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Car Forum / Ford / Ford Cars / February 200604 Taurus Motor Oil
2004 Taurus. 5W20 recommended. Using fully synthetic 5W30. Aside from a slight decrease in fuel efficiency, any possible consequences of which I should be aware? A voided warranty if you tell the dealer. CJB > 2004 Taurus. 5W20 recommended. Using fully synthetic 5W30. > > Aside from a slight decrease in fuel efficiency, any possible consequences > of which I should be aware? >A voided warranty if you tell the dealer. thanks for the reminder. i tend to talk too much. >> 2004 Taurus. 5W20 recommended. Using fully synthetic 5W30. >> >> Aside from a slight decrease in fuel efficiency, any possible >> consequences of which I should be aware? > A voided warranty if you tell the dealer. > > CJB BZZZZZZZZZ! Wrong answer. As long as it meets or exceeds the SAE requirement he's OK. Google up "Magnuson Moss". Rob >>2004 Taurus. 5W20 recommended. Using fully synthetic 5W30. >> >>Aside from a slight decrease in fuel efficiency, any possible consequences >>of which I should be aware? Trainfan, you're a smart guy. I think you've misunderstood what I meant. I've seen that law trumpeted for the stupidest of reasons, mostly by AmSoil "dealers." My statement was not based upon the idea that he was using a full synthetic, but that he is using a different viscosity than is specified by the manufacturer. You may, of course, use any brand that you want, and even oils that have varying bases, i.e. conventional, semi- or full synthetic. You may not, however, use a product that doesn't meet the specification of the manufacturer without voiding the warranty. Additionally, let me say that I have no problem personally with using 5w30 or 0w30 in place of 5w20, especially if you're using full synthetic instead of the factory semi-synthetic. In fact, I do that very thing in my 2003 Triton. It specifies 5w20, and I use either 5w30 or 0w30 Mobil 1, whichever is in stock. I have heard people say that they had been given a hard time by their Ford dealer if they had used an oil which varied from the specification, which is why I was trying to simply tell the guy to keep the info to himself if he ever had a warranty issue. The law you mention basically states that the manufacturer may not specify a brand unless they provide you with the product for free. They may, however, specify a standard, which, I'm sure you agree, includes their right to specify a viscosity. According to your logic, he could put in 90 weight gear oil and Ford would have no recourse if the gear oil was sae certified. I totally disagree. CJB >> A voided warranty if you tell the dealer. >> [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] >>>Aside from a slight decrease in fuel efficiency, any possible >>>consequences of which I should be aware? > The law you mention basically states that the manufacturer may not specify a > brand unless they provide you with the product for free. They may, however, > specify a standard, which, I'm sure you agree, includes their right to > specify a viscosity. According to your logic, he could put in 90 weight > gear oil and Ford would have no recourse if the gear oil was sae certified. EXCEPT gear oil is not API (which is what I meant to say instead of SAE) rated as an engine lubricating oil for his Ford. If the vehicle manufacturer calls for API Service SM/CF oil, any SM/CF or better oil will suffice to keep the warranty intact. Rob >> The law you mention basically states that the manufacturer may not >> specify a brand unless they provide you with the product for free. They [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > manufacturer calls for API Service SM/CF oil, any SM/CF or better oil will > suffice to keep the warranty intact. This is not true. Ford can and did create its own specification for the lubricating oil. They don't have to specify that any oil that meets API certifications is acceptable.The API standard is an industry standard that oil companies and auto companies have jointly developed as a convenience. It is not a legal requirement. The only thing they can't do because of the Magnum-Moss Act is to require you to buy "Ford" brand oil. Your warranty is protected as long as the oil you buy meets the appropriate Ford specifications (no matter who makes it). My owner's manual has the following to say on engine oil: "Only use oils "Certified For Gasoline Engines" by the American Petroleum Institute (API). To protect your engine's warranty use Motorcraft SAE 5W-20 or an equivalent 5W-20 oil meeting Ford specification WSS-M2C153-H." Most makers of quality oil explicitly state that they meet this specification for at least one grade of oil. The chances of having a warranty claimed denied because you used a good quality API certified 5W30 oil instead of 5W20 oil are virtually nil. Ford would need to prove that the viscosity difference was responsible for the damage and this is not going to happen. Most of the engines for which the 5W20 oil is specified are mechanically identical to engines where 5W30 was the recommended oil just a few years ago. I know of at least two cases where dealers recommended the use of thicker oil than 5W20. If you go in with a specific complaint (like lifter noise, or piston slap) there is a good chance the dealership will insist that you use 5W20 oil before they will consider diagnosising the problem. Very few engine failures during the warranty period are oil related failures. Ed > 2004 Taurus. 