I had my oil changed at the dealer in Feb, at 6800+ miles, the odometer is now at 9100+. I have driven it off and on since the oil change, when the weather has been nice. I took one trip to Minneapolis, about 1500 miles round trip, including driving around while there, and my oil monitor is showing 53%. They supposedly used a full synthetic, and certainly charged me for it.

I did my first change at 3000 miles, using Mobil 1. When the dealer changed it at 6800, my oil monitor was showing 64%. 98% of my driving is interstate, at 75.

I had the dealer do a change at 6 months, as I have the ESP and do not want any warranty problems. So, I will do one and let them do one; however, I am wondering what brand Motorcraft actually is. I may just take my own oil in the next time. Any information will be appreciated.

 

Came out of the same tank the rest of them did.

 

Did our cars come from the factory with Motorcraft semi-synthetic 5W20 ! Just checked my oil ( with the easy access dip stick !!!!!) and i'm missing about 1/2 quart. Still running the original oil with only 700 miles on the clock.

 

I also was short about a 1/2 QT. I had dealer change oil at 900 miles. all is well. I also had seen other fluids low. My car came from another state. I just chalked it up to the other dealer did not check the fluids at all. At 3000 miles I too would like to put Mobil 1 in. I hear some are putting 5w 30 instead of 5w 20. Is this a good idea in Wisconsin summers?

 

Are you sure they reset the monitor when they changed it?

"I wanna go fast"

 

Yes!

 

First off from the factory ford will bid bulk oil for contract to the lowest bidder with an oil that meets their specs.
Secondly it's not uncommon for a car to use a little oil between changes. I wouldn't say your car was low on oil as much as it just may of used some.
As far as what oil the dealer uses that's hard to say. We ( company I work for) deliver the semi-syn 5/20 motorcraft to the local dealer bit they buy no full synthetic from us. I take my own in for my vehicles.

 

Yep...first thing I did when I got in the car, at the dealer, was check to make sure it set to zero.

 

Alright. Unless they are using Amsoil,red-line or royal purple it isn't a true synthetic. The governments guidelines of what qualifies as a synthetic oil are pretty loose. They are a hydrocracked group 3 basestock which is just a refined conventional. Mobil 1 is included in this scam. And what are you doing putting a 5w20 in a high revving mod motor. The 4.6 shears that oil down to a w10 in 1000 miles. Ford changed the spec from a w30 to save themselves millions in carbon taxes because a w20 is easier on gas at start up and gets 0.25 mpg better which on a million cars make uncle Sam happy. Please stop doing your pony such an injustice and put in a w30. If you live in a warm state or spend any significant amount of time over 3000 rpm a w40 is your best bet. Read up on the CAFE laws. That's why ford changed the oil spec. I researched this issue at length when I bought my mustang.

 

Conoco Phillips makes the Motorcraft motor oil for Ford. I change my own oil using full synthetic Motorcraft. My last change was done with 2,100 miles and my oil life monitor was at 51%. Since my last change i have 175 miles and my oil life monitor is down to 91%. The oil life meter reads and computes a lot more things than just miles.

 

I can't wait to see how the Life Meter reads after I change to Amsoil.

 

Exactly the same. It doesn't sample the oil at all. It looks at driving characteristics such as throttle position, cold starts, etc.

 

In Australia, they spec the same engine to 5W-30. They don't care about CAFE standards. I agree, it is CAFE that has us using 20 weight instead of 30. I am sure that a 5W-30 or a 0W-30 would be at least as good as what Ford specs especially if it is Amsoil or one of the top tier full synthetics..

 

So next oil change I should use 5w-30 for summer in TX?

 

Yes....at least. I am using Amsoil 0w30. It is their best oil. And in your warm climate you could could easily handle a 10w30. And if you spend much time over 3000 rpm a 10w40 might even be a better alternative.

 

Yes....someone who actually looked. I spend quite alot of time arguing this point and most of the time to no avail. Ford cares about money and their bottom line. And to be honest I have gotten my best mileage with Amsoil 0w30 sso. And it has a 25k life span when used with Thierry filters. To me it's a no brainer. Thank you sir for backing up my point.

 

I too use Amsoil 0W-30. Have used it for years in two of my vehicles and will do the same when the 2012 comes in. Have had numerous oil analysis and even at 15,000 its TBN is fine. Being old school, I still drop my filters every 7-10,000 miles as they don't make a filter for one of mine. Again, the oil has always proven to be what they say..

 

Not this thread again.

How many have posted their 4.6 is over 100K using 5W-20? Plenty.

Is Ford going to risk their reputation - and their shareholders financial interests - to potential lawsuits for using deficient oil? No. Too many sharks these days. We'd already have lawsuits pending by now for as long as the Motorcraft 5W-20 Synth BLEND has been recomended in the owners manual, if 5W-20 was causing premature engine wear.

Is the minute (alleged) advantage for CAFE really worth throwing away your Brand's reputation? Hardly.

Cold start up is where the most wear occurs - especially with multi valve OHC engines. Putting a 10W-40 in an engine spec'd for 5W-20 is only going to cause more wear during cold start up.

As articles for both the 4.6 and the 5.0 have stated, the only reason for a different spec oil is if you are on the track hanging out at redline for extended periods.

I also have a 2010 Chrysler model that has used the same engine since its introduction in 2000. It spec'd 5W-30 in 2000 and lord knows it could use a bump in mileage. Yet the 2010 still specs 5W-30 - because the engine was designed for that tolerence.

I appreciate your technical expertise. But there is a wider view to consider. Activist shareholders watch public companies like hawks. If 5W-20 was a CAFE scam, pending litigation would be discussed in Annual Shareholder Reports. And News articles would be widespread - no doubt instigated by competing auto manufacturers. I'm not buying that Ford is intentionally sacrificing their engines for CAFE.

 

As I stated above, I think either the 5W-20 or a full syn 0W-30 would be fine. Regardless of what Ford states for usage, a 0W-30 will be lower vis for start up then the 5W-20 specified by Ford and have more vis and less shear up high when needed. Now, do you need the added protection? Most likely not however, it is difficult to argue that it is not a better oil for the engine. I know what you mean about these "which oil " threads. We all have an opinion and ........Cafe standards on the other hand are a big deal in the U.S. The companies get a tax break which is very substantial and can tout higher MPG which, attracts many buyers..Remember, money is the name of the game or Ford would not be making the cars we all love...

 

I am not even gonna bother with the 5w20 crap. Use whatever you like. Wesson cooking oil for all I care. I spent countless hours online reading about that topic. I will never put a 20 weight in my car. Ever. I spend alot of time over 3000 rpm. That stuff shears down to a 15-10 weight in a hurry. I wish Amsoil made a 0w40 sso. That would be the stuff to have. Anyways,new topic