Oil Type and blown engines

[460Fred]

I did a little research and came up empty.
The Ford specification WSS-M2C931-C is confusing at best. Personally I use Schaeffer’s Oil and was planning to use in the GT350 I just bought. A good friend who is the head tech at a high end dealership told me to be careful due to possible warranty rejections.
I’ve noticed most of you use something besides motorcraft 5-50 full synthetic.
Anyone have an engine fail on any other oil besides motorcraft and get a claim denied because of it?

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[Matti777]

If I was worried about warranty I would make sure I can prove that I ran Ford spec oil.

 

[ice445]

As long as the oil meets the Ford spec listed in the manual, youre completely safe. Magnusson Moss protects you in that situation. Now if it doesn't meet weight or spec, they can deny if they want to be dicks about it.

 

[Rubyred17]

How can they tell which oil you use? I would not think an oil analysis could determine oil brand

 

[matthewr87]

How can they tell which oil you use? I would not think an oil analysis could determine oil brand

If you change your own oil they may ask you to prove it by showing receipts?

FWIW I just use Motorcraft because it meets the "C" spec listed in the manual.

 

[460Fred]

As long as the oil meets the Ford spec listed in the manual, youre completely safe. Magnusson Moss protects you in that situation. Now if it doesn't meet weight or spec, they can deny if they want to be dicks about it.

Not trying to be a butt here. Those of us who are not chemists, what exactly are the specs?

 

[460Fred]

Also having to “prove” you used the proper spec oil Ford requires seems a little backwards. The last time I checked, although changing rapidly, this is still America. Wouldn’t Ford need to prove I used something not approved and prove that was the reason for the failure?
Just putting that out there because there are plenty of products out there that are much, much better at engine protection than Motercraft oil.
This whole oil thing is pretty confusing at best.
Believe me, the last thing I want to go through is a warranty denial. It just rubs me the wrong way when someone tells me it’s my way or the highway. If it didn’t bother me I’d just move to China.

 

[Rapid Red]

Oil is pretty subjective don't you think? As long as the oil is the correct viscosity and changed regularly, should have no affect on a warranty .

Often wonder reading these kinds of threads, what's the back story. Has someone run a car into the ground, never changing the oil? As most do with a lawn mower.

Because too cheap to do the proper maintenance? Not heard or read of a motor seized because the oil was not chemically correct .

On the other hand burnt, low, no oil can be a problem.

Botton line change the oil as required, using the correct viscosity, the blend for todays semi or full synthetic user's choice.

Cheers,
Pep

 

[matthewr87]

Also having to “prove” you used the proper spec oil Ford requires seems a little backwards. The last time I checked, although changing rapidly, this is still America. Wouldn’t Ford need to prove I used something not approved and prove that was the reason for the failure?
Just putting that out there because there are plenty of products out there that are much, much better at engine protection than Motercraft oil.
This whole oil thing is pretty confusing at best.
Believe me, the last thing I want to go through is a warranty denial. It just rubs me the wrong way when someone tells me it’s my way or the highway. If it didn’t bother me I’d just move to China.

Unfortunately Ford is a large corporation and you are just an individual. Unless you have deep pockets and are willing to go through litigation, the Magnuson-Moss Act that everyone likes to quote in these types of threads is not worth the paper it is printed on. A perfect example of this is the experience of a relatively prominent Youtuber that had her motor let go at the track. Ford denied her warranty claim because she was tuned and had an aftermarket intake. Ford didn't have to PROVE that the tune caused the failure, they just denied the warranty claim. I'm sure if she wanted to she could try to challenge that in Federal court but you can see how most people would not go through that endeavour.

Now granted using an oil spec that is not specifically Ford "approved" probably won't matter, but you never know and the motor in this thing costs tens of thousands of dollars. If your motor lets go and you have no official service history because you do maintenance yourself, as most of us probably do, then Ford would be well within its rights to have you prove that you maintained the car properly. If your motor lets go and you can produce receipts for the oil and filters you bought but the oil spec is not Ford approved, then it is not a big leap to assume they might use that against you. Warranty is just a different type of insurance; the point is to do everything possible to not pay out.

 

[Tomster]

@Ninjak had a tuned engine that blew. He had it torn down and was on the hook for that cost if it couldn't be proven that the tune didn't cause the problem. I forget what actually let go, but Ford did replace his engine under warranty.

 

[Tomster]

there are plenty of products out there that are much, much better at engine protection than Motercraft oil.

Actually, Motorcraft 5w50 isn't bad. I do oil analysis after each track weekend and the viscosity holds up with no shearing. I use it and will continue to do so for many reasons to include warranty. Most importantly, the oil is good.

 

[460Fred]

Unfortunately Ford is a large corporation and you are just an individual. Unless you have deep pockets and are willing to go through litigation, the Magnuson-Moss Act that everyone likes to quote in these types of threads is not worth the paper it is printed on. A perfect example of this is the experience of a relatively prominent Youtuber that had her motor let go at the track. Ford denied her warranty claim because she was tuned and had an aftermarket intake. Ford didn't have to PROVE that the tune caused the failure, they just denied the warranty claim. I'm sure if she wanted to she could try to challenge that in Federal court but you can see how most people would not go through that endeavour.

Now granted using an oil spec that is not specifically Ford "approved" probably won't matter, but you never know and the motor in this thing costs tens of thousands of dollars. If your motor lets go and you have no official service history because you do maintenance yourself, as most of us probably do, then Ford would be well within its rights to have you prove that you maintained the car properly. If your motor lets go and you can produce receipts for the oil and filters you bought but the oil spec is not Ford approved, then it is not a big leap to assume they might use that against you. Warranty is just a different type of insurance; the point is to do everything possible to not pay out.

Absolutely correct. I’m a realist but also a rebel of sorts.
BTW I’m worth more than Ford right now ;-)

 

[DrumReaper]

Actually, Motorcraft 5w50 isn't bad. I do oil analysis after each track weekend and the viscosity holds up with no shearing. I use it and will continue to do so for many reasons to include warranty. Most importantly, the oil is good.

I second this... I’ve done a lot of “oil analysis research” and Motorcraft 5w50 is not at the top or the bottom of these analyses but is near the top and performs exceptionally well for an underrated oil. I call it “underrated” because most look over it to put a “high performance” oil in these cars for 95% street use. It’s like protecting your home with a Navy Seal issue, close quarters Sig 556 SBR with full tac furniture and a peeper site when a Mossberg 500 pump will do just as well and without the added cost.

 

[Tomster]

I second this... I’ve done a lot of “oil analysis research” and Motorcraft 5w50 is not at the top or the bottom of these analyses but is near the top and performs exceptionally well for an underrated oil. I call it “underrated” because most look over it to put a “high performance” oil in these cars for 95% street use. It’s like protecting your home with a Navy Seal issue, close quarters Sig 556 SBR with full tac furniture and a peeper site when a Mossberg 500 pump will do just as well and without the added cost.

Whats wrong with SBRs? I have lots of them. My only regret was not buying that machine gun back at the sheriff's auction way back when.

 

[DrumReaper]

Whats wrong with SBRs? I have lots of them. My only regret was not buying that machine gun back at the sheriff's auction way back when.

I love SBRs, and have a few as well... you and I are aware of the fun and convenience of these protective tools (investing in a 7.62 pistol to work as a close quarters tool as we speak) but many of the population don’t get them. It’s the same concept with oil... not everyone can appreciate Motorcraft for what it is but we apparently do.

Now... if you have to ask if an R comes with a/c or you’re not comfortable driving stick but are trying to order an R, you may wanna just let the dealership out that sweet Motorcraft 5w50 in for you.

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