What weight oil?

[jeffroski]

I know another dumb question. What grade oil should I use in this truck. I have been running 20w 50( on mechanics advice his expedition has 150K on same oil ) in my truck since about 30K miles the 0w-30 amsoil was being burnt up in the engine, or at least so I was told. I had leaking head gaskets fixed under warranty60kmilkes by said mechanic. I'm just wondering would I get any significant benefit on amsoil compared to regular oil and should I run a lighter weight? I really like this truck its paid off. BTW its a 5.4

[rbgeorgia]

i oversee a fleet shop of about 200 vehicles. we always run 10w30 in our 5.4 engines. we have 2 with 450,000 miles and one at 395,000 miles. never been into the engines or had any problems with them.

[INNES]

i was told by many of experts you run the grade oil the veh was engenered for.if youwant to run synthetic you can just run the same grade it was designed for 20w50 is probably to thick. i know he is a mechanic but he probably wrong.call ford they will tell you

[yotermanic]

Ford reccommends 5w30. I run it and so does everything through the dealership, except 4.0s which use 5w30

[Acidbath]

Originally Posted by yotermanic

Ford reccommends 5w30. I run it and so does everything through the dealership, except 4.0s which use 5w30

.

Yeah, I also thought Ford said 5w-30 for ALL of their vehicles. All I've put in my truck 204,000 miles, and a mobil 1 5w-30 synthetic in my SHO (181,000 miles, both with origional rings, good compression, and no "special" oil burnings. Biggest thing is changing your oil on time, and having the right kind. IMO

[ModMech]

Whoever told you that you should run 20W-50, and that you COULD do it without damage is just plain WRONG.

The Ford modular engines have overhead camshafts that are lubricated with pressureized oil. The LAST things to get oiled are the cams. They are the furthest from the pump, have small oil feed rifelings, and a "oil pressure reducer" (basically a SMALL orfice) in the feed rifling of the cylinder head to make SURE most of the oil is going to the rods and mains.

If you use the factory reccomended oil (5W-30 thru '02, and 5W-20 after) you will be fine. If you use heavier oil, ESPECIALLY if you live where it can get cold, you WILL ruin the cams and cam bearings in the heads due to oil starvation during cold starts. I see this all the time in MN. The cabbies try to save a buck and use 15W-40, it works ok in the summer, but as soon as we see anything colder than about 40*, the engine cores start comming in, ALL with spun out cams due to lack of oil pressure.

[jeffroski]

Originally Posted by ModMech

Whoever told you that you should run 20W-50, and that you COULD do it without damage is just plain WRONG.

The Ford modular engines have overhead camshafts that are lubricated with pressureized oil. The LAST things to get oiled are the cams. They are the furthest from the pump, have small oil feed rifelings, and a "oil pressure reducer" (basically a SMALL orfice) in the feed rifling of the cylinder head to make SURE most of the oil is going to the rods and mains.

If you use the factory reccomended oil (5W-30 thru '02, and 5W-20 after) you will be fine. If you use heavier oil, ESPECIALLY if you live where it can get cold, you WILL ruin the cams and cam bearings in the heads due to oil starvation during cold starts. I see this all the time in MN. The cabbies try to save a buck and use 15W-40, it works ok in the summer, but as soon as we see anything colder than about 40*, the engine cores start comming in, ALL with spun out cams due to lack of oil pressure.

Modtech I was hoping you would see this post, I Live in Arizona very rarely does it get below 35 degrees in the Phoenix area but from May to Oct the average is 100 to 110 with the low being about 85. Would you recommend Amsoil synthetic 0W-30, 5W-30 or just any namebrand oil? Also should I use one of those engine oil flushes prior to changing the oil or just get the engine warmed up and change the oil. It is a 99 with a 5.4 btw.

[ModMech]

I use Amsoil products exclusively, and change them in accordance with the recomendations of Amsoil (yearly). Every vehicle in our family has over 100,000 miles on them (that's a total of 7), three have over 200,000 on them.

I would use 5W-30 Amsoil in your case, it offers the best addative package of any oil available (IMO), and more than enough shear protection for extreme temperatures (hot and cold).

[jeffroski]

Originally Posted by ModMech

I use Amsoil products exclusively, and change them in accordance with the recomendations of Amsoil (yearly). Every vehicle in our family has over 100,000 miles on them (that's a total of 7), three have over 200,000 on them.

I would use 5W-30 Amsoil in your case, it offers the best addative package of any oil available (IMO), and more than enough shear protection for extreme temperatures (hot and cold).

Great I'm gonna call and order it today thanks again I really apprciate the advice

[INNES]

what is amsoil,. is it amaco,moble,synthetic,oil. cause i never scene it writen like that.

[jeffroski]

Originally Posted by INNES

what is amsoil,. is it amaco,moble,synthetic,oil. cause i never scene it writen like that.

See any one of the below links. It is a premium synthetic.

[jeffroski]

Just look up Amsoil.com sorry thought it would show up at the end of the post

[lefty13lefty]

i reccomend valvoline sae 5w30, iv ran on it in my 99 f-150 since the truck had 3 miles on it and now its got 183,000 and it runs like it did when i bought it, iv never had any problems with it, i change the oil every 3000 miles and it runs great

[INNES]

jeffroski thankyou for sendinding me that link for amsoil.com. i think to make it a link you have to put www in front of it.

www.amsoil.com.

lets see if it worked

[jeffroski]

it did good luck with what you needed from them my oil pressure went up after switching to synthetic 5w-30 from the 20w-50. thanks for all the info guys