[Eleanor_Mustang]

I just went to the local Citgo and had them do a full service Mobil 1 synthetic oil change, tire rotation, and inspection.

Well, the car specificly states that the recommended oil should be 5W-20 but the synthetic oil they put in was 5W-30... Will this affect my car's engine any? (on the trip home (about 30 minute trip) the oil pressure gauge was a little more than half way the normal (almost if not in the exact same place before))

The reason I am worried is that the book only states that I should use 5W-20 not the 5W-30... Will this affect my car's engine any?

Thanks in advance...:thumbsup

[ts3096]

Originally Posted by Eleanor_Mustang

I just went to the local Citgo and had them do a full service Mobil 1 synthetic oil change, tire rotation, and inspection.

Well, the car specificly states that the recommended oil should be 5W-20 but the synthetic oil they put in was 5W-30... Will this affect my car's engine any? (on the trip home (about 30 minute trip) the oil pressure gauge was a little more than half way the normal (almost if not in the exact same place before))

The reason I am worried is that the book only states that I should use 5W-20 not the 5W-30... Will this affect my car's engine any?

Thanks in advance...:thumbsup

The 5-30 oil will not damage your motor.

[GreenStang511]

Good answer I found:

You do not need to use a 5W-20 oil. Do not let your dealer scare you by telling you that you have to use it for your warranty. That is a tactic that some dealerships use to scare customers. Once you know the facts and the Federal Magnusson Moss Act law you will be much better informed to protect your rights and use the type of oil you want to use.

The main reason 5W-20 was specified for your engine is to increase the CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) reported to the Federal Government. CAFE is the combined average fuel economy of all of a vehicle manufacturers product line. Minimum CAFE levels are specified by the Federal Government. In order for a vehicle manufacturer to continue selling profitable large trucks and SUV's, which typically have poor fuel mileage ratings, as compared to smaller cars, and still meet mandated CAFE requirements, they must also sell enough of the smaller cars which have much better fuel economy ratings to offset the poor fuel economy ratings of the larger vehicles. For model year 2001, the change to a 5W-20 oil will allow Ford and Honda's overall CAFE to increase by a very small amount, typically in the tenths of a mile per gallon range. 5W-20 oil is a lighter viscosity than a 5W-30 oil and therefore has less internal engine frictional losses, or less drag on the crankshaft, pistons and valvetrain, which in turn promotes increased fuel economy. This increased fuel economy is virtually undetectable to the average motorist without the use of specialized engine monitoring and testing equipment under strictly controlled test track driving when compared to a 5W-30, 10W-30 or a 0W-30 viscosity motor oil.

[Eleanor_Mustang]

Hay thanks because my local ford dealer made me think that I had committed a cardinal sin and that my motor would not last the week.

I have to say this, you get better advice and service on this forum than at a ford dealership.

Thanks again...:thumbsup

[Eleanor_Mustang]

Hay Sorry for bring this thread back but I thought that you all would like to know this if fuel economy is on your minds.

By using 5W-30 in a V6 like mine at 3.9 or the 3.8 Liter engines you go from having fuel economy of 26 mpg to having at best 25.5 mpg. Before I got the oil change I averaged about 24.8-25.4 mpg lately I have been averaging 22.4-24.1 mpg... The biggest difference in that lately is because I am trying to avoid using A/C until I can get another oil change.

[lovcom]

Eleanor, you hear other views here, then so easily believe the writtings of a stranger? How do you know our qualifications? Best thing is to take many views and harmonize them, to see if they show a trend.

Better to stick with the oil viscosity that Ford mandates...I do't think the oil Citgo put in your car will do damage, but for highest MPG go with the suggested viscosity.

[BlueStreak03]

The 5W-30 will not harm your engine. However, the 5W-20 will flow to the top end of the engine faster during cold startups. The difference isn't much, but remember starting an engine is the absolute worst thing you can do to it. Make sure the 5W-20 is put back in at the next oil change and make sure you watch these people closely and if they don't put 20 weight in the first time, make them drain it all right back out and put the right stuff in it. Make sure they change the filter if they put the wrong stuff in it.

[tex117]

Even though 5w-20 is the recommended oil; if you live in the south (like me) it is actually better to use 10w-30. 5w-20 is good for cold startups, but down here we dont get alot of those, and 10w-30 will be better for the motor driving in 100 degree heat.