Motor oil weight for triton v10

"Maybe in cold weather (winter), but in the summer when the oil is hot and as thin as water that protection can break down."

Seriously? "thin as water"? :h

This might have been an issue 50 years ago (remember back when a 3,000 mile oil change interval was actually recommended?), but with today's technology it's not. Oil gets hot regardless of the weather. The engineers at Ford recommend (actually they insist on), the 5W20 because it is the best oil for that particular engine (with its high RPM - close tolerance design).

:C

Oldme wrote:
My 2000 Ford V-10 calls for 5W-20

I talked to the dealer about this seemingly exceptionally thin oil a few years back and he said it actually had to do with MPG. Obviously thicker oil requires more power to turn the engine, and he said that Ford as a company needed to hit an aggregate MPG number that because of their SUV and truck biz, was difficult. This thinner than what we all grew up with oil, he says does actually help.

Sounds like a good story...

My 2000 Ford V-10 calls for 5W-20

Wes Tausend wrote:
...

Use 5w20. The thicker oils may not hurt the engine too much ordinarily, but they have a delayed circulation time in cool weather. This can cause lack of lube on overhead cam engines and damage camshafts and valve train.

It also turns out that the greatest benefit of pressurized oil in engines has been its ability to cool bearings. This, of course, takes a high flow rate to be most effective.

There is old wives tales still circulating around how thick oil can cushion bearings. Any modern day bearings that need "cushioning" are basically shot, usually galled by overheating, since the old, slow thick oils often failed at proper cooling. A bonus, fast flowing oil lasts longer now that it is not overheated by exposure lag under high heat stress. Oil thickens from heat as it ages and does not do as good a job cooling bearings. This thickening is one of the reasons automatic transmissions need frequent replacement lube, especially after abuse. Synthetic oils led the way to oils and blends that now resist thinkening.

Some of this knowledge became evident when it was noted how well automatic transmissions avoided wear with thin oils and how sensitive they were to cooling. This is opposed to manual transmissions that used to often use 90 weight gear lube, many of which now also use thinner oils.

Wes
...

Maybe in cold weather (winter), but in the summer when the oil is hot and as thin as water that protection can break down. like I said, when I run 5W20 in my X in the summer and I`m towing when I pull into a campground and turn off the engine all that oil drains into the oil pan. now when you go to start it all that oil has to be pumped back up into the engine. mine would clatter for a couple seconds the next morning during a cold start with 5W20. with 5W30 I don`t have that issue.

Thanks Wes, very imformative

...

Use 5w20. The thicker oils may not hurt the engine too much ordinarily, but they have a delayed circulation time in cool weather. This can cause lack of lube on overhead cam engines and damage camshafts and valve train.

It also turns out that the greatest benefit of pressurized oil in engines has been its ability to cool bearings. This, of course, takes a high flow rate to be most effective.

There is old wives tales still circulating around how thick oil can cushion bearings. Any modern day bearings that need "cushioning" are basically shot, usually galled by overheating, since the old, slow thick oils often failed at proper cooling. A bonus, fast flowing oil lasts longer now that it is not overheated by exposure lag under high heat stress. Oil thickens from heat as it ages and does not do as good a job cooling bearings. This thickening is one of the reasons automatic transmissions need frequent replacement lube, especially after abuse. Synthetic oils led the way to oils and blends that now resist thinkening.

Some of this knowledge became evident when it was noted how well automatic transmissions avoided wear with thin oils and how sensitive they were to cooling. This is opposed to manual transmissions that used to often use 90 weight gear lube, many of which now also use thinner oils.

Wes
...

Another user of Mobil 1 oils (30+ years). While the 5w-20 is probably fine in most applications, a MH sees a lot higher loading than most PU's, SUV's and cars. I suspect that Ford wanted a "standard" oil across their "standard" engines.

However, it is interesting to note that that Ford does recommend a 5w-50 oil in some of their supercharged Mustang engines.


I've used 15w-50 in mine without issues, but have now standardized all my vehicles and engines (15+) on their 5w-40 oil. It may cost me a 0.1 or 0.2 mpg, but I feel a lot better with my foot on the floor pulling my toad up a long grade.

My manual also calls for 5W20. I've been using conventional because I change the oil every 3750 miles (twice per 7500-mile cycle). I'm thinking about switching to synthetic, though, and going to a 7500-mile interval.

Much thanks everyone

Use Pennzoil Platinum 5-20 in my V10..