5W20 recommended. Using fully synthetic 5W30. > > Aside from a slight decrease in fuel efficiency, any possible > consequences of which I should be aware? If anything, you should see a slight increase. I use 0W30 in place of 5W20 year around. Great stuff. There are no negative consequences other than, possibly, cost. One may be able to argue that synthetic oil isn't justified given your set of circumstances. I'll leave that possibility for others. > Warlock wrote: >> 2004 Taurus. 5W20 recommended. Using fully synthetic 5W30. [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > year around. Great stuff. There are no negative consequences other than, > possibly, cost. I went with the Mobil1 5w30 simply because my retailer sells it in the five quart container at a savings over buying the 5w20 in separate quart containers. in regard to fuel efficiency, my car's system is reporting a loss of about 10% mpg under identical driving conditions over the last month. hmm... > One may be able to argue that synthetic oil isn't justified given your set > of circumstances. I'll leave that possibility for others. >> Warlock wrote: >>> 2004 Taurus. 5W20 recommended. Using fully synthetic 5W30. [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > system is reporting a loss of about 10% mpg under identical driving > conditions over the last month. hmm... I doubt it's the oil. Maybe winter gasoline formulation or some other variable. >> in regard to fuel efficiency, my car's >> system is reporting a loss of about 10% mpg under identical driving >> conditions over the last month. hmm... > > I doubt it's the oil. Maybe winter gasoline formulation or some other > variable. Herh.. probably upped the ethanol.. check with the supplier, if you can, see if that isnt the case. When is this $^$# 'ethanol is good' myth gonna be busted?!!!  SignatureYeh, I'm a Krusty old Geezer, putting up with my 'smartass' is the price you pay..DEAL with it! >>> in regard to fuel efficiency, my car's >>> system is reporting a loss of about 10% mpg under identical driving [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > When is this $^$# 'ethanol is good' myth gonna be busted?!!! My state governor and legislature are making ethanol mandatory at 10% for all gas sold here. What are they going to do when there is an ethanol shortage? >>> in regard to fuel efficiency, my car's >>> system is reporting a loss of about 10% mpg under identical driving [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > >When is this $^$# 'ethanol is good' myth gonna be busted?!!! It is basically a farm subsidy program in disguise. It is not possible that it is cost effective when you lose performance and efficiency while paying more per gallon production cost. Here in GA, the Feds have compelled us to used the KA fuel blend even though the research folks from several of the research institutions have concluded that another cheaper to produce in greater volume and more energy efficient blend without ethanol that we were using was what we needed to most effectively reduce pollution in this region. Lugnut > I went with the Mobil1 5w30 simply because my retailer sells it in the > five quart container at a savings over buying the 5w20 in separate quart > containers. in regard to fuel efficiency, my car's system is reporting a > loss of about 10% mpg under identical driving conditions over the last > month. hmm... Ford only claimed a saving of 0.6% for the switch to 5W20, so I think you need to look elsewhere for your sudden decrease in mileage. Ed > 2004 Taurus. 5W20 recommended. Using fully synthetic 5W30. > > Aside from a slight decrease in fuel efficiency, any possible consequences > of which I should be aware? Only consequence I can think of is that by the time your engine accumulates 300,000 - 400,000 miles, the rest of the car will be rusted out or falling apart. If the Taurus is driven regularly and for distance driving(35K-40K mi. per year), you can get 18,000 to 20,000 miles per oil change too. Rob None, several years ago the manufactures went to 5W20 to increase overall CAFE. By doing so they must recommend the same to buyers. mike hunt > 2004 Taurus. 5W20 recommended. Using fully synthetic 5W30. > > Aside from a slight decrease in fuel efficiency, any possible consequences > of which I should be aware? Somewhere in your owners manual, you will find a chart sugggesting which oil viscosities are recommended for which temperature ranges.... A little tough for me to check our tech site since I'm in Edmonton and doomed to using "turtlenet" for the next three days. Advice to all... the owners manual is an absolute wealth of information.... yet it remains to be the most expensive unread book in print... > 2004 Taurus. 5W20 recommended. Using fully synthetic 5W30. > > Aside from a slight decrease in fuel efficiency, any possible consequences > of which I should be aware? > Somewhere in your owners manual, you will find a chart sugggesting which > oil viscosities are recommended for which temperature ranges.... A little [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > information.... yet it remains to be the most expensive unread book in > print... None of the manuals for my recent Ford has had a chart. My Thunderbird only recommends 5W20. Ed > 2004 Taurus. 5W20 recommended. Using fully synthetic 5W30. i'd like to thank everyone who participated in this thread. good information along with enjoyable banter. kinda rare on usenet these days. ;) |
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