Another motor oil thread

[TobyU]

Emailed me this:

Article No.02-1-9
ENGINE - ENGINE OIL - RECOMMENDED APPLICATIONS FOR SAE 5W-20 AND SAE 5W-30 MOTOR OILS - GASOLINE AND FLEXIBLE FUEL VEHICLES ONLY

Publication Date: JANUARY 14, 2002

FORD: 1992-2002 CROWN VICTORIA
1993-94 TEMPO
1993-97 THUNDERBIRD
1993-2002 ESCORT, MUSTANG, TAURUS
1995-2000 CONTOUR
1998-2002 ESCORT ZX2
2000-2002 FOCUS
1993-96 BRONCO
1993-97 AEROSTAR
1993-2002 E SERIES, F-150, RANGER
1995-2002 WINDSTAR
1997-99 F-250 LD
1997-2001 EXPLORER
1997-2002 EXPEDITION
1999-2002 SUPER DUTY F SERIES, SUPER DUTY F-53 STRIPPED CHAS.
2000-2002 EXCURSION
2001-2002 ESCAPE
LINCOLN: 1991-2002 TOWN CAR
1993-98 MARK VIII
1993-2002 CONTINENTAL
2000-2002 LS
1998-2002 NAVIGATOR
MERCURY: 1992-2002 GRAND MARQUIS
1993-94 TOPAZ
1993-97 COUGAR
1993-99 TRACER
1993-2002 SABLE
1995-2000 MYSTIQUE
1999-2002 COUGAR
1997-2001 MOUNTAINEER


This article is being republished in its entirety to update the vehicle models, engines and years affected.

NOTE: PLEASE REFER TO THE VEHICLE APPLICATION LIST LATER IN THIS TSB FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF VEHICLES AFFECTED BY THIS TSB.



ISSUE:
Ford Motor Company now recommends SAE 5W-20 viscosity grade for servicing most gasoline and flexible fueled vehicles.

ACTION:
All 2001 and 2002 vehicles where SAE 5W-20 is specified should be serviced at the recommended oil change intervals using SAE 5W-20. This oil is an improved formulation to improve fuel economy. Testing has validated this viscosity grade can be used in many previous model year vehicles. It is recommended ALL vehicles on the following Vehicle Application Listing be service with SAE 5W-20.

All 2001-2002 vehicles other than those listed in the "Exception 2001 Vehicles" or "Exception 2002 Vehicles" chart are being filled with SAE 5W-20 motor oil at the factory and should also be serviced with SAE 5W-20 oil.

Vehicle Application Listing Approved For SAE 5W-20 Motor Oil
1993-1996 1.9L Escort/Tracer
1995-2000 2.0L Zetec Contour/Mystique
1999-2002 2.0L Cougar
1997-2002 2.0L Escort/Tracer
1998-2002 2.0L Escort ZX2
2000-2002 2.0L Focus
2001-2002 2.0L Escape
1993-1997 2.3L Ranger
1993-1994 2.3L Mustang
1993-1994 2.3L Tempo/Topaz
1998-2001 2.5L Ranger
1995-2000 2.5L Contour/Mystique
1999-2002 2.5L Cougar
2001-2002 3.0L 4V Escape
1996-2001 3.0L 4V Taurus/Sable
1993-2002 3.0L (Vulcan) Aerostar/Ranger, Taurus/Sable (Flexible Fuel and Gas)
1995-2000 3.0L (Vulcan) Windstar
1993-1994 3.0L (Vulcan) Tempo/Topaz
2000-2002 3.0L 4V Lincoln LS
1995-2002 3.8L Windstar
1993-1997 3.8L Taurus/Sable, Thunderbird/Cougar, Continental
1994-2002 3.8L Mustang
2002-2002 3.9L 4V Lincoln LS
1997-2002 4.2L (SPI) F-150 (under 8500 GVW only), E-Series
1996-2002 4.6L 2V Mustang
1992-2002 4.6L Crown Victoria/Grand Marquis
1991-2002 4.6L Town Car
1994-1997 4.6L 2V Thunderbird/Cougar
1996-2002 4.6L 4V Mustang Cobra
1995-2002 4.6L 4V Continental
1993-1998 4.6L 4V Mark VIII
1997-2002 4.6L 2V Triton F-150/250 (under 8500 GVW only), E-Series, Expedition
1993-1999 4.9L E-Series, F-Series
1993-1995 5.0L Mustang/Mustang Cobra
1993-1993 5.0L Thunderbird/Cougar
1997-2001 5.0L Explorer/Mountaineer
1993-1996 5.0L E-Series, F-Series, Bronco

This whole TSB is crap!!
There is zero reason for 99% + of peple with these engines to use 5w-20!

