Motor Oil Question
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Motor Oil Question
My 00 Expedition has a 5.4L engine and 84,000 miles. Been using 5w30 motor oil since I got it in 2000. I change the oil every 3,000 miles or 3 months whichever comes first.
The dealer just suggested I switch to 5w20 for my oil changes.
Anyone hear anything negative about switching to 5w20?
Am considering it...
Thanks
The dealer just suggested I switch to 5w20 for my oil changes.
Anyone hear anything negative about switching to 5w20?
Am considering it...
Thanks
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 392
Likes: 1
From: Middletown NJ
The trucks manual for my 99 states to use 10W-30, but I use 5W-30. Do you go above 2.5K RPMs once in a while? I would stick with 5W-30 because it will be thinner and easier to move when the engine is warmed up.
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Is there an issue with using 5w30 vs 5w20 mot oil?
thanks for the reply. my manual for 00 expedition says to use 5w30.
The dealer wants to put in 5w20. However for the entire 84,000 miles I put on I have used 5w30.
Guess its best to stick with what the engine is used to since I have no problems. I just wonder what's the big push to get me to switch?
If its just dealer cost I would understand. Just want to be sure thats all it is.
The dealer wants to put in 5w20. However for the entire 84,000 miles I put on I have used 5w30.
Guess its best to stick with what the engine is used to since I have no problems. I just wonder what's the big push to get me to switch?
If its just dealer cost I would understand. Just want to be sure thats all it is.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 167
Likes: 0
From: Maryland
Hi, other experts can weigh in but from a pure "process" view Ford issued a TSB a few years ago that updated the recommended oil for most of the Ford engines to 5W-20, which I also believe is a semi-synthetic. I suspect that's why the dealer is saying what they are saying.
Try these links:
http://www.ints.com/support/document...20motoroil.pdf
https://www.ford-trucks.com/tsb/full...php?tsb=02-1-9
Hope this helps - whether you want to do this or not has to be up to you.
Mike
Try these links:
http://www.ints.com/support/document...20motoroil.pdf
https://www.ford-trucks.com/tsb/full...php?tsb=02-1-9
Hope this helps - whether you want to do this or not has to be up to you.
Mike
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 228
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From: Twin Cities MN
I switched from 0W-30 to 0W-20 for about half a change in my '98 EB, also 5.4L with about the same number of miles you have on it when I switched. My engine loved the stuff, so much so that it ate it at rates not seen ever. My consumption went from about a quart every 4000 miles to a quart every 1000 miles. After adding a quart every 1000, I finally dumped the 0W-20 at 3000 miles and went back to 0W-30. I went right back to using about a quart every 4000 miles.
Switch and try it if you like, you will not harm the engine, but keep a close eye on the oil level.
Switch and try it if you like, you will not harm the engine, but keep a close eye on the oil level.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 317
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From: Omaha, Nebraska USA
I have read about two reasons for going to 5w-20 on this forum. Number one is for fuel milage which I can understand to a small point. Another one which I think is just a tale is for oiling of the cam shafts. The 20 weight is thinner and gets up to the heads easier. Any truth to this tale? Just curious on this as I have been using 5w-30 for 60,000 miles now with no problems other than using some oil about 1 quart every 3500 miles. I used synthetic and change every 6000 miles. Just wondering.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 392
Likes: 1
From: Middletown NJ
I am not 100% sure of this, but doesn't the 5W-30 get thinner than the 5W-20? Isn't the first number the standard non running temperature and 0 is thinnest and 5 is slightly thicker and the second number is normal load viscosity and the higher it is the thinner the oil will become?
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Elder User
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Cornelius, Oregon
I am not 100% sure of this, but doesn't the 5W-30 get thinner than the 5W-20? Isn't the first number the standard non running temperature and 0 is thinnest and 5 is slightly thicker and the second number is normal load viscosity and the higher it is the thinner the oil will become?
So when you see 5W-30 it means that at low temperatures (like startup in winter) it will flow like a 5 weight oil at that temperture. As it heats up to 210 degrees, it will flow like a 30 weight oil.
Now back to your comparison of 5W-20 and 5W-30. Both will perform the same at lower temperatures, but as the engine and oil heats up the 5W-20 will be thinner than the 5W-30.
This is a good read:
Motor Oil Viscosity Grades Explained in Layman's Terms
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From: Maine, Virginia
Hi, other experts can weigh in but from a pure "process" view Ford issued a TSB a few years ago that updated the recommended oil for most of the Ford engines to 5W-20, which I also believe is a semi-synthetic. I suspect that's why the dealer is saying what they are saying.
Try these links:
http://www.ints.com/support/document...20motoroil.pdf
https://www.ford-trucks.com/tsb/full...php?tsb=02-1-9
Hope this helps - whether you want to do this or not has to be up to you.
Mike
Try these links:
http://www.ints.com/support/document...20motoroil.pdf
https://www.ford-trucks.com/tsb/full...php?tsb=02-1-9
Hope this helps - whether you want to do this or not has to be up to you.
Mike
Tim
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 392
Likes: 1
From: Middletown NJ
Not quite correct. In both instances, the higher the viscosity number, the thicker the oil will be. Any viscosity number you see without a W means that it was tested at 210*F (so S.A.E. 50, for example tests at 50 at 210*F). The W is the cold temperature, or Winter grade, and is tested at varying temperatures from -40*F to 23*F.
So when you see 5W-30 it means that at low temperatures (like startup in winter) it will flow like a 5 weight oil at that temperture. As it heats up to 210 degrees, it will flow like a 30 weight oil.
Now back to your comparison of 5W-20 and 5W-30. Both will perform the same at lower temperatures, but as the engine and oil heats up the 5W-20 will be thinner than the 5W-30.
This is a good read:
Motor Oil Viscosity Grades Explained in Layman's Terms
So when you see 5W-30 it means that at low temperatures (like startup in winter) it will flow like a 5 weight oil at that temperture. As it heats up to 210 degrees, it will flow like a 30 weight oil.
Now back to your comparison of 5W-20 and 5W-30. Both will perform the same at lower temperatures, but as the engine and oil heats up the 5W-20 will be thinner than the 5W-30.
This is a good read:
Motor Oil Viscosity Grades Explained in Layman's Terms
I will just go
for a little bit
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,512
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From: Detroit
thanks for the reply. my manual for 00 expedition says to use 5w30.
The dealer wants to put in 5w20. However for the entire 84,000 miles I put on I have used 5w30.
Guess its best to stick with what the engine is used to since I have no problems. I just wonder what's the big push to get me to switch?
If its just dealer cost I would understand. Just want to be sure thats all it is.
The dealer wants to put in 5w20. However for the entire 84,000 miles I put on I have used 5w30.
Guess its best to stick with what the engine is used to since I have no problems. I just wonder what's the big push to get me to switch?
If its just dealer cost I would understand. Just want to be sure thats all it is.
I would take it to the dealer for some of the oil changes, and did others myself. I noted that when it got 5W20 at the dealer (later in life--probably 80k miles or more on it) that it would suck down more oil...maybe a quart in 2k miles, whereas on the 5W30 it would maybe go down a quart in 3000-3500 miles (at which time I would change it). So I would use 5W30 in it most of the time.
So on a new Ford that started out with 5W20, I'd stay with the 5W20. But in an older one that's been doing fine with 5W30, I'd stay with the 5W30, especially in a warm climate or during summer months. 5W20 might be something you could try in the winter, and see if your engine likes it.
George
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