I am torn.

[Nickdfresh]

Originally Posted By: TurboLuver
I also believe that the 5W-20 craze is a direct product of CAFE requirements.


It might well be. Nevertheless, in a decade of use there is no evidence of a negative consequence to using it in the engines it is spec'd for...

 

[rg200amp]

To my understanding the modulars like a slightly thinner oil for the tight top end. . .

I would use 5w20 or 5w30.
Police, Taxi, and limo companies get 250,000+ miles useing Ford spec'd oil. The modular is bullet proof. You could run sand in it if you wanted and still get a good life out of it!!!

5w40 will not hurt a modular. That is for sure. The question is what do you stand to gain.
Your not going to gain longer engine life, because the modulars are proven with 5w20. Your not going to gain MPG.
But:
If you gain a little peace of mind, well then I think that is worth it!!!

 

[Liquid_Turbo]

Originally Posted By: toytundranator
Does the engine use some type of oil actuated function (like Honda's VTEC where it's sensitive to oil viscosity?)


What are you talking about?

 

[rationull]

I'm late to this party but my take is as follows:

You know deep down that the 5w-20 is fine, even though you have a "BITOG OCD" desire to swap it out for the "better" 5w-40. I propose you run the 5w-20 for an OCI (or two!) and maybe get a UOA on it. Certainly at least let the 5w-20 in there right now have a useful lifetime instead of dumping it way prematurely.

This has the effect of forcing yourself to get used to running the 5w-20, which you already know is fine for the engine. Once you've accepted that the 5w-20 is OK, then just run whatever you feel like running.

Hey, this is how we get people to break their 3000 mile habit, why shouldn't it work here? You know the thinner stuff is fine and it's already in there so don't let yourself drain it out!

 

[tig1]

Overk1ll,
A year ago I bought a 07 Focus and it called for 5-20. I called Mobil tech and ask about using M1 5-30EP. He said no problem if out of warranty, because it's a CAFE thing. So far this oil is working great,see UOA post for 07 Focus on page 9 or 10. Also my 96 Merc.4.6 has had 205,000 miles on M1 5&10-30, and still going strong. I just can't get use to this 20wt concept.

 

[rg200amp]

Originally Posted By: Liquid_Turbo
Originally Posted By: toytundranator
Does the engine use some type of oil actuated function (like Honda's VTEC where it's sensitive to oil viscosity?)


What are you talking about?


I think it does. To my knowledge(I may be wrong), a thinner oil is wanted because it helps with the timing chain tensioners(spelling??).

But I do not think its an issue.

 

[Drivebelt]

Mix half a quart of TDT in with whatever 5W-20 is in the Expedition. That way you will get the benefits of both the 5W-20 and 5W-40 and will sleep better at night.

 

[tdi-rick]

Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL
Anybody from Australia to chime in on what Ford specs for the Falcon?



Looks like a 5/10W-30 or xW-40.

Mobil recommend M1 5w30 or 0W-40.
Castrol 10W-30 or Magnatec 10W-40.
Fuchs are the same.

With the DOHC (XR-8) and Quad Cam (FPV) engines only xW-40's are recommended, eg M1 0W-40.

Just found this for the Quad Cam 5.4 litre engine.
Quote:
Manufacturer recommends Castrol Edge Synthetic 0W-40 after running in period (initial 6000km.). During running in period, use only CASTROL GTX3 MODERN ENGINE 15w40.

 

[Colt45ws]

The timing chain tensioners use oil pressure to put tension on the chain...
It will probably run fine on the 5W40. In the course of my Job Ive put dino HM 10W40 and Fram filters on 3 year old modulars with 40k. But why? The only reason I would consider going to a thicker oil is if I supercharge this batch. I think I would go with 9000 series 5W30.. But this is getting ahead of myself.

 

[yannis]

This is what i found in the bimmer forums.


I have read many post regarding poor running and ' just off cold stalling problems etc .

