I will do as Deebo does and stick with what my dipstick says and not what print in a book says. Cause if you add only 6 quarts and not 7 quarts, it's gonna read a heck of alot lower than "just above the low level line" and I would rather be a little over the line than alot below it.

"And I'm spent"
Ryan
1986 F-250 HD 4x4
4.10 gears, C6 trany
351W, Edelbrock 351 Performer intake
Edelbrock Performer 600cfm 4bbl carb
Edelbrock Pro-Flo air cleaner
Extreme 4x4 camshaft
Flowmaster 30 series dual exhaust
Custom headers
3" Warn body lift

 

I use 0W-30 mobil 1 found at Target stores and in my opinion the best oil you can put in anything.

 

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 07-Nov-01 AT 03:57 PM (EST)[/font][p][font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 07-Nov-01 AT 03:45 PM (EST)[/font]

Thank you Ryanstruck.
ultramagdan.....
We need to remember that the two vehicles I own also have towing packages which incorporate Oil Coolers also.
I'm sure the book is right about the amount on a vehicle with out a tow package. But at the same time the oil level would be concidered safe without the extra quart.
So the filter could hold three quarters of a quart, the rest is in the cooler..
Seven quarts puts me on the full mark.. I'm sure there is no lathering.
Over the years I have noticed that the owners manuals now refer to "Safe operating level" when they used to tell you flat out what amount of oil to put in the vehicle.
I'm sure the lawyers got involved to get this worded right to stop people from calling the dealerships to tell them "hey, this car used a half quart of oil from my last oil change".
So.. I have over 56K invested in two vehicles. I will keep them on the full mark..

 

There have been previous posts about 6 vs 7 qts. The thing I got out of them was that putting in 7 qts will damage your engine because it is overfilled, i.e. warrenty is void. If you want to do that, that is fine by me. I do not care to be a test bed for oil capacities.

The fact that the engine is ok and fully under warrenty at 6 qts doesn't bother me. My truck has the towing package with the oil cooler.

And if you want to talk about oil weights I can do that 2. Sometimes when they recommend the lighter weight oils it's because the engine clearences where designed for it. It might make you feel better putting heavier weight oil in it, but the engine was not designed for it. Will it cause a problem? In most cases no unless you really go up in weight.

And finally, the motor has 6 qts in it. So long as you do normal maintenance, what are you gaining by putting in 7?

98 F250LD 4X4

 

Ultramagdan, are you trying to tell me that every time I've taken my truck to Stoneham Ford at the Fast Lube and they have put in 7 quarts of oil, they are voiding the warranty for me? They don't know what they're doing? And you're also telling me to go by what a book says and not what the actual dipstick on the truck says? Ok, I might believe that....right. If that's the case, no warranty would be voided because it would be Ford's fault for making a faulty dipstick, which they haven't. My 86 has always been filled with 7 quarts and is still going strong at 297,300. My 99 F-150 was always changed before 3k miles, and 7 quarts was always added, and I never had a problem with "overfilling". The motor as you say does not hold 6 quarts. At any one point there may be at most three or four quarts cycling through the engine, the rest being found in the pan, the filter, etc. Like I said before, I think I will continue to do just as Ford Motor Company does and as I always have, and add 7 quarts, and actually read my dipstick, and not follow some black, possibly erroneous, print in a book.

Ryan
1986 F-250 HD 4x4
4.10 gears, C6 trany
351W, Edelbrock 351 Performer intake
Edelbrock Performer 600cfm 4bbl carb
Edelbrock Pro-Flo air cleaner
Extreme 4x4 camshaft
Flowmaster 30 series dual exhaust
Custom headers
3" Warn body lift

 

ultramagdan...Oil viscosities, Do you really want oil that once reaches a hot oil temperature to be at a viscosity of 5 ?. I would really feel saver with a oil that only changes to 10. 5/20 would be great for cold starting to avoid friction. but what kind of protection are you getting once the motor is at operating temperature? having the oil level at full would only assure a good oil bath in the bottom of the engine. and what part of the engine is the first to wear out. Rod bearings,Main bearings.

 

Ford TSB 01-4-7 has a list of vehicles that should switch to 5W-20 oil. These include vehicles manufactered prior to 2001. Take it for what it is worth.

A far as the 6 vs 7 qts. My mine point is that you are doing zip, zero, nodda damage to your motor by using 6. It still shows that it is in the safe Zone on your stick.

Using heavier oil will first reduce the efficency of your motor (so will putting in more than it needs). The problem using heavier weight oils is that they may not flow as well into your engines nooks and crannies. The only time I've really heard of any problems is when somebody tried to use a heavy 50 weight oil in a engine. Oil starvation took place between the piston rings and the cylinder wall resulting in catastrophic engine damage.

And finally if Ford is servicing your truck with 7 qts, then I'd say the liability is with them. Again, I'm just repeating what has been posted here before. I use 6 and have no problems at all. I also use Mobile 1 at 5W 30 and will probably be using 5W-20 in the future.

98 F250LD 4X4