MC Semi-Syn sludge resistant enough for 10K OCI?

[NO2]

I have a new '13 Fiesta 1.6L. Ford maintenance schedule specifies 10K OCI with MC 5W-20 Semi-Syn or MC Full Syn. Drive about 12mi highway each way commute daily + longer highway trips on weekends. Ford maintenance schedules on their larger engines specify 7500mi OCI with this oil/filter combo.

The Semi-Syn seems to have reasonably good UOA's and a robust additive pack, but it still is more subject to thermal breakdown than a full synthetic.

At the local Ford dealer, an OC costs about $30 with Semi-Syn or $60 with Full Sync with an MC FL-910S filter. With M1 / PP total is around $48.

I plan to change once at 2500mi (to Semi-Syn) and thereafter every 7500 mi with Semi-Syn. Questions are:

1. Can Semi-syn go to 7500mi OCI without significant sludge and varnish?
2. What about 10K OCI with Semi-Syn?
3. Will the MC filter work up to 10K?
4. Should I be looking at M1 EP/AFE / PP / etc instead?

 

[Donald]

I would not go 10K unless the oil was synthetic. Even then I would get at least 1 UOA.

There are all kinds of reasons why the same oil in one engine will go 10K and the same oil in the same engine model engine will be beat at 5K.

 

[bigt61]

How big is the sump in that Fiesta?

 

[NO2]

Originally Posted By: bigt61
How big is the sump in that Fiesta?


Sump is 4.2 quarts

 

[Cooper]

I would progressively lengthen your OCI's with UOA data.

 

[EricF]

I'm running the MC Semi-syn in my 2012 Fusion.
I am running a slightly longer filter, the Wix 51516 vs. the 51348.
I'm going to go 7500 OCI and I feel comfident the oil and slightly longer filter will be more than adequate. The car primarily is freeway.
the MC filter, the FL-400 is a tad shorter than what it used to be, there's room for the FL-1A, but the Fusion has 2 little curves preventing the wider filter to fit correctly.
I've been contemplating grinding them down with my Dremel..

 

[RF Overlord]

To address the OP's question, I would go with Ford's recommendation without worry. 4.2 quarts is a decent-sized sump for a 1.6L engine. The 2.4L in my sister's RAV4 only holds 4.5 quarts.

Ford recommends 10k OCI on the new Mustang...I know it has a larger sump, but that's with MC 5w-20 semi-syn, not full synthetic.

 

[JOD]

I imagine it would be fine as long as the oil level doesn't go low without being topped off. If you really wanted to be certain you could do a UOA or two after 7-8K.

As far as the filter, my experience is that filters will go a really long time in a clean engine. I've used a regular 820S over over 15K and it looked fine; even though the filter is smaller, 10K shouldn't be a problem for the filter.

Congrats on the cool new car!

 

[tig1]

I don't know about MC oils, but M1 0-20 does not varnish or sludge at 10K OCIs in my 4 cyl Duratechs. Also at this OCI I never do UOAs. No need to.

 

[MinamiKotaro]

Dad's been running 10k changes since 1997 on his 3.4 V8 Taurus. Motorcraft 5-20 blend and FL400s every time.

 

[tommygunn]

The MC syn-blend is said to be 60% synthetic anyway.

Any SN "dino" can do 7500 with no problem ("dino" in quotes because most if not all SN dinos are actually blends that contain some group III)

The MC filter should be fine for 10k. It is a rebranded PureOne.

There is certainly nothing wrong with using M1 and PP.

I think AAP still has that Havoline synthetic sale, 5 quarts and a PureOne for only $20. That is hard to beat.

 

[901Memphis]

Biggest issue here is your warranty. Are you allowed 7,500 miles per change?

 

[OtisBlkR1]

Im still amazed, 10,000 mi factory recomended OCI on semi-syn ?? Amazing, oil sure has come along way.

 

[tommygunn]

@Otis, Honda used to recommend 7500-mile OCI's in the 90s--with SG/SH/SJ dino that was probably group I, nowhere near as good as we have today. And on top of that, they only wanted you to change the filter every *other* OCI!

Add some syn and you can see it's easy to get 10k out of it, not to mention the 60% syn content in MC and modern add packs.

 

[fdcg27]

M1 0W-20 is $22.47 for a jug at Walmart.
I'd be more comfortable running this oil out to 10K than I would the MC, but that's just me.
MC used to be a screaming deal.
Not so much anymore, although it's probably also a better oil now than it was then.

 

[KD0AXS]

Originally Posted By: tommygunn


The MC filter should be fine for 10k. It is a rebranded PureOne.


No it's not a re-branded P1. It's actually quite a bit different than the P1. They have different media, and MC has a base end bypass where P1 has a dome end bypass. Im guessing that means they have a different anti-drainback valve too. About the only thing the same is that they are both made by Purolator.

That being said, the MC is an excellent filter that should have absolutely no problem with a 10,000 mile OCI.

 

[JR]

I say run 10k plus and dont look back. If ford says 10k i would think you could go longer.

Ken

Congrats on the new whip. Alot of people dont know it but ford still makes the origanol fiestia and market and sell ir it yukoslazia and south africa. I have the plan to import one new. The origenals were sweet.

When will they start up the escort line or did that die rite off.

 

[Hyde244]

Can never go wrong with the OEM OCI recommendation.

That being said, I would not run more than a 7,500 OCI on a semi-synthetic, but use a full synthetic for 10,000 miles.

There are a number of members who use MC filters for 10K miles with great returns. I for one am planning to run a MC 910 for 7K with my current OCI.

 

[CarbonSteel]

If a conventional (MS5K) can run for 10K; then a semi-synthetic should be able to as well. This, of course, is provided the engine does not have a special characteristics (such as being a known sludger).

I ran a MC FL-820s filter for 10K with no issues (other than some marking on the ADBV, but they did not seem to cause any harm). You can search and find my UOAs and the filter photos.

 

[ChrisD46]

Me thinks Ford wants you to buy a new Ford sooner rather than later ! A 10K OCI on a semi - synthetic ? ...I would not be willing to take that gamble . I subscribe to a 5K OCI max on Dino , 6K max OCI on a semi - synthetic and a 7500 mile max OCI for synthetic . Over the life span of an oil change - oil and filters are cheap ! ...Too much time , $$ and effort spent counting down an oil in search of the : "Holy Grail TBN of 1.0" !