OT Oil Weight in new engines OT

[pflaming]

My son and I went to get oil for his 2008 Mercury V8. On the oil filler cap was printed 5 - 20. We read the owners manual and found the same. We questioned this and another customer, a mechanic said all new engines ran on 5 - 20. We were going to use 20 - 50, the mechanic said it was FAR to heavy for the small areas in the modern blocks and would greatly effect gas mileage, so we put 5 - 20 in the car.

Is this news to any of you or am I just 'out of touch'?

edit: They also said that the lighter weight oils break down quicker than heavier wts, so 3,000 miles is the recommended maximum.

Edited August 27, 2012 by pflaming

[Merle Coggins]

It's been common for several years not. I've even seen 0W20 specs on some vehicles.

Merle

[48Dodger]

When the engine is cold the oil acts as a 5 weight oil (thin), this is needed for the tight tolerances that newer engines enjoy, but not the older vehicles......as the the oil/engine heats up, the oil thickens up to 20 weight. The 20 weight is great for a tightly built engine, but not good for older made engines...hence 30w or 60w oils....

48D

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/fuel-efficiency/fuel-consumption/question164.htm

[desoto1939]

Ok I have a 2007 Ford Five Hundred. It uses the 5-20 blended oil. ALso read the owners manual to determine what ford code is uses that is compatable. You need to look at the Motorcraft oil and read the label on the bottle Code like MCxxxxxxxx. something to that nature.

Your engine willalso have an oil usage indicator to inform you when the oil is ready for an oil chnage. I chnage mine every 5000 miles. But when I go the car new I chnaed it at 2500 just to clean out any small metal or sediments fromt he inital breakin process.

Our newer oils can go much longer than the old style convential oils that we all are accustom to using back in the 70's and 80's.

Mobil even has an oil that will go 15k but you change the filter at 7500.

Do Not DO NOT and I say again DO NOT use an oil that is different than what the manufacturer has stated that is the required weight. If you use a different oil viscosity and then if the engine has a problem they will send out the oil to be diagnosed adn then the warranty is voided and you are up the preverbail creek without a paddle.

Also when changing the oil pour about several ounces of oil into the filter before putting the filter on the block. This prevents you from having a dry sump and the rattle sound of bare metal.

If you take the car to an oil change place ask if the prefillthe filter. If they give you a blank statre then do not use them.

Go to a good oil filter person and if they state they do prefill then make sure you can see them do it. It is your car and you have a major amt of money invested.

Rich HArtung

desoto1939@aol.com

[Merle Coggins]

My '06 F150 also specifies 5W20 Blended (half synthetic) oil, but I run 0W30 Full synthetic Amsoil and change it every 25,000 miles using their long life filter. With 189,000 on the clock I have to add a little makeup oil once in a while between changes, but it still runs good.

How do you prefill a filter that has to screw on sideways? All of the oil would run out? I've never worried about prefilling an oil filter. There is plenty of oil film on the moving parts to prevent any wear during the couple of seconds it takes to get oil pressure.

Merle

[Dave72dt]

My o5 Explorer says 5-20 blend or full syn, my wifes sebring says 5-30 conv but can also use the blend or syn. and I think my truck takes 10-30 conv. )-20,-30 are somewhat common and usuually on the newer cars. The new GM's have an additional requirement that's not all current oils spec list, but without will also void the warranty. Transmission fluids may be very specific. Toyota has is't own recommended anti-freeze. GM has Dexcool requirements. BMW has it's own exclusive engine oil that doesn't match to popular oil's spec lists.

It's not as big a deal after warranty is up, you're footing the bill at that point anyway, but until then use the recommended oil and change at recomended intervals and document it.

[desoto1939]

My '06 F150 also specifies 5W20 Blended (half synthetic) oil, but I run 0W30 Full synthetic Amsoil and change it every 25,000 miles using their long life filter. With 189,000 on the clock I have to add a little makeup oil once in a while between changes, but it still runs good.

How do you prefill a filter that has to screw on sideways? All of the oil would run out? I've never worried about prefilling an oil filter. There is plenty of oil film on the moving parts to prevent any wear during the couple of seconds it takes to get oil pressure.

Merle

Merle:

I do not fill the filter all the way I pour in the oil about 1/4 full. On my ford 500 the filter also goes in sideways. I have never had any issue with the oil spilling out of the filter.

The prefilling of the oil stops the dry sump affect. WHen you intitally start the car with no oil in the filter you will hear a rattling sound for about several seconds this is because the filter has no oil in it and the sysem is trying to get oil up inot the channels.

As another post you can change to a differnet viscoisty but only do so after the factory or extended warranty has ended. Prior to that then the factory will not honor the warranty.

Amsoil make an extend full synthetic inwhich you chnage the filter before chnaging the oil. Cars are running cleaner and using the correct viscosity is important to getting the best gas mileage. This also plays a part in the overall perfornace of the car or truck.

Rich Hartung

desoto1939@aol.com

[Jerry Roberts]

[quote name=Merle Coggins

... How do you prefill a filter that has to screw on sideways? All of the oil would run out? ...

Merle[/quote]

You can get a lot of oil in a filter that screws in sideways and not have it run out on installation . Pour it in the filter and turn the filter round & round and the oil gets absorbed into the element .

[karl head]

You can get a lot of oil in a filter that screws in sideways and not have it run out on installation . Pour it in the filter and turn the filter round & round and the oil gets absorbed into the element .

If you look at the outer ring of holes on a screw on filter you should see a colored ring, it is designed to prevent oil from draining out of the filter, when the engine is shut down to help prevent oil starvation on startup. A common problem with triumph sports cars. Not all filters may have them but most do.