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Old 02-15-2011, 11:43 AM
Sholt25 Sholt25 is offline
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Question Is 5w20 oil good enough ??

I just recently bought my first Ranger, an 02' with a 3.0L v6. I can see the original owner was using 5w20, and even the oil filler cap says 5w20 on it. I have read only bad things about 5w20 oil, that it's too thin for good wear protection, etc. But I was at the oil change place the other day getting the oil changed in my wifes Pontiac, and I askled about what oil to run in it, and the guys working there said it was designed to run 5w20, and that 5w30 would be too thick to pass through the oil passages, leaving the lifters clicking and so forth. So they said to use 5w20 synthentic. Does anyone have any expertise in this area? Thanks.
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Old 02-15-2011, 11:55 AM
Rango88 Rango88 is offline
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Default Re: Is 5w20 oil good enough ??

I use 10w 30 Castrol edge full synthetic with a lucas oil additive and it works great. The oil stays golden for longer and I notice a slight jump in fuel economy in warm weather. But I am in Canada, so that I don't know if it would have the same impact where you are from.
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Old 02-15-2011, 11:58 AM
Fordzilla80 Fordzilla80 is offline
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Default Re: Is 5w20 oil good enough ??

Ford recommends 5W20 in your truck, so it's just fine. Don't forget the oil filter either. Ford recommends staying with Motorcraft, the filter number is FL400S.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Crowd88 View Post
I use 10w 30 Castrol edge full synthetic with a lucas oil additive and it works great. The oil stays golden for longer and I notice a slight jump in fuel economy in warm weather. But I am in Canada, so that I don't know if it would have the same impact where you are from.
IIRC the 4.0 runs 5W30, the 3.0 runs 5W20.
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Old 02-15-2011, 11:59 AM
Rango88 Rango88 is offline
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Default Re: Is 5w20 oil good enough ??

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Originally Posted by Fordzilla80 View Post
Ford recommends 5W20 in your truck, so it's just fine. Don't forget the oil filter either. Ford recommends staying with Motorcraft, the filter number is FL400S.



IIRC the 4.0 runs 5W30, the 3.0 runs 5W20.
not be ignorant, but IIRC? I am oblivious to that abreviation
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Old 02-15-2011, 11:59 AM
Sholt25 Sholt25 is offline
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Default Re: Is 5w20 oil good enough ??

Thanks. I think I'll run the 5w20, but full synthentic, folks in this forum seem to think it makes a big difference.
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Old 02-15-2011, 11:59 AM
EMB1230 EMB1230 is offline
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Default Re: Is 5w20 oil good enough ??

Quote:
Originally Posted by Fordzilla80 View Post
Ford recommends 5W20 in your truck, so it's just fine. Don't forget the oil filter either. Ford recommends staying with Motorcraft, the filter number is FL400S.



IIRC the 4.0 runs 5W30, the 3.0 runs 5W20.
FWIF, the 2.3 uses 5w20 too.
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Old 02-15-2011, 12:02 PM
Fordzilla80 Fordzilla80 is offline
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Default Re: Is 5w20 oil good enough ??

Quote:
Originally Posted by Crowd88 View Post
not be ignorant, but IIRC? I am oblivious to that abreviation
If I Recall Correctly. Somebody made an abbreviation list for here one time, but i'm too lazy to go find it.lol.
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Old 02-15-2011, 12:03 PM
dixie_boysles dixie_boysles is offline
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Default Re: Is 5w20 oil good enough ??

put whatever the owners manual says in it. it says it for a reason. Also, use Motorcraft
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Old 02-15-2011, 12:08 PM
Rango88 Rango88 is offline
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Default Re: Is 5w20 oil good enough ??

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Originally Posted by Fordzilla80 View Post
If I Recall Correctly. Somebody made an abbreviation list for here one time, but i'm too lazy to go find it.lol.
lol those abbreviations threads are probably lost somewhere with the ford pinto blue prints lol, thx, how about this one: "FWIF"
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Old 02-15-2011, 04:05 PM
Badb3000 Badb3000 is offline
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Default Re: Is 5w20 oil good enough ??

I use 10w 30 castrol syntec blend. 5w 20 is good but a little thicker oil is better for cold starts.
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  #11  
Old 02-15-2011, 04:12 PM
01_ranger_4x4 01_ranger_4x4 is offline
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Default Re: Is 5w20 oil good enough ??

use what the factory specifies, theres no reason to use anything otherwise. the tolerances that these motors are machined to requires the use of the weight oil the factory that made it recommends, ford doesnt just pull a random number out of there ass and say "here, use this". i dont understand why people still think they are smarter than the company that built there engine and insist on using an oil thats not recommended to use in it. if the oil cap, owners manual and every other piece of documentation that comes with your truck lists the use of 5W-20 than use 5W-20, its that easy!
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Old 02-15-2011, 04:17 PM
pooleo pooleo is offline
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Default Re: Is 5w20 oil good enough ??

Quote:
Originally Posted by Crowd88 View Post
lol those abbreviations threads are probably lost somewhere with the ford pinto blue prints lol, thx, how about this one: "FWIF"

Maybe for what its for...? I was thinking for what its worth, but that obviously does not fit! lol
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  #13  
Old 02-15-2011, 04:24 PM
OhioMike OhioMike is offline
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Default Re: Is 5w20 oil good enough ??

5W-20 is cleaner and recommended for most newer vehicles. A vehicle can use 5W-30 -- it would still not harm anything. I wouldn't use other variations like 10w-20 or 5w-40, etc.
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Old 02-15-2011, 04:50 PM
oldcarfart oldcarfart is offline
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Default Re: Is 5w20 oil good enough ??

Quote:
Originally Posted by Crowd88 View Post
not be ignorant, but IIRC? I am oblivious to that abreviation
IIRC= If I Remember Correctly

----------

Quote:
Originally Posted by Badb3000 View Post
I use 10w 30 castrol syntec blend. 5w 20 is good but a little thicker oil is better for cold starts.
I disagree and so do the automakers. You want flow with least resistance at initial startup.

----------

[QUOTE= ford doesnt just pull a random number out of there ass and say "here, use this". i dont understand why people still think they are smarter than the company that built there engine and insist on using an oil thats not recommended to use in it. if the oil cap, owners manual and every other piece of documentation that comes with your truck lists the use of 5W-20 than use 5W-20, its that easy![/QUOTE]

I spent 13+ years with Kelsey-Hayes/Varity-Lucas Kelsey-Hayes/ and eventually TRW (different buy-outs, same cubical and telephone # <grin>) as a research & development engineer and it always amazes me how "Joe Sh*t the rag man" knows more than we did without all our testing, analysis, etc.
Throwing SAE, FMVSS, NHTSA info and facts out the door because the minimum wage oil change jockey at the local "grease 'n lube" says it's so. RTFM! Read the owners manual.... the manufactors spent extra money marking all over the engine what fluids to put where and some braniac still thinks he/she know more.
Many warrenties regarding engine componet failure require engine oil analysis, you may have to live with a big bill if you cannot follow the recommendations. Yes I am having a rant!!!!!
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Old 02-15-2011, 06:18 PM
EMB1230 EMB1230 is offline
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Default Re: Is 5w20 oil good enough ??

Quote:
Originally Posted by pooleo View Post
Maybe for what its for...? I was thinking for what its worth, but that obviously does not fit! lol
FWIW= For what it's worth.
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