On that note here is something else to think about:

If nothing has changed in the motors, oil clearences etc then why would Ford change from 5W-30 to 5W-20?

If it is better, then why would Ford NOT tell people with the SAME motors to switch to 5W-20?

If it is better, then why do ALOT, not all but ALOT of Ford dealers REFUSE to use 5W-20???

If some of the Ford dealers refuse to use 5W-20 but rather 5W-30 then everything is good with the warranty and that is a FACT. The dealer is a representive of FORD, if that rep decides NOT to use 5W-20 but rather 5W-30 because they KNOW it protects better then FORD can in NO way void warranties.

Call around, if you have say 4 or 5 Ford dealers and ask what weight do they use, call around to some performance shops that build motors and ask what they recommend, those are who you can trust because none of them have to worry about meeting CAFE specs...

 

That last line is just plain silly. I'm surprised you would write such a thing.

I ask you again. Where's the proof that 5W-20 is bad for the engine and that a heavier oil is better?

People keep saying the switch to 5W-20 oil is because it lowers the CAFE numbers. If that's the case, then why is Ford telling us to use this oil in older engines? It makes no difference if the older engines get better mileage and if it was bad for the engines, why open themselves up to litigation?

 

If the arguement is thin oil is better, then use WD-40 is the equivalent to thick oil is better, use a straight 50 weight all the time, or maybe roofing tar.

Neither arguement holds any water.


There is a balancing point in the middle somewhere where power, fuel economy, engine durability and longetivity all compromise some but are all maximized with respect to the others.

Ford has told people with older motors that 5w20 is appropriate for particular engines that have undergone the appropraite testing and meets the criteria above.

Why do some Ford dealers still use 10w40 oil? Because they are ignorant and stuck in their ways. Since some don't use 5w20, is that an indictment of the oil? Hardly. Last time I checked at my dealer, the engine designers and tribologists didn't work there.

Does the dealer actually know 5w30 protects any better? I highly doubt it. Its just easier to not change your ways and carry another product line.

As I explained in another thread, Ford is promoting the use of 5w20 in older engines for a reason: The EPA is guaging acceptance of 5w20 base on sales of 5w20 oils. If the EPA feels that not enough consumers are actually using 5w20, they will revoke the credits given to Ford for its use and Ford will have to pay up in the form of fines.

I've seen those documents from the EPA indicating that is the case.

 

Yo Mama! I agree with 01 XLT Sport. I even use 10W-30 in my truck. The only time you would have flowability problems is if you live in a place that gets in the negative degree F range. Other than the Winter flowability, the 10W-30 is still a 30 weight (at running temps) with less polymers to break down.

Some synthetics flow even better than petroliums of the lighter grade (10W-30 Red Line flows better than a 5W-30 petrolium). We have a 97 Lariat that has close to 200,000 miles on the engine running 10W-30 Mobil 1, so viscosity isn't hardly the issue that some make of it.

The difference between a 5 and 10 weight Winter rating isn't enough to cause noticable differences in wear rates. The difference between the running temp weights could be. In the case of my Father's truck, I would conclude that 10W-30 is not adversly affecting his Ford Triton engine (the engine's compression is near perfect). I have not yet heard of a Triton that has been on 5W-20 weight oil reaching over 200000 miles. I will wait to see others prove this feat.

Either way you'll be okay.


PS: in defense of 01 XLT SPORT, Ford is also in the business of selling trucks. their investment stops only after the 100,000 mile warranty ends. Your stuck with the engine repairs after that. I will let you all prove that 5W-20 is an acceptable real world oil. You will be the proof in my pudding.

 

With all due respect to the opinions posted here by the nay sayers, nobody has proven or shown any study that using 5W-20 is detrimental to the operation and longevity of the Triton engine.

What is wrong with 5W-20 and what's your proof?

All I hear are laymen's theories from the nay sayers.

 

Trever Adamo:

Told you it could get ugly, like calling someones mother a name...

I understand what my good friend Dennis is saying, but I just respectfully disagree with him. 5W-20 or 5W-30 will work fine for your motor, both will keep you in warranty with no problems AS LONG as you change when recommended, I think 5,000 miles? I do mine at 3,000 miles and prefer the better proven protection of 5W-30 is all...

 

XLT - the proof 5w30 provides better protection is ??? Do you have the analysis to back the opinion up?

Yes, we know it works. I have no problem running either in these motors.

Loaded statements without facts to back them are not terribly conducive to a constructive arguement.

