Goldmember said:
Ford OK'd running 5W20 in pretty much everything from 1987 and up but that doesn't make it a good idea. I ran 5W20 in my '95 Marquis and noticed only that it was using oil faster. Went to 5W30 and was pleased with the results.
Just switched to Mobil 1 5W30 in my '97 a couple weeks ago and call me crazy but I think my timing chain rattle is gone. (Only hear it when it's cold) Then again, when I drained the old oil only 5 qts came out and the car needs 6!
Goldmember: After proofreading my post I noticed my reply may come off as condescending. However, I mean no such thing, and ask that you don't take offense to my questioning; I'm just curious.
So are you saying that switch to the 5W-30 caused your motor to burn less oil?
If it's not a good idea then why is it the standard in EVERYTHING they currently make and nearly EVERYTHING they have made since the late-nineties/early-2000s (except for the Taurus with the 3.0L pushrod V6 in it). It says it in the owner's manuals, in the service manuals, on All-Data (although not the best place for information, I do admit) and in the reference books at Napa and Advance Auto Parts?
Just curious to see where this logic comes from. Bottom line: difference between 5W-20 and 5W-30 is that the later is the thicker of the two once it heats up. Sludge, gunk buildup, etc. is 90% (if not completely) depedent on the brand name alone. All of the engines that Ford has produced for the last two-three years have over-head camshaft (OHC) valvetrain setups, and OHC setups require less moving parts. Less moving parts means less lubrication needed, and this, I hypothesize, is why Ford now exclusively recommends 5W-20 to be used in their engines.
NOTE: All of this is assuming a stock or even mildly modified engine. Once engine internals begin to get upgraded it may be smart to switch to a thicker oil. And I may be 100% wrong in all of this, and someone please correct me if I am at all misinformed.