0w-20?

[mustang_guy]

I have the ability to get the Pennzoil full synthetic at a ~10% discount below Walmart's price so I certainly have no problems going that route if it makes sense based on the data.

At the end of the day, it's a small price difference when you're only buying 2 x 5qt jugs.

Best,

its the only off the shelf synthetic oil i recommend. Pennzoil ultra platinum. Its good stuff for the price. I use it in my dailies. The Mustang projects get amsoil.

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[HoosierDaddy]

Then why does Ford call for 5W-20? Do you claim to know better than they do?

They recommend 20 weight because the car gets better mileage than with a higher viscosity oil. Since car makers have to meet increasingly higher mileage or pay penalties for failing, even tiny gains are important. Statistically there will be more failures with 20W than 30W but so few that the warranty repairs cost less than the mileage increases save them.

Ford once tried to test and ship cars with 20W but recommend 30W in the manuals. The Feds told them no dice so they changed the manual. For that car at least, 30W was the better choice.

But as I said, the added risk from 20W is tiny unless you really beat on the engine. Ford or any manufacturer doesn't want to be replacing or repairing a lot of engines.

Using 0Wx is never a problem. I use 0W20 or 0W30 in my street cars calling for 20W depending on how hard they get run.

 

[Blaster]

Then why does Ford call for 5W-20?

Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE)


5W20 is a tad better than using water.


Mobil 1 0W40 Group 4 oil. (Eurospec)

 

[m6pwr]

Ford currently recommends 5w-20 that meets their specifications. Why are they not recommending 0w-20? Less wear at start up and the time it takes for the oil to get to temp compared to 5W-20.

The viscosity ratings of motor oil express the time (usually expressed as Saybolt seconds) it takes for a volume of oil to drain through a particular hole or orifice. The thicker the oil at a particular temperature, the longer it takes to pass through the orifice.

A 0w20 oil is actually a 5w20 oil with more pour point depressant additive in it to allow it flow at a slightly lower temperature when it is cold than a 5w20 oil would. The oil obviously can't pass through the orifice in 0 Saybolt seconds. The 0wXX rating is just a convention that formulators use to indicate the oil is designed to flow at a slightly lower temp. A 0w20 oil would only give an advantage over a 5w20 oil in start-ups in very, very cold temps (sorry, I can't remember the temps offhand, but probably not often in Germany).

Additive chemistry, particularly AW (anti-wear) additive chemistry, and engine design advances in ever tighter clearances, is relentlessly driving the formulation of motor oils to thinner viscosities. Thin is in. Not only because the thinner vis gives marginal gains in mpg, but also because it gives less internal drag and thus a teeny, tiny bit of extra power. Ferrari for one admitted some years ago (back in the day of 1000 hp mills turning 20,000+ rpms) that they ran their Formula 1 motors on 5w20 for qualifying. SAE recently introduced a spec for Xw16 oils, and a Xw8 spec is in the works. Thin is in.

 

[EFI]

I'm assuming that Ford knows what oil film thickness is ideal for this engine.

Except not all oils are created equal in terms of thickness and viscosity. Plus that thickness is based on normal driving, if you want protection against abuse and when oil temps are high then the last thing you want is a 20 weight oil in there.

 

[RitzGT]

Except not all oils are created equal in terms of thickness and viscosity. Plus that thickness is based on normal driving, if you want protection against abuse and when oil temps are high then the last thing you want is a 20 weight oil in there.

I'll pose the same question to you then. Other than "tribal knowledge," what data do you have to support that comment?

Apparently, driving 75 miles a day at highway speeds for 7500 miles on Motorcraft 5W-20 semi-syn is "cringe-worthy." I've yet to see any semblance of "here's why". Just some blanket statements from people I don't know who don't have any relevant data to share.

If you've got data, I'd love to see it.

Best,

 

[mustang_guy]

I'll pose the same question to you then. Other than "tribal knowledge," what data do you have to support that comment?

Apparently, driving 75 miles a day at highway speeds for 7500 miles on Motorcraft 5W-20 semi-syn is "cringe-worthy." I've yet to see any semblance of "here's why". Just some blanket statements from people I don't know who don't have any relevant data to share.

If you've got data, I'd love to see it.

Best,

I told you where to look on svt performance. If you want to ignore it thats on you. Even if i wanted to link you directly you cant link to their forum here. It wouldn't work.

