Changed my oil today to RP 5w-30 and a NAPA Gold filter(made by WIX). NAPA had RP on sale for 6.99 a quart btw! Better than 9.99 at o Reilly's. Lol anyway, I had started hearing an engine ticking noise recently. Not sure if its THE engine tick but it was noisier than it should be in my opinion. After a lot of research, I switched to RP (a full synthetic), and upped the weight to 5w-30 instead of 5w-20 which is factory recommended. As some people claim and after reading many many articles on this, the 5w-20 isn't sufficient for these engines and is only recommended because of certain legislation against automakers regarding fuel mileage or whatever. Believe it or don't believe it if you want to. I don't know. I just had to try something since a lot of people continually bring their car to the dealer only to be told its normal like they've tried telling me. Also, since then I've added Long Tubes, and off road x-pipe and a tune so warranty work for the engine is probably out.

I don't want to start another oil debate. Just want to report that after driving for a bit on it on this hot Texas morning, that the excessive noise seems to have gone away and the engine feels much much smoother now. I still had another 2,000 miles left on the old oil but I didn't want the syn-blend crap in there anymore. Ill test it out later when I head to work this afternoon but it definitely seems to have quieted the engine down to normal with the switch to a high quality full synthetic 5w-30 instead of the 5w-20.

 

I've been running Mobil 1 Synthetic 5W-20 since the first oil change I had done on my Mustang. I run Mobil 1 in all of my vehicles.

 

I do not "get" the low second numbers on the multi-weights. It's not like the oil gets thicker as engine temperature goes up....

 

Amen to that bro. I never use 5w 20. I only use 5w 30 and buy Mobil 1 extended performance full synthetic. The 5w 20 is for government CAFE fuel regulations and from my research to thin. The 5w 30 is better for coating and lubricating the engine. I have no engine tick..

 

You are free to choose. It's your engine. But please don't blame CAFE for Ford engineering's spec for a modern, tight spec, OHC engine. That's a "bob" rumor that has never been supported by the facts, or confirmed by engineering, just arm chair internet techs.

If 5w-20 was due to CAFE, for the purpose of better mileage specs, then why didn't Chrysler also drop to 5w20? My winter car uses the exact same engine in 2010 (5w-30) as it did in 2001 (5w-30). Lord knows it could use a bump in mileage stats if for no other reason than look better in the ratings.

 

I have no idea on why Chrysler didnt change to the 5w 20 weight. I personally feel that 5w30 will not harm our engines and in fact lubricate better than 5w 20. Interesting how the op changed the weight and the tick sound stopped. My Mazda Van calls for 5W20 oil and have used 5w 30 for the past 8 years. 108,000 miles and runs like a champ and never a tick .

 

I cannot imagine you can harm an engine going from -20 to -30. If 5w is light enough viscosity to reach the entire lubrication system at 40 degree C, it won't hurt for it to retain slightly more viscosity at 100 degrees C. I think part of the problem is that most folks do not understand what multi-weight oils actually DO. The second number is a measure of viscosity break down resistance. That's it.

 

I understand all that and been around the world in these discussions before. That doesn't change the fact that tolerances are far better, OHC's (esp those utilizing hydraulic function with VCT) vs pushrod, engine cooling across the performance range, are also functions of engineering specs. Not just shear.
The high rev OHC 4V's I grew up on needed 20w-50 because of forged vs hypereutectic/powdered metal tolerances, rpm dependent cooling, no need for hydraulic function for the top end.
Use what you like.

 

What's the worse can happen by using 5W 30 weight instead of 5W 20? I would imagine either weight would be fine but feel 30 weight just a hair thicker oil and 20 weight is like water. Lol

Great article . Using 5w 20 will reduce engine life by 30% compared to 5W 30

http://www.paladinmicro.com/documents/5W20Nyet.htm

 

Not trying to be a jerk but found a very interesting article about this and here is a quote from it. Any thoughts on this as to why the different oil grades for the same exact engine
Ford is bumping up against its CAFE requirements and recommends SAE 5W-20 oil for most of its engines in the United States. It claims SAE 5W-20 is optimal for fuel efficiency and wear.

"To determine if SAE 5W-20 oils provide the same level of protection as SAE 5W-30 oils, Dagenham Motors in England, one of the largest Ford dealers in Europe, was consulted. SAE 5W-30 is required for warranty purposes in England, and SAE 5W-20 is not even available. If SAE 5W-20 were better for both fuel economy and wear, why would Ford not recommend it for its same engines in Europe?"

http://www.machinerylubrication.com/Read/518/motor-oils

 

Good luck wih this thread....

One member here argued that anything other than 5w-20 was going to do damage to the TiVCT (variable valve timing) using a higher oil viscosity. I did some research, found nothing to confirm this statement. No one was ever able to present documented proof that 5w-30 would do damage to these engines. My reasoning to switch to 5w-30 was the extended driving I do at highway speeds, in the Florida summer heat.

The discussons got heated, and the thread got closed. I still use 5w-30, and currently have 53K on my 2011; I drive a few trips a week from Daytona to Tampa Florida. No noise, no damage. I drive it "spiritedly". With a MPT 93 tune, I still see 25 MPG, with a 3:31 rear gear setup and highway speeds.

 

What's really interesting, is the same Ford vehicles with the same tight specs that are sold in Europe, Ford has 5w 30 oil used in the cars. Same Ford engines sold in America but yet here in America its recommended 5w 20. Europe is 5w30. Hum. That's interesting!

 

What do you guys think about the 5W-50 Ford recommends for others? I've been running recommended weight Motorcraft oils for years in several cars/trucks with no abnormal noises or problems.

 

Fair enough. I asked for additional info and you def provided something to consider.


those are both very interesting articles. Thanks for the references!

 

More than welcome. I found them also good references.

 

They've been around for years now like "oil guy bob" and don't prove anything about Ford conspiring to reduce longevity of their engines with 5w-20 just to meet US CAFE.

 

Lol. I'm sure Ford is not conspiring about peoples engines going sooner but fuel mpg's is there main focus. Get those extra incentive bucks from the government. Any thoughts on why does the Ford cars here in the US get 5w20 but in Europe Ford is recommending 5w30 for the same car and engine as we have here? Surely the Ford cars in Europe have the same alleged tight engine specs.

 

Actually as I understand it, the polymer's in the oil expand as temperatures go up thus increasing the viscosity. That's how multi-grade oils work.

 

I reiterate my Chrysler example which is living proof in my driveway. If it was for the purpose of looking good on US CAFE, everyone would have done it.
I don't know anything about Europe regs. Do you? It is not only an entirely different regulatory scheme there, but a completely different marketing/availability/refinery environment as well. Hell they fill their skies with pollutants from oil burners for goodness sake. I would hate to be stuck in a Paris traffic jam on a summer day breathing that junk.

 

Your right, I don't know about Europe regs, however if you purchased your same exact car in Europe Ford would be recommending 5w 30 and in fact there is no 5w 20. If 5w 30 works just fine over in Europe in the same engine as we have here in the US then why would it be bad for the engine? If 5w30 is too thick for the engine specs then it would be too thick over in Europe because its the same engine and car here sold in US.

Certainly, feel free to use whatever oil one likes. For me, I'll stick with 5w 30 oil especially because I drive my mustang like it should be. I'm working that engine at times like a stripper working a pole (hard) and not driving it like a mini van. 5w 30 oil is like a condom, provides extra protection and lubrication.

I see no reason why not too use 5w 30 and the negatives in using it. What bad is going to happen to engine if one uses 5w 30 oil?