5w-20?

[1986camarojoe]

my girlfriend has a 2004 ford escape. I always change the oil for her. The manual says to use the 5w-20 synthetic motorcraft oil. I was wondering whats the difference between 5w-30 and 5w-20. Id rather just put penzoil platinum 5w-30 in it since I already have a shitload of it...

[CompSyn]

At engine operating temperature which is 212(F) the 20-grade oil will be somewhere in the viscosity range of 5.6-to-9.29 while the 30-grade will be somewhere in the viscosity range of 9.3-to-12.49

That’s all, the 30-grade is thicker.

Using 5W-30 shouldn’t hurt anything. In fact Ford now recommends 5W-20 in cars that were originally specified to run 5W-30. I think they are recommending the 20-grade oils today primarily for fuel economy reasons.

[Sarge]

5-20 is for EPA mileage tree hugger BS.
Use your 30 weight with confidence and no worries.

[TOMASINO]

my girlfriend has a 2004 ford escape. I always change the oil for her. The manual says to use the 5w-20 synthetic motorcraft oil. I was wondering whats the difference between 5w-30 and 5w-20. Id rather just put penzoil platinum 5w-30 in it since I already have a shitload of it...

how many miles???

[2001nbma4]

how many miles???

a shitload

[TOMASINO]

a shitload

over 120 000miles use 10 30 summer and 5 30 for winter i recommend penzoil regular i use it on a toyota 4 cyl. with 280 000 miles on it the car still runs like new lol

[SteveC]

5-20 is for EPA mileage tree hugger BS.
Use your 30 weight with confidence and no worries.

Right on the money, Ford uses the thinner oil claiming less friction thus better fuel milage.

SteveC