Mark Olson

Pat wrote:
> I always use what the manufacturer calls for. Used to be hard to find
> however Wal-Mart always had it. Today I saw it is available in other brands
> then Motorcraft as well. I think Honda motors are also using it. In a
> pinch I would use 10w30 but I would drain it out as soon as possible and put
> the right stuff in. What would the right temperature be? When its hot it
> will be too thick. When its cold it will be too thick. Will it be just
> right for 10 seconds after the motor is first started and partially warm?

Why would you use 10W-30 in a pinch, rather than 5W-30?

Also, think carefully about why Ford ecommends 5W-20 only in the USA
and Canada, but everywhere else in the world, for the exact same
engines, they recommend 5W-30. Hmmmm.

Free Hint: 'CAFE- Corporate Average Fuel Economy'.

I will continue to use 5W-30 in my 2000 Focus, as the owner's manual
recommends. That's the oil that engine was designed to use, not
5W-20, despite Ford's retroactive CAFE-driven recommendations.

Here's something I found on a Google search:

"When it comes to the new 5W20 grade, however - specified for some
Honda and Ford models - he's more skeptical. He thinks there is only
one reason Ford made the switch from 5W30 to 5W20 - to help it meet
CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) standards. "Most Ford engines
haven't changed, why the need then to change the specified grade?" He
adds that the lighter oil, which doesn't protect as well as the
heavier stuff, reduces fuel consumption by about 0.2% - not enough to
be noticed by any single driver."

You can also google for Ford's own bulletins that recommend switching
to 5W-20, the reason given by Ford is improved fuel economy. I know
a 0.2 percent improvement in fuel economy is not enough justification
for _me_ to switch from 5W-30 to 5W-20.