5w20 or 0w20
 

I've seached but I can't find a definitive post. Is 0w20 the way to go or should I stick with the Ford recommended 5w20. I bought some Mobil1 0w20 for the winter but I'm concerned with the warranty. I make mostly short trips but I make a few 700 mile trips during the winter. I know the 20 is supposed to be the the same when the the oil gets warm but is 0 to thin at start up? Do I have the whole concept screwed up? Any help I can get would be appreciated. Thanks in advanced for any help you can provide. I live in the Detroit area and park outside if it make's any difference.

Re: 5w20 or 0w20
 

I took Mobil 1 0W-20 to my local Ford Dealer and had them change the oil using this. No questions asked.

Re: 5w20 or 0w20
 

Your thinking is exactly correct. Always use an oil that meets the Ford spec. 0W20 and 5W20 both exhibit the correct