This TSB has nothing to do with engine longevity or best lubrication. PERIOD!

Paper will let you write anything on it and a company can make a TSB and say anything they want but they can and often are absolutely wrong for the goals of many/most people.

 

[TobyU]

I do too using Mobil 1. Ironically, full synthetic is supposed to burn less due to the higher heat capability. Mine has a bit of head gasket leak though, so I'm sure it adds to the consumption.

Sent from my N9131 using Tapatalk

Tends to leak more at least for a few changes.
The high mileage ones do tend to slow down leaks.

I like Mobil 1 HM 5w-30 and 10w-30.

 

[1955moose]

I remember back at the end of 86, I bought an 85 mustang GT 5.0. It went through a quart of oil every 700 miles, and that was running heavy Castrol 20/50. The service advisor knew but wouldn't fess up. Instead he pulled out his humungous Tsb book from Ford, that said it was normal to consume a quart every 800 miles. I've owned 5 different 5.0 engines, 3 mustangs, 2 Lincoln's, the 85 was the only one that used oil. They all leak from the rear main seal, but none consumed oil. No, it was most likely some Yahoo that owned it before me that dogged it during break-in. That's why he probably got rid of it only 1 year and 25 k later.

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[TobyU]

I commonly read about Ford saying that up to a quarter of oil every thousand miles is still acceptable. That's still a lot of oil for most cars built after 1978 or 79. Except for those Saturn's that didn't have good oil changes. Those use about a quart of oil every two to three hundred miles.

 

[ManUpOrShutUp]

I commonly read about Ford saying that up to a quarter of oil every thousand miles is still acceptable. That's still a lot of oil for most cars built after 1978 or 79. Except for those Saturn's that didn't have good oil changes. Those use about a quart of oil every two to three hundred miles.

The 2010-11 service manual indicates that 1-qt every 3,000+ miles is acceptable. However, the local Ford dealership showed me a TSB that indicates Ford allows even greater consumption now. I told him at the rate stated in the TSB, my engine would be dry if I failed to check oil between oil changes (as many people do).

 

[1955moose]

Toby, I worked at Saturn back in 95. I was a service advisor. I was there close to a year, I don't remember any customers or my techs saying anything about oil. Actually the customers loved their cars. Very few real problems. Squeaks and rattles, all little stuff, and just services. I don't remember one engine or Transmission failure. Probably because of that spin on trans filter!

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[TobyU]

Toby, I worked at Saturn back in 95. I was a service advisor. I was there close to a year, I don't remember any customers or my techs saying anything about oil. Actually the customers loved their cars. Very few real problems. Squeaks and rattles, all little stuff, and just services. I don't remember one engine or Transmission failure. Probably because of that spin on trans filter!

Sent from my N9131 using Tapatalk

Oh no. The original Saturn the ones that I call the real Saturn's. They are known to be oil burners. Some people joke they use as much oil as I do gas. Many people have to add at least a quart of oil every time they fill up the tank. They do get great mileage though.
If you get behind one of them when they take off you'll see them smoke like an old Chrysler minivan.
Anyone that got them serviced regularly and change the oil every 3 to 3500 miles or use synthetic oil didn't have this problem. The problem was the oil control rings got all coked up and stuck in the piston lands. They later revised the Pistons and had a hole drilled in that area. There's information online how to modify your own old Pistons if you ever have one apart. They also respond quite well to doing a top-end decarbonization. I did want it was using all kinds of oil and ranRotella 5w 40 full synthetic after that and the oil consumption continued to get less and less.
One of the signature lines common on the Saturn forum is old Saturn's never die, people blow them up. Check your damn LOL.

And, you have to remember they only hold 4 quarts with for oil change and filter. So people are running around with oil barely on the tip of the stick which is 2 quarts low. 50% of all capacity is very scary.

 

[1955moose]

Well that explains why by the time I came to work with them, it wasn't an issue.It always amazes me how a big company like Gm would not do their homework ahead of time, rather than having such a problem, or recall later after release.

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[TobyU]

It was only the S series. The later L and LS were 1/4 to 1/2 saturns. They had GM grand am style engine and trans but the inside was not gm like. Switches and window buttons odd and in odd places.

 

[Machete]

My truck will consume between half a quart and a full quart between oil changes depending on how I drive.

When I drive cross country it’ll need half quart after 1500 miles of constant highway speeds, typically 20+ hour drive stopping only for gas and coffee. Same for my return trip.

Around town it’ll need a “ top-off” after 2000-2500 and the dealer does it no charge in their quick lane.

I change every 3000-4000 miles and only use synthetic motorcraft oil and filter from dealer. If for some reason I don’t top off before the change it ends up needing almost a quart due to stop and go driving.