Been digging into the whole 5w20 oil recommendation Ford uses in the US-5w30 for the same engine outside the US and am curious what weight oil you all use and why you choose that weight. Thanks.

 

I use what Ford recommends.
Why?
I figure the Ford engineers know what is best for their engines, given all this variable cam timing stuff, chain tensioners, etc, etc.

I've never had a mechanical engine failure (knock-on-wood)

 

I'm using 10w-40. My truck makes a knocking sound while idling, I put the 10w-40 in and it seems to be helping.

 

if the guys that build it don't know who does?

 

I use Chevron 5W-30. Back in 2002, I sent an email to a Chevron Oil Co. engineer and asked him which Chevron oil met Ford spec. WSS-M2C153-H for the 2001 F150 I had. He replied that both Chevron 5W-20 & 5W-30 met the spec. (I still have the email on file after all these years)

If you dig back into the archives you may still find a TSB from Ford from back in 2001. I saved some of the text from that TSB.
TSB 01-4-7 actually mentions the reason 5w-20 in now recommended:

"ISSUE:
Engine oil recommended for use in 2001 vehicles is SAE 5W-20 motor oil. This oil has an improved formulation to improve fuel economy."

If you go back even further, to TSB 99-8-16, they recommended switching from 10W-30 to 5W-30. Tests have proven SAE 5W-30 viscosity grade motor oil provides the optimum protection and benefits for Ford gasoline engines. At both high and low ambient temperature conditions, SAE 5W-30 provides the best overall protection. It allows faster starts under cold ambient temperatures.
SAE 5W-30 also provides approximately 1/2% increase in fuel economy over SAE 10W-30.

It looks like the real reason for the change from 10W-30 to 5W-30 to 5W-20 is to gain a very small increase in fuel economy which allows the manufacturers to claim a tiny fraction increase in the CAFE.

So....I know I am going to get flamed for posting up 10 yr old info. I can only hang my hat on what the Chevron engineer said, what is in the TSB's, and the fact that I've always used a different weight oil than what the owners manuals call since owning my very first vehicle in 1972 and have never had an engine failure.

I'm sorta stuck with Chevron 5W-30 whether it is good or bad cuz I have 17 cases stored up and Costco has it on sale this month for $9.00 a case off, so I suspect my stock pile will get larger with my next trip into the city.

 

5w20 oil simply doesn't protect the crankshaft under summer extreme conditions for the life or the vehicle. Just listen to them when you start em up cold. KNOCK rattle KNock. You don't hear that extreme with 5W30 that you hear in July with 5w20.

 

I agree 100%.

 

Thanks for the post. This is the info I am looking for! The exact same engine made in the US but for vehicles shipped to S. America and EU calls for 5w-30. I can only deduct from all the reading that Ford was looking for small mpg gains and emissions reduction-Not looking out for simply the best oil for the longevity of our trucks. I have heard from others they are using 5w30 in fleets with vehicles pushing 200K with zero ill effects-yet there are many many people having cam phasers and timing chain tensioner issues using the recommended 5w-20. Just trying to get to the bottom of this. Thanks again.

 

I have an 04, 5.4 w/ 89k and will be towing a 25' camper from WA to SD in late June/ early July. From what you guys are saying, I will be switching from the 5w-20 to the 5w-30. Thanks for the tips.