Is 5w-20 Really necessary?
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
Is 5w-20 Really necessary?
Hello all, new to forums.........new to Ford for that matter. Of all the trucks I have ever owned I have always done most of the maintence on them. I have never put 5w weight oil in any of them. I live down in southern Texas, we have very hot summers and very mild winters. I guess what I am asking is if I run say, 10W-30, will i hurt the engine or void the warranty?
Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 4,788
Likes: 20
From: Mansfield, TX USA
Originally Posted by JDeere7296
Hello all, new to forums.........new to Ford for that matter. Of all the trucks I have ever owned I have always done most of the maintence on them. I have never put 5w weight oil in any of them. I live down in southern Texas, we have very hot summers and very mild winters. I guess what I am asking is if I run say, 10W-30, will i hurt the engine or void the warranty?
That being said, if you watch the sales, 5w-20 is no more expensive than 10w-30. And VOA and UOA on 5w-20 come back very, very good. Ford's spec for the 5w-20 is very tough, and requires that the oil be semi-syn.
So make Ford happy and put in 5w-20.
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
jschira, thanks for the info...........I probably will stick with it just for the fact that if something does happen with the engine, I don't want to be stuck holding the bill. I was just a little curious if others are still using it or if they had switched to a different viscosity.
I've always been told that in hotter climents that a 30w oil will stand up better, is this true?
I've always been told that in hotter climents that a 30w oil will stand up better, is this true?
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,512
Likes: 18
From: Detroit
Nascar...
NASCAR cars generally race in hotter climates.
I was even surprised to learn that for restrictor plate qualifying, they now use a 0W-5(!) oil, and a 0W-20 for restrictor plate races. For non-restricted racing, they use a 5W-20.
(Do a google search on "joe gibbs racing oil" if you want to see their product page)
Of course, these oils are gonna be synthetics, but if any engine, including a 9500 RPM NASCAR engine, is designed for 5W-20, they run on 5W20. Sure made me feel better about lighter oils...
Tons of discussions down below on oil weights...take some time and read as much as you want. On a mod motor, I think the more important spec is the 5W on the bottom to get oil to the cams quick on startup, but a good 5W-20 like Motorcraft is no problem even for long-haul driving.
George
I was even surprised to learn that for restrictor plate qualifying, they now use a 0W-5(!) oil, and a 0W-20 for restrictor plate races. For non-restricted racing, they use a 5W-20.
(Do a google search on "joe gibbs racing oil" if you want to see their product page)
Of course, these oils are gonna be synthetics, but if any engine, including a 9500 RPM NASCAR engine, is designed for 5W-20, they run on 5W20. Sure made me feel better about lighter oils...
Tons of discussions down below on oil weights...take some time and read as much as you want. On a mod motor, I think the more important spec is the 5W on the bottom to get oil to the cams quick on startup, but a good 5W-20 like Motorcraft is no problem even for long-haul driving.
George
Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 4,788
Likes: 20
From: Mansfield, TX USA
Originally Posted by JDeere7296
jschira, thanks for the info...........I probably will stick with it just for the fact that if something does happen with the engine, I don't want to be stuck holding the bill. I was just a little curious if others are still using it or if they had switched to a different viscosity.
I've always been told that in hotter climents that a 30w oil will stand up better, is this true?
I've always been told that in hotter climents that a 30w oil will stand up better, is this true?
I do not believe that 5w-30 or 10w-30 will hurt your engine, but best to run what Ford recommends while on warranty. After that, run what you feel comfortable with.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 4,788
Likes: 20
From: Mansfield, TX USA
Originally Posted by YoGeorge
NASCAR cars generally race in hotter climates.
I was even surprised to learn that for restrictor plate qualifying, they now use a 0W-5(!) oil, and a 0W-20 for restrictor plate races. For non-restricted racing, they use a 5W-20.
(Do a google search on "joe gibbs racing oil" if you want to see their product page)
Of course, these oils are gonna be synthetics, but if any engine, including a 9500 RPM NASCAR engine, is designed for 5W-20, they run on 5W20. Sure made me feel better about lighter oils...
I was even surprised to learn that for restrictor plate qualifying, they now use a 0W-5(!) oil, and a 0W-20 for restrictor plate races. For non-restricted racing, they use a 5W-20.
(Do a google search on "joe gibbs racing oil" if you want to see their product page)
Of course, these oils are gonna be synthetics, but if any engine, including a 9500 RPM NASCAR engine, is designed for 5W-20, they run on 5W20. Sure made me feel better about lighter oils...
Trending Topics
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,777
Likes: 1
From: Perry,Ga.
Originally Posted by jschira
NASCAR engines only have to run 1 race before being torn down.
If you have a OHV 4.0 which Ford sayes to use 5w30{WHY I don't know}. 5w20 will be fine.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
10 Fords to Drive Before You Die
Joe Kucinski
3 Best / Worst Features Of The 2025+ Ford Expedition
Brett Foote
10 Ways Ford is LOSING to the Competition
Joe Kucinski
Top 6 Best Deals Available on New Fords & Lincolns Right Now
Brett Foote
This Hennessey Takes the Expedition Tremor's Off-Roading Capability to the Next Level
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals
Joe Kucinski
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 10,101
Likes: 40
From: Pa
If you have an engine failer that is determined to be oil related all they have to do is send the oil off for anlyisis. They will see your running the wrong weight oil and will more than likely void the warrenty.
Just run what is recommended, 5w-20. Ford has done tons of testing in all climates and has determined that 5w-20 is up to the task.
Read the topic a few threads down on the V10 modular, that will explain it better.
Just run what is recommended, 5w-20. Ford has done tons of testing in all climates and has determined that 5w-20 is up to the task.
Read the topic a few threads down on the V10 modular, that will explain it better.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 4,788
Likes: 20
From: Mansfield, TX USA
Originally Posted by GrayRanger4x4
Yap,but that 500+ miles on NASCAR is like 5000 or more on the avg. street engine.
He is trying to go between oil changes without rebuilding.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,940
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by jschira
Ford's spec for the 5w-20 is very tough, and requires that the oil be semi-syn.
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by hofuf
I live in Houston and use 5W20. I wouldn't use anything else.
OK...................5W-20 it is!!!!
I didn't realize that there had been so much testing done. I also didn't realize that Nascar engines use 5W-20 either, very surprising!Thanks everyone for the help, I wasn't really certain since this is the first engine I've had that requires that oil......
Someone needs to explain this to my father-in-law, he runs straight 30W in everything, except his Powerstroke............
Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 4,788
Likes: 20
From: Mansfield, TX USA
Originally Posted by xtrford
My stash of Castrol GTX 5w20 has the 930 spec and I heard pennzoil is the same? I have also heard since the 5w20 is a very shear stable oil that it might contain a small amount of Grp III base stock......could that be true?
5w-20 is mighty good oil, even in dino form.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,777
Likes: 1
From: Perry,Ga.
Originally Posted by jschira
Yes, but the engine gets rebuilt at that time.
He is trying to go between oil changes without rebuilding.
He is trying to go between oil changes without rebuilding.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 1,642
Likes: 6
From: Northern California
Originally Posted by jschira
NASCAR engines only have to run 1 race before being torn down.
The stresses, heat, RPMs a NASCAR engines sees in one race is more than a commercial or passenger vehicle will see in it's lifetime.
The compression numbers itself (to make power) are trying to tear a race engine apart, at idle. No street engine has those factors.
Completely irrelevant, that is even off the "comparing apples and oranges scale".