Oil Choice

[Fifty150]

There are many choices of oil weight and brand.  The current owners manual calls for 5W-20 and 0W-20 as a cold weather alternative.

 

Brand preference has already been beaten to death.  Plenty of forums and discussion threads.  We can discuss that if anyone wants to.  We can agree that oil, is oil.  We can also agree that different manufacturers have proprietary blends and additive packages which make each formulation unique.  Where the opinions differ is why there are over 31 "flavors" of oil whenever we walk into a store.  And for whatever reason, some people "fall" for something, and develop a loyalty.  Some people believe that their oil choice is ideal for almost every application.  Multi-level marketing has created a cult like following to a specific brand.  

 

On another thread on this forum, several members wrote about being in -30F, and how they are planning on switching to 5W-30.  It got me thinking.  While I don't live in that climate, I thought about it. 

 

Going from 20 weight to 30 weight is a higher viscosity and many people believe that a higher viscosity oil will provide better engine protection.  A popular opinion is that 20 weight oil is only specified by the manufacturers because it is suppose to yield more miles per gallon.  There is also the belief that today's engines are engineered to different tolerances, 20 weight oil is correct, and that a thicker oil may not properly lubricate as needed.  

 

The 5W number & 0W number refer more to start up in cold weather.  I recall as a yute, 10W-30 and 10W-40 was the norm, and people even used 20W-50 in old cars.  Old car, old engine, burns oil, leaks oil;  thicker oil, less rattle.  Not exactly scientific.  Now that we are out of the dinosaur days, nobody uses 10W oil in small cars anymore.  

 

Have any of you guys in cold weather climates considered the 0W grade?  0W-20 as specified in the owners manual.  Or even 0W-30 since you plan on using 30 weight in a 5W-30?  I saw this old video on youtube, which even though it's old, helps to illustrate the difference in the "w rating" number for cold weather conditions.

 

It would be interesting to hear your choices of what oil you use, and why.

 

 

[mrtn]

It appears the dealer has switched me to 5W-20 a while ago and it seems to be the recommended weight over here :

 

 

Edited September 23, 2019 by mrtn

[Fifty150]

In The USA, a lot of people feel that 20 weight oil is only specified by automobile manufacturers because of the Corporate Average Fuel Economy standard.  So it doesn't surprise me that the European cars allow for 5W-30 as an alternative weight.    I have read that modern engines need a lower viscosity oil, and that higher viscosity oil may be too thick and will clog oil passages.    Maybe the modern engines aren't manufactured to such tolerances that you must use a lower viscosity oil.  Maybe people posting opinions online are not engineers and scientist, and their opinions are not based on factual data.

 

Also interesting that the US owners manual specifies the 0W-20 weight, and the European manual specifies 5W-30.  

 

 

[Fifty150]

Even stranger that the owners manual has a chart showing 5W-20 as being recommended for temperature as low as -29 C.  Not -30 C.

 

But I get it.  Your owners manual is referencing an EcoBoost engine.  My owners manual page is referencing the Duratec engine.  2 different engines.

Edited September 23, 2019 by Fifty150

[G B L]

The oil passages thing is not the reason.   If it was all the cars around here would be seized up after the first -25 day.  The mufti-grade oil was really important before the wide spread use of synthetic based oil .  The cold weather start up  performance of synthetic oil is much better .

The oil viscosity required is modified by the duty cycle , applied load .  The oil viscosity for the marine engine  derivative of a car or truck engine is higher  due to the load and  the length  of time the load is applied.

 

[G B L]

The oil passages thing is not the reason.   If it was all the cars around here would be seized up after the first -25 day.  The mufti-grade oil was really important before the wide spread use of synthetic based oil .  The cold weather start up  performance of synthetic oil is much better .

The oil viscosity required is modified by the duty cycle , applied load .  The oil viscosity for the marine engine  derivative of a car or truck engine is higher  due to the load and  the length  of time the load is applied.

 

[Fifty150]

If anyone is interested, Havoline has a rebate offer until the end of the year.  I have used Havoline oil.  It works.  Nothing special.  Good enough that nothing bad happened either.  If anyone is a miser, like me, then this could be a good deal.

 

 

[Fifty150]

Another frugal find.

 

[Fifty150]

They got me with the co-branding and cross marketing.  Just did an oil change with the "Ford recommends Castrol" and "Castrol recommends Bosch".  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Big Soul]

Thanks much for the wisdom and video. You just can't argue with the facts especially when you can see the demonstration on the video. Cleared up a lot of confusion for me.....most of it caused by deceptive marketing intended to create confusion so that the consumer spends money, money, money.

 

Thanks again.