Oil change time

[TheNameAndy]

After all the research I've done on motor oil, I've come to the conclusion that, unless you are subjecting your engine to an unusual amount of stress, such as a lot of track time and WOT, or you have a heavily modified engine, then any major brand of synthetic 5w30 that meets Ford's WSS-M2C946-A spec is fine. I know that there are conventional and synthetic blends that meet that same spec, but full synthetics resist heat better, and just make more sense for turbos.

Yes, there are exceptions; Rotella T6, being one. T6 is a diesel oil, and so doesn't meet the Ford spec because, for one thing, WSS-M2C946 stipulates a 5w30 oil, but it has been used successfully by many knowledgeable people for many years in turbocharged engines.

I am starting with 5w30 synthetic, and will be getting UOA's every oil change to make sure the oil is still good at the end of it's use. If I find that the oil is not keeping up, I may very well go to something like T6.

BTW, I don't track my car, but I do like to drive enthusiastically, and I will be doing simple bolt-on mods; tune, CAI, exhaust, etc.

I'm trying to stay close to what the manual recommends but at the same time I also want to best for my car. If there are better synthetic oils out there, I would prefer to use that..So the motorcraft full synthetic will be just fine?

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[turtleboy]

T6 is going in mine soon! Read too much good stuff about it.

 

[wmsky33]

Here's a pretty good video, [ame="[MEDIA=youtube]Qo3kcFuOteU[/MEDIA]"] that leads me to two observations.

1) Although the video is by Mobil 1, and about the benefits of Mobil 1 over conventional oil, I could easily see that conventional oil might leave deposits on bearings because it could cook off, due to the extreme heat of a turbo, leaving deposits behind. Synthetic oil is more refined with less impurities and so handles heat better. Synthetic blends are more than likely still 80-98% conventional, and so will still leave deposits behind. So, I will only use full synthetic in any EB engine I own.

2) It's really, really important to let the engine run for a while out-of-boost after you've been working the turbo hard, to give the turbo a chance to cool down before shutting the engine off and letting the oil sit there in the turbo and cook.

 

[wmsky33]

I'm trying to stay close to what the manual recommends but at the same time I also want to best for my car. If there are better synthetic oils out there, I would prefer to use that..So the motorcraft full synthetic will be just fine?

Almost everyone has an opinion about which oil is best. Personally, I don't see a problem with Motorcraft full synthetic. But then again, I don't see a problem with any name brand 5w30 full synthetic motor oil, as long as it meets the Ford WSS-M2C946-A spec, or T6, even though it doesn't meet the Ford spec, because T6 has been proven by a number of people over the past few years to work well in turbo DI engines like the EB. I believe that all name brand full synthetic oils have enough of a protection cushion that for a daily driver, you probably wouldn't see a difference between any of them. So, use the Motorcraft full synthetic, change the oil per the owner's manual, and don't worry about it. If you want even more peace of mind, change the oil at 5k miles, and send the oil to Blackstone Labs to do a UOA and ask them to check the TBN. I think it'll cost you about $35 total, and they should be able to tell you about how many more miles of life the oil has.

 

[TheNameAndy]

Almost everyone has an opinion about which oil is best. Personally, I don't see a problem with Motorcraft full synthetic. But then again, I don't see a problem with any name brand 5w30 full synthetic motor oil, as long as it meets the Ford WSS-M2C946-A spec, or T6, even though it doesn't meet the Ford spec, because T6 has been proven by a number of people over the past few years to work well in turbo DI engines like the EB. I believe that all name brand full synthetic oils have enough of a protection cushion that for a daily driver, you probably wouldn't see a difference between any of them. So, use the Motorcraft full synthetic, change the oil per the owner's manual, and don't worry about it. If you want even more peace of mind, change the oil at 5k miles, and send the oil to Blackstone Labs to do a UOA and ask them to check the TBN. I think it'll cost you about $35 total, and they should be able to tell you about how many more miles of life the oil has.

Thanks for the reply! Not having any luck finding Motorcraft full syntethic in my area. This maybe a dumb question but how can you tell if a certain brand of oil meets the "WSS-M2C946-A" ford spec? Look for oils that with "ILSAC gf-5" and " API" certification??

 

[wmsky33]

Thanks for the reply! Not having any luck finding Motorcraft full syntethic in my area. This maybe a dumb question but how can you tell if a certain brand of oil meets the "WSS-M2C946-A" ford spec? Look for oils that with "ILSAC gf-5" and " API" certification??

I believe that the Ford spec incorporates ILSAC GF-5 and API SN and stipulates a 5w30 weight oil. I'm not sure what other requirements it has. Some oils may put automaker approvals on the back of the bottle. However, if you are interested in a particular oil, you can do a Google search for <oil name> 5w30 datasheet, such as "Mobil 1 5w30 datasheet", and you will usually get a link to the manufacturer's datasheet on the oil. On the datasheet, it will mention any auto manufacturer approvals. Here are a few links, in alpha order, I pulled up doing such searches:
Mobil 1 5w30
Pennzoil Platinum 5w30
Pennzoil Ultra Platinum 5w30
Quaker State Ultimate Durability 5w30
Valvoline Synpower 5w30

 

[TheNameAndy]

I believe that the Ford spec incorporates ILSAC GF-5 and API SN and stipulates a 5w30 weight oil. I'm not sure what other requirements it has. Some oils may put automaker approvals on the back of the bottle. However, if you are interested in a particular oil, you can do a Google search for <oil name> 5w30 datasheet, such as "Mobil 1 5w30 datasheet", and you will usually get a link to the manufacturer's datasheet on the oil. On the datasheet, it will mention any auto manufacturer approvals. Here are a few links, in alpha order, I pulled up doing such searches:
Mobil 1 5w30
Pennzoil Platinum 5w30
Pennzoil Ultra Platinum 5w30
Quaker State Ultimate Durability 5w30
Valvoline Synpower 5w30

Thank you!

 

[TheNameAndy]

I changed my factory fill at 1000 miles and didn't really notice any. I'll be sending in my oil for analysis at 3 or 4000 miles on this fill to see if the Pennzoil ultra platinum is holding up.

Anyone curious about the Pennzoil, this covers it.

Not bashing any other oil including the Rotella (Shell owns Pennzoil after all) just saying it's what I use.

Please keep us updated on how the Penzoil ultra plantinum is holding up, after all the oil analysis. I plan on using this next oil change. Thanks!

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