 

[RitzGT]

I told you where to look on svt performance. If you want to ignore it thats on you. Even if i wanted to link you directly you cant link to their forum here. It wouldn't work.

There was a very vague reference to SVT performance without any pointer to a specific reference.

Here's a test to see if links are filtered:

http://www.cnn.com

(innocuous CNN link just to see)

Edit: apparently, links aren't filtered. Please provide some references if you can. That would be super groovy.

Best,

 

[mustang_guy]

There was a very vague reference to SVT performance without any pointer to a specific reference.

Here's a test to see if links are filtered:

http://www.cnn.com

(innocuous CNN link just to see)

Edit: apparently, links aren't filtered. Please provide some references if you can. That would be super groovy.

Best,

Better check back on the first page again. I said its in the coyote/road runner oil thread. Svt links are blocked here.

 

[RitzGT]

Better check back on the first page again. I said its in the coyote/road runner oil thread. Svt links are blocked here.

That's about as thin as the 5W-20 you're complaining about.

Can you send me a link in PM then? I'm not trying to break your stones, but I'm interested in some hard info instead of hearsay.

Best,

 

[mustang_guy]

That's about as thin as the 5W-20 you're complaining about.

Can you send me a link in PM then? I'm not trying to break your stones, but I'm interested in some hard info instead of hearsay.

Best,

Since you are the doubter, i feel you can search svt yourself. Ive done my homework. Im at least telling you where to look.

 

[RitzGT]

Since you are the doubter, i feel you can search svt yourself. Ive done my homework. Im at least telling you where to look.

Interesting. I'll take that as a "I don't have any data" for now. If some spare cycles present themselves, I'll make an effort to crawl through that site.

I don't think asking for data makes me a "doubter." But hey, perhaps I'm just old fashioned. If I had some data that could help a fellow enthusiast out, I'd be eager to share it.

Best,

 

[mustang_guy]

Interesting. I'll take that as a "I don't have any data" for now. If some spare cycles present themselves, I'll make an effort to crawl through that site.

I don't think asking for data makes me a "doubter." But hey, perhaps I'm just old fashioned. If I had some data that could help a fellow enthusiast out, I'd be eager to share it.

Best,

Take it however you want you shouldnt assume though. Im not going to spoon feed those that cant help themselves. Im also an ex ford master tech. I at least tried to point you in the right direction. Its not my duty to prove your misinformation wrong. Its hard to miss a giant coyote/road runner oil thread.

As i said only two 5w20s have proven to be fine in the 5.0, depending on what they are doing with the car.

 

[RitzGT]

Take it however you want you shouldnt assume though. Im not going to spoon feed those that cant help themselves. Im also an ex ford master tech. I at least tried to point you in the right direction. Its not my duty to prove your misinformation wrong.

As i said only two 5w20s have proven to be fine in the 5.0, depending on what they are doing with the car.

OK...now we're getting somewhere. Only 2 5W20's have PROVEN to be fine. Proven where? Proven how? You're telling me to ignore what Ford says to put in the engine. Are you saying that Ford is providing misinformation now? I'm sorry, but the onus is on you to persuade me, not the other way around since any prudent person would follow what the manufacturer recommends. If you won't or can't provide some persuasive info, that's on you. I'll just let it go after this since you're not prepared to back up your statement. Life's too short.

Best,

 

[EFI]

I'll pose the same question to you then. Other than "tribal knowledge," what data do you have to support that comment?

Well each oil has certain specs that are shared by the manufacturer. All you have to look at is the viscosity (measured in cst) at various temps. The higher the number, the thicker the oil is. And not all w20 oils are exactly the same, some are thinner and some are thicker.

Ford designed the engine to be operated under normal conditions based on a certain thickness of oil yes, but just because you put in a w20 oil doesn't mean it will meet that.

ou're telling me to ignore what Ford says to put in the engine. Are you saying that Ford is providing misinformation now?

No, Ford is providing a suggestion on what they recommend is the proper oil. But that doesn't mean that that oil is the absolute best for the engine in terms of longevity and absolute protection. It is what they recommend for a balance of longevity and fuel economy.

Remember Ford is only doing enough to cover their butts for the life of the warranty, after that they don't care. Plus they need to meet certain emissions and fuel economy numbers. All of this is under the assumption of the car being driven normally. If you drive your engine hard and want to last more than just what the warranty covers then you need better oil.

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