I beg to differ on the difference between a 5 and 10w oil not having any effect on wear in an engine. I have a Jeep that ran 10w30 too far into winter, and the wear rates reflected that. Switched back to 5w30 for the winter, and the wear rate dropped in half. Those numbers DO make a difference in Cold weather (granted we see colder weather than most in MN). If you live in a cold climate, those first numbers are very important.

 

This may really start a war but...
Remember the T.V. episode (Dateline I think) where they tested three taxi cabs, one with the oil changed every 3k miles, another changed every 6k miles and one not at all after 60k miles? Result:
After tearing down each motor, the wear on each was not significantly different. However, the 60k taxi had a lot of sludge.
I wonder if all this talk is just 'splitting hairs' .
PS
I do change my oil every 3k miles.
2000 F-150 5.4

 

greeniner, I think most here would agree with me that big city (NYC) cabs are a different case all together. The reason the oil lasts so long along with the engines lasting so long is the engines never have a chance to cool down. The oil doesn't get contaminated with moisture, which most know is what really kills the oil and the engine by forming corrosive acids. As important is the fact that the engines aren't started all that often compared to the miles and operating hours and most here know that it's the first start of the morning that wears down the engine.

I know of ships powered by diesel internal combustion engines that only change oil once a year, even though the ships travel many tens of thousands of miles a year. The reason the oil lasts so long is because the engines stay at operational temps for several days at a time. They also have filtration systems that not only remove particulates, but they also remove moisture, hence they neutralize the formation of acids in the oil.

 

Finally 01 says something I can agree with. Change your oil according to what Ford says, at a minimum. 3,000 or 5,000 miles depending on service duty and conditions or every 6 months. I honestly don't recall if the every 6 months was in the manual, but that's the schedule my dealer has me on. Since I barely drive 6,000 miles in a year, they schedule the oil change for every 6 months.

Yes, they are using 5W-20 oil.

 

Dennis...

Gopher:

It is not a loaded statement, it is factual based on this:

As far as I am aware there has been no mention of 5W-30 causing ANY damage what so ever, nor has ANY warranty claim been denied based on using 5W-30.

I am sorry but at this time I do not believe for a minute that a 20 weight will protect my motor better then a 30 weight at temperature and especially when towing. For those that don’t want to believe me, and everyone is free not to believe me, but call around as I had stated in another post. Call some performance shops and ask about weight, heat and towing. Call some places of business that do a lot of towing, or hauling with regular V6’s and/or V8’s and see what they have to say on the matter.

Just because some engineer decided to “change” the spec of the oil weight to something lighter because it was in the “best interest” of Ford does NOT mean it is better or protects as well.

There are many times, through out many industries where an “engineering decision” is not based on what is “best” but what is in the “best interest” of a business, and that my friend is a FACT…

 

5W-20, IMO, is no good for racing or modified engines either. I'm not saying that 5W-20 is not a good oil, just saying that there is not enough proof that it is a good oil. As I stated earlier, I will let all you pro-5W20 users prove that 5w-20 protects as good as 5W-30 or 10W-30. I will believe when I see the engines with milage over 200,000 miles. I also agree that if you change your oil regularly, you won't have a problem. What it all comes down to is: use what ever makes you comfortable. I am not denouncing 5W-20, but I would just need to see some Real World Proof that your engine would last as long.

 

There you go again. Asking us to "believe" you. How can we "believe" you if you have no facts to back up what you "know?"

Is this just another case of where the more you say something, the more you will believe it?

Are you telling us a manufacturer such as Honda is concerned about the CAFE to the point of risking their customers' engines with the use of 5W-20 oil?

You keep saying 5W-30 oil is better than 5W-20 oil. Back that up with facts, not with conjecture. Back it up with facts, not anecdotal tales. Back it up with facts, not with empiracle "evidence."

You have constantly made statements as though they were fact. It's time for you to start posting your proof.

 

The trouble is, all you people are telling others on this board that you know better than the Ford engineers.

All I'm asking is for you to show us the proof that you know more than the Ford engineers in regards to the use of 5W-20 oil. Prove to us that 5W-30 oil is better than 5W-20 oil.

If you can't prove it, why do you insist on saying it?

 

This arguement has been going on for years now.

Both oils (5w-20 and 5w-30) start out as the SAME cold viscosity. Polymers unwrap as the oil gets hot to prevent thinning at engine operating temperature. It actually takes more polymer to make the 30. You could argue that this would make the 20 better but I think we are taking about a gnats *** difference here.

The choice is yours, it is your truck. I am switching to Amsoil and a bypass filter setup. I will probably use the 0w-30. I have not made up my mind yet.