At the local Ford dealer the other day, I saw an oil change chart on the wall. It said use something or other for a "Good" oil change; MC 5w-20 Synthetic Blend for "Better" oil change; and MC 5w-20 Full Synthetic for "Best" oil change. I was in a hurry, so I didn't have a chance to ask the Svc. Mgr. if they had any 5-20 Full Syn.

I've never seen any, and was wondering if anyone here had.

According to this site MOTORCRAFT® OILS AND LUBRICANTS FOR FORD, LINCOLN OR MERCURY VEHICLES. it's available. It's not listed at the top, under "Oils", but they do show it about 2/3 down the page, along with 5-30 Full Syn.

 

I just got my oil changed last week, not by Ford, (can't get there during their hours) Kwik Kar did it with 5w-20 full synthetic moble one. Up untill then I'd never heard of 5w-20

 

Probably Conoco Hydroclear in a Motorcraft bottle. I'm sure a decent Group III but nothing to get too excited about.

Jim

 

Yup if it doesn't say it's PAO synthetic, it's likely a Group-3 hydro-finished highly refined mineral base stock, with a slightly kicked up add pack, nothing wrong with that though, as Fords simi-synthetic 5W-20 recipe has been turning in very good UOA wear numbers, so if it's done up right, the full synthetic Group-3 should do just fine too!!!!

Just be aware that not ALL Ford engines are to use the 5W-20 weight, as their oil pumps haven't been upgraded to be able to pump the 20 weight with enough flow/volume, to satisfy a warmed up engine, so we need to check our owners manual, or if we have an older engine TSB 02-1-9, to see if our engine is on the OK to use list.

For instance my 94 Taurus 3.8L is ok to use 5W-20, instead of the originaly specified 5W-30, BUT my 99 Ranger 4.0L is NOT to use 5W-20!!!!

 

I dont think the oil pump is the main determinate as to oil viscosity. One of the important variables is HTHS viscosity and SAE 20 is only 2.6 min, where SAE 30 is 2.9 min and many are above 3. While lower is better for gas mileage, older engines without roller tappets get almost no protection, especially with the reduced phosphorus formulas of todays oils.

Jim

 

As I understand it, most SM oil recipes say that they are backwards compatable with previous "S" grades & unless we have a high lift cam, or increased spring rates, there should be no problem, as the reduced ZDDP rates have been bolstered with things like moly, boron, ect, to make up for the ZDDP reduction.

Here is a link to a Ford "Improper Maintenance" Q&A memo to Dealers, that covers a wide range of interesting topics, one of which is the oil pump reference, with regards to why some engines aren't to use 5W-20 & that some never will be specfied to use it, you'll have to scroll down about 6 times to find the oil pump reference.
http://www.dantheoilman.com/fordoilfaq.doc

 

As said above motorcraft is good oil, use the synthetic with confidence. It probably is a grp III, which is fine. Not many oils are PAO(Amsoil, etc) and from what i've read PAO isn't all that special.

I've heard of the motorcraft syn, is it dealer only? I don't think i've seen it elsewhere.

 

I have only seen MotorCraft full Synthetic at the dealer. They want $8.00 a bottle! Yikes! They can keep it!.............

 

PAO is special at extremely low temperatures. I dont think you will find a 0W-XX Group III product.

Jim

 

I can get The Trop Artic 5w20 Full synthetic for 18.00 for 5 quarts. This oil is also Connoco Hydroclear but with Pennzoil Platinum at 18.00 and turning A++++ results I would go with PP at the same price.