The Ford Zetec engine is well know in the industry for suffering similar problems and this is caused by the wrong grade engine oil being fitted . The engine has a load sensor on the crankshaft and the extra drag from a thick grade of oil fools it into thinking the engine is under more load than it actually is which then causes 'over fueling of the engine .
The cure is simply to fill with the correct ACEA A1 / B1 5w30 grade of oil rather than the commonly used 10w40 . Problem is worse in cold weather .
The N42 unit is also designed to run on a very low viscocity engine oil and in fact this engine had its own oil specification i.e Long Life 01FE .
In theory this engine could suffer in the same way as the Ford unit if the correct low viscocity oil in not used . Oil should be 0w30 or 5w30 fully synthetic . As far as I am aware the LL01 FE grade was only ever made by Castrol and is not now available . The closest grade readily available would be one meeting Volkswagon 506.00 506.01 of which there are many .>>

 

[Dr_No]

Really how bad is it to run 5w40 in an engine that wants 5w30?

 

[wavinwayne]

Originally Posted By: Dr_No
Really how bad is it to run 5w40 in an engine that wants 5w30?


It won't hurt anything.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: tdi-rick
Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL
Anybody from Australia to chime in on what Ford specs for the Falcon?



Looks like a 5/10W-30 or xW-40.

Mobil recommend M1 5w30 or 0W-40.
Castrol 10W-30 or Magnatec 10W-40.
Fuchs are the same.

With the DOHC (XR-8) and Quad Cam (FPV) engines only xW-40's are recommended, eg M1 0W-40.

Just found this for the Quad Cam 5.4 litre engine.
Quote:
Manufacturer recommends Castrol Edge Synthetic 0W-40 after running in period (initial 6000km.). During running in period, use only CASTROL GTX3 MODERN ENGINE 15w40.


And this interests me!!

 

[rationull]

Originally Posted By: yannis

The Ford Zetec engine is well know in the industry for suffering similar problems and this is caused by the wrong grade engine oil being fitted . The engine has a load sensor on the crankshaft and the extra drag from a thick grade of oil fools it into thinking the engine is under more load than it actually is which then causes 'over fueling of the engine .


I just don't see how this makes sense. Even the correct oil goes through difference viscosities during the time between cold/warm start and operating temperature. Does the system ignore the load sensor until the oil is at operating temperature?

(I realize you were just quoting that so I'm not really asking you)

 

[panthermike]

Don't worry about this until you have run your current fill of M1 5w20 for 12,000 KM. Then you can make this decision.

 

[bmwtechguy]

Yes, and by then it will be warmer and less issue with running a 5W-40 syn.

 

[beanoil]

Frankly, I found 5w40 to be an excellent choice in my 5.4 F250. All this truck sees is a highway and 8500 pounds hanging off the back of it. I was easily using a half to 1 quart of 5w30 (Schaeffers at the time) over 2000 miles. A switch to Supertech 10w30 HM (the older syn blend version) and there was no consumption. We were moving into cold weather, and I had thought long and hard over whether to try RTS 5w40. I did it, and wont look back. No consumption. Smooth. Legendary protection. Cold starts.. it was 6 degrees last week and it fired off straight away. This oil, and a Stratopore filter should carry this baby another 100k. I like RTS, I forsee you having great results with TDT.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: beanoil
Frankly, I found 5w40 to be an excellent choice in my 5.4 F250. All this truck sees is a highway and 8500 pounds hanging off the back of it. I was easily using a half to 1 quart of 5w30 (Schaeffers at the time) over 2000 miles. A switch to Supertech 10w30 HM (the older syn blend version) and there was no consumption. We were moving into cold weather, and I had thought long and hard over whether to try RTS 5w40. I did it, and wont look back. No consumption. Smooth. Legendary protection. Cold starts.. it was 6 degrees last week and it fired off straight away. This oil, and a Stratopore filter should carry this baby another 100k. I like RTS, I forsee you having great results with TDT.


Was thinking the same thing, with a Fleetguard glass media filter too

 

[OVERKILL]

UPDATE!

Did it

Mwa-hahahahhaahahahah

Fleetguard LF16002 Stratapore glass-media filter, and M1 TDT 5w40.

The evil oil:

The sassy filter:

The old Motorcraft filter, on there for 10,000Km:

 

[Ben99GT]

The ONLY issue I have ever heard of with Modulars running heavier than 20 weight oil is in very high rpm setups.

At 8,000 rpm (or higher) a 30 weight will allow the lash adjusters to pump up and that will kick off followers.

That's not an issue for 7,000 rpm 4-valves, and it's [censored] sure not an issue for a 5,000 rpm 2V truck motor.

I bet your 5.4 will love that TDT.