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#16065 05/17/02 02:30 PM
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The following is a questionnaire on motor oil...


1996 Contour SE Sedan 4D (Royal Blue)
Duratec V6 2.5L 24-valve DOHC
Automatic
75,000 miles
No Mods (unless you call the DMD a mod)
Replaced EGR valve (gunked up), EVR (EGR VR), PCV valve, and evaporative emissions hose (cracked).
#16066 05/17/02 05:27 PM
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Who the heck uses 5W50?


Tropic Green '00 SVT
#665 of 2150
#16067 05/17/02 05:58 PM
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By the way, here is a good article on motor oil...


1996 Contour SE Sedan 4D (Royal Blue)
Duratec V6 2.5L 24-valve DOHC
Automatic
75,000 miles
No Mods (unless you call the DMD a mod)
Replaced EGR valve (gunked up), EVR (EGR VR), PCV valve, and evaporative emissions hose (cracked).
#16068 05/17/02 07:08 PM
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I don't figger I ought to answer since I don't have a gasser right now wink My figures would probably skew it a little bit.

On a related note, though, I was curious how many were having any type of oil analysis performed? Costs vary, but I know when I sold the Mustang, having the analysis results made the higher mileage much more palatable for the buyer since there were no signs of significant wear materials and all items were well within spec.

They can also do differential fluid analysis as well, which is also good information if you think you might have toasted something over the miles...I ran it for piece of mind when I changed the Ranger fluid at 50K...also took advantage of that change to move to a synthetic.

We were getting a discount on the F-D site through Blackstone, and I would almost bet that they would offer a similar deal if approached by the CEG (brought the costs down to about $17)...if not, you don't HAVE to own a PSD to be a member over at the other site cool

#16069 05/18/02 03:32 AM
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I've been using 5W-50 Castrol Syntec in my SVT since I bought it about a year ago. It's still clean when I drain it every 7,000 miles. I also used the same oil in my 350 Chevy 300+HP motor for years. I put a very abused 80,000 miles on that 350. When it was pulled apart for a rebuild there was no ridge on the cylinders and you could still see the cross-hatch from the honing! We put it back together after seeing similar results on the bearings and it's still running today in a '78 Nova at about 135,000 miles. I understand that fairly recently Castrol has changed their formulation, as has Mobil 1. I'm looking to switch to Amsoil on the next change due in a thousand or so miles. Am I crazy? Probably.


'98 SVT Contour #639
'79 Monte Carlo
#16070 05/19/02 12:23 PM
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Quote:
Originally posted by shotwell:
I've been using 5W-50 Castrol Syntec in my SVT since I bought it about a year ago. It's still clean when I drain it every 7,000 miles.
I would HIGHLY recommend switching from 5W-50 to 5W-30. The fact that the oil is clean is not the point. There have been many posts on this board about the Contour engine not being able to get enough oil under certain conditions (high revs, right hand turn, etc.) and seizing. Using a thicker oil (e.g., 5W-50) will only make oil starvation more likely, since it will not be able to flow through the engine as readily.

If you lived in the Mojave Desert (or somewhere else that was really hot), then you might have an argument for a thicker oil weight, but your SIG says that you live in WA which if I am correct is a relatively cool (and wet) state.


1996 Contour SE Sedan 4D (Royal Blue)
Duratec V6 2.5L 24-valve DOHC
Automatic
75,000 miles
No Mods (unless you call the DMD a mod)
Replaced EGR valve (gunked up), EVR (EGR VR), PCV valve, and evaporative emissions hose (cracked).
#16071 05/24/02 05:49 AM
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I recently switched from Mobil 1 0-30 to their Euro formula 0-40 that my local parts guy can get.

After reading all the oil specs and many comments/web sites on this topic, I find the hot viscosity (100 deg C)of 10-30 and 5-30 is just about at the SAE 20 spec. This is THIN ! This is about 17% of the viscosity at 40 deg C.

Notice how the viscosity varies far more with temp between 100 and 212 degress F than between 20,30,40,50 SAE weights at a constant 212 degrees F. so I can't get to nervous about "too thick oil". My previous experience with long life motors and the use of different SAE viscosity grades leads me to believe that the car manufacturers are sacrificing engine life for a minor boost in corporate CAFE specs.


00 SE Sport V6
big rotors + EBC pads= deep corners
Pioneer/Infinty
#16072 05/24/02 01:16 PM
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valvoline SAE 5w 30, just like it says in the manual


1999 Silver Frost SVT
#609 of 2760
Born on 12/3/98

KKM Intake
Removed Resonator
35% Window Tint all around
Tinted Tail Lights
ElKy Mesh Grilles
HID

Dyno'ed at 175.3HP/155.5TQ

"How much must I live through just to get away..."
#16073 05/24/02 02:09 PM
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isn't ford now recommending we switch to 5w20 in a TSB?

i'm sticking with the 5w30. and FWIW i use pennzoil dino.


-Dan
1998.5 SVT "Black and Blue" #5292
See here for MOD list.
"Washing your car to make it rain does not work."
#16074 05/24/02 06:39 PM
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Quote:
Originally posted by SVTour98:
isn't ford now recommending we switch to 5w20 in a TSB?
No. The TSB was stating a list of engines that "could" (Ford OK'd) run the new 5W20 oil.

Personally I prefer engine protection over CAFE ratings. wink


2000 SVT #674 - Check it out!

Whoever coined the phrase; "If it ain't broke; don't fix it" ~ Just doesn't get it...

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