5w-20 vs 5w30

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Soak_n_Fused

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Ok guys I hate to beat a dead horse and im probably overthinking this a lot,
I have an 05 f150 5.4 I do have a oil cooler and a real oil pressure gauge. My typical temps range as low as -10/-15 in the winter as high as 105 in the summer these are the extremes. I do a lot of towing during the summer and some in the winter. I have been very faithful to running a motocraft filter and I switched to mobil1 fulsyn EP

Is there any more protection I will get out of a 5w30
hths is about .25 higher what does this result in
ive also noticed the viscosity is a 10.6 vs 8.9 at 210 degrees

Thanks in advance.
 
Do you have an automatic? You'll get revs, revs mean pressure and protection.

As long as you don't lug it you're fine on 5w20. Just because humans can't shed heat above 98 degrees doesn't mean the truck is unhappy-- it would like to be 190.
wink.gif
 
Originally Posted By: eljefino
...
As long as you don't lug it you're fine on 5w20. ...


In that case, a 5w30 is indicated. If a certain viscosity of oil fails to protect in any engine operating condition, then one that will protect in all engine operating conditions should be used.
 
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Originally Posted By: eljefino
Do you have an automatic? You'll get revs, revs mean pressure and protection.

As long as you don't lug it you're fine on 5w20. Just because humans can't shed heat above 98 degrees doesn't mean the truck is unhappy-- it would like to be 190.
wink.gif


Good point! Autotransmission can use thinner oils ... I like this idea!
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Originally Posted By: Bigdaddy345
I'd use 5w 30. 5w 20 is to thin.


Poor advise IMO. Ford has tested their engines with 20 WT oils till the cows come home in all extrems, and that's with MC 5-20. I have used M1 0-20 for several years now with outstanding results. Of course this will turn into another thick VS thin thread.
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How heavy are you towing? Mountains or flat? Cooling system is probably more important but nothing wrong with going thicker. Manufacturers for years recommended thicker under extreme conditions even if they made one recommendation that they tested.
 
Originally Posted By: tig1
Originally Posted By: Bigdaddy345
I'd use 5w 30. 5w 20 is to thin.


Poor advise IMO. Ford has tested their engines with 20 WT oils till the cows come home in all extrems, and that's with MC 5-20. I have used M1 0-20 for several years now with outstanding results. Of course this will turn into another thick VS thin thread.
18.gif



But what do the engineers at Ford know?
 
I would assume if you're using a top quality synthetic, 5w-20 is fine-perfect. I use it in my 2015 F350 work truck.
Quality is the key. A average grade 5w30 wouldn't give you as good as protection as the 5w-20 in that case.
 
Originally Posted By: AirgunSavant
A average grade 5w30 wouldn't give you as good as protection as the 5w-20 in that case.


How so? An API SN oil that meets the mfg specs should be just fine. In extreme conditions I'd rather have the 30 grade oil in the sump as long as it meets the spec.
 
Originally Posted By: demarpaint
Originally Posted By: AirgunSavant
A average grade 5w30 wouldn't give you as good as protection as the 5w-20 in that case.


How so? An API SN oil that meets the mfg specs should be just fine. In extreme conditions I'd rather have the 30 grade oil in the sump as long as it meets the spec.
Does Ford sell F 150s in OZ? If so, what's the spec?
 
True but in the real world not so.
I tried a well known synthetic oil that is hyped here by Walmart groupies. I tried it in several applications and it did not hold up very well at all. Not all API oils are the same.

I will no longer use budget synthetic or ss. oils when the premiums are only $1 more a quart.
 
Yes I had two UOA's done and the reason for that is it looked really bad. They were done on newer engines. One engine had 4500 miles on it when I did the change and the other 11.5K.

I used it in some other vehicles without any UOA but I had never seen oil look this bad for vehicles that do mostly Interstate miles. I had issue with their conventional oil as well.

It may be great for others but I will never use it again.
So I'd rather have 5w-20 PU or the like in my F350 then that oil above at 5w30 anyday and all day
smile.gif


I used FU or M1 filters with all.
This is old news, but even my filters looked really bad- I chucked them with 1 OC
 
Tuesday is TACO TUESDAY at Taco Bell. 59 cents each.
I use both 5W20 and 5W30 in my trucks engine. I am even going out on a limb next OCI and going to try some 0W40. That's a major step for an old schooler like me.
 
Originally Posted By: tig1
Originally Posted By: Bigdaddy345
I'd use 5w 30. 5w 20 is to thin.


Poor advise IMO. Ford has tested their engines with 20 WT oils till the cows come home in all extrems, and that's with MC 5-20. I have used M1 0-20 for several years now with outstanding results. Of course this will turn into another thick VS thin thread.
18.gif



Are you absolutely sure that Ford tested under the conditions the OP is running, in a 11 year old truck and have absolute confidence there is 0% chance of issue with 5w-20 vs 5w30?

An important part of life is risk reduction. Ford doesn't warranty his truck any longer and there is always a chance of issue when running under extreme conditions. We also don't know, maybe the OP is towing up mountains overweight?
 
They looked bad how?

Originally Posted By: AirgunSavant
Yes I had two UOA's done and the reason for that is it looked really bad. They were done on newer engines. One engine had 4500 miles on it when I did the change and the other 11.5K.

I used it in some other vehicles without any UOA but I had never seen oil look this bad for vehicles that do mostly Interstate miles. I had issue with their conventional oil as well.

It may be great for others but I will never use it again.
So I'd rather have 5w-20 PU or the like in my F350 then that oil above at 5w30 anyday and all day
smile.gif


I used FU or M1 filters with all.
This is old news, but even my filters looked really bad- I chucked them with 1 OC
 
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