What grade OIL?
filed in 1997 Ford F150
Question: What grade oil should I put in my ‘85 Escort? I live in Southern California, the care currently runs 10w40 ..and has 47k on the odometer… now that it is summer, should I run a heavyer oil?
Thanks in advance…
Answer: 10W-40 sounds a bit thick for an Escort, is that what the manual says?
A little publicised fact is that 15W-40 has to meet a much tougher spec than 10W-40. They are both tested to the same spec at 100C, but at the 150C high shear test, 10W-40 only has to test as good as a straight 30 weight, while 15W-40 has to test as good as a straight 50 weight. The SAE spec even says that 10W-40 is a light duty oil.
Of course, if you are using a good synthetic, then none of this is an issue.
Use whatever the manufacturuer reccomends . They tell you in the manual for a reason . Almost cars reccomend either 5W-30 or 10W-30 . Most will advise “NOT” to use 10W-40 . I believe 40 weight will leave depposits in the engine to a certain extent . If you live in a area where it is warm all the time then i would probably use 10WNope, no kidding at all. I have used 20W50 oil exclusively in spring to fall in southwestern ontario for almost 30 years. 10W40 in winter. I have not had ANY engine wear problems, like camshafts etc. I have not had a single engine failure except for my current 3 litre aerostar which had a manufacturing defect and got noisy at 30,000 Km. Known problem – block replaced by Ford no questions asked. It is a rare car I sell with less than 100,000 miles on it, and only one was scrapped when I was finished due to body rot. The engine is still purring along in another lebaron wagon.
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