2003 Escape Oil Question
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2003 Escape Oil Question
I have been using Motorcraft Semi-Synthetic 5W-20 since the vehicle was new. I now have 118,000 miles on it. I change the oil every 4000 miles and for the last few oil changes I notice I am down about 1 quart of oil. My mechanic said this is normal because as the engine gets older the internal parts slowly wear and causes some blow-by wear. He recommended I switch to a 5W-30 or 10W-30 weight oil which will help. He said with all those miles the 5W-20 is just to thin and being burned by the blow-by. Motorcraft does make his recommended weights in their Semi-Synthetic formulas. Should I follow his recommendations or still use the recommended 5W-20 viscosity and check the oil level at about 2000 miles an if oil level is low just add whatever is needed?
Also, he said not to bother with High Mileage Oils, not worth the extra money. They contain an additive that just swells the seals in the engine, but does nothing for the use of oil in my case. He feels that the 5W-20 viscosity is just to thin to use in a vehicle with high mileage.
Also, he said not to bother with High Mileage Oils, not worth the extra money. They contain an additive that just swells the seals in the engine, but does nothing for the use of oil in my case. He feels that the 5W-20 viscosity is just to thin to use in a vehicle with high mileage.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Dec 2008
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From: Burleson, Tx
I wouldn't go with a thicker oil for two reasons.
1) The passages in these engines are pretty thin and the thicker oils do not flow as well.
2. In my experience (before I knew about the passages) when I ran the 5 or 10-30 I got a lot of ticking.
I would do some searching for a leak or get a compression test done to see if one cylinder, or more, are low on compression. We have over 180,000 on our engine and it's still full when I change it after 4-5k miles.
1) The passages in these engines are pretty thin and the thicker oils do not flow as well.
2. In my experience (before I knew about the passages) when I ran the 5 or 10-30 I got a lot of ticking.
I would do some searching for a leak or get a compression test done to see if one cylinder, or more, are low on compression. We have over 180,000 on our engine and it's still full when I change it after 4-5k miles.
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Yes I change my own oil. No oil leaks anywhere, already checked for that in the spring when my mechanic changed out a coil pack.
Ok,you guys say stay with the 5W-20 and just add some if the level gets low.
I'm going with what my mechanic told me when he checked my oil, I really haven't checked for myself which I am going to do next weekend when I do a change.
Also, light weight oil will generally "burn" normally and is a normal condition. It's when you start seeing smoke coming out of your exhaust you know there is excessive wear around your rings and pistons.
Ok,you guys say stay with the 5W-20 and just add some if the level gets low.
I'm going with what my mechanic told me when he checked my oil, I really haven't checked for myself which I am going to do next weekend when I do a change.
Also, light weight oil will generally "burn" normally and is a normal condition. It's when you start seeing smoke coming out of your exhaust you know there is excessive wear around your rings and pistons.
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It wouldn't hurt to try 5W-30 which is the recommended oil listed in the overseas Ford Escape/Maverick owner's manual (AU & UK, perhaps elsewhere).
5W-30 has the same cold start viscosity as 5W-20. After it's warmed up, I seriously doubt that the 5W-30 can't effectively lubricate the engine.
I use 5W-30 during the hot hot Summer months. The vehicle runs fine, there's no extra ticking, and the fuel economy is the same (2002 Escape XLS 2.0L I4).
5W-30 has the same cold start viscosity as 5W-20. After it's warmed up, I seriously doubt that the 5W-30 can't effectively lubricate the engine.
I use 5W-30 during the hot hot Summer months. The vehicle runs fine, there's no extra ticking, and the fuel economy is the same (2002 Escape XLS 2.0L I4).
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It wouldn't hurt to try 5W-30 which is the recommended oil listed in the overseas Ford Escape/Maverick owner's manual (AU & UK, perhaps elsewhere).
5W-30 has the same cold start viscosity as 5W-20. After it's warmed up, I seriously doubt that the 5W-30 can't effectively lubricate the engine.
I use 5W-30 during the hot hot Summer months. The vehicle runs fine, there's no extra ticking, and the fuel economy is the same (2002 Escape XLS 2.0L I4).
5W-30 has the same cold start viscosity as 5W-20. After it's warmed up, I seriously doubt that the 5W-30 can't effectively lubricate the engine.
I use 5W-30 during the hot hot Summer months. The vehicle runs fine, there's no extra ticking, and the fuel economy is the same (2002 Escape XLS 2.0L I4).
I been thinking along the same track all along, but wanted someone else to say it, lol...and actually if you think about it, the difference in the two viscositys is really minimal. If you were going from a 5W-20 to a 10W-40 or a 20W-50 oil, then that would be a major change and definetly not recommended.
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