Originally Posted By: UltrafanUK
Originally Posted By: silverbow25
I’m looking for an oil recommendation to put in my 2002 Ford Ranger XLT. It’s the V6 3.0 liter and is just over 100k miles. I have been running the manufacturer suggested 5w20 (supertech dino) in it for the last 15-20k miles. This truck probably only drives 4k-5k miles in a year and I don’t believe it has any leaks yet. This truck struggles with low oil pressure at idle (stoplights) only after the vehicle is well warmed up and I have seen a few suggestions in forums saying that 5w20 is too thin and that the only reason Ford suggested it was to get the advertised gas mileage.
With all this in mind I have been thinking of pushing it up to a 5w30 but thought it would be good to check opinions and also check if it would be a good idea to consider a synthetic for this vehicle. For all I know maybe it should have had a synthetic in it from the beginning.
Ford do not recommend Supertech anything, they recommend Motorcraft parts as that is their company.
If you are having low oil pressure issues then assuming it's not an oil pump or badly worn engine, make sure it is not sludged up by using a major brand idle use only oil flush additive (Liqui Moly, Amsoil and Lubegard make good ones) just before an oil & filter change. Then move up to a major brand 0 or 5w30 oil with the correct API specs. If that does not solve the low oil pressure indications try an 0 or 5w40.
As you are changing oil & filter every year or 5K miles and this engine does not have a turbo, any major brand (Mobil, Castrol, Shell/Penn, Valvoline or Liqui Moly) oil of the correct API / Acea spec will do a good job.
If you are trying to find out if using an 0 or 5w20 is a good idea, check the oil finder or guide page of the engine oil company of your choice to see what they list, BUT look at a UK version of the web site (.co.uk). Very few engines are currently run on 20 grade oils in the UK except modern hybrids and the Iffy lube shops use Xw40 oils in most older cars and trucks.
First of all, there's nothing wrong with running a 20 weight oil in this Ford. Second of slog there's nothing wrong with Supertech oil. Third of all, an "oil flush additive" is the last thing I'd do to this truck.
I still think the oil pressure sender is bad. My mom's Buick did the same thing. It's a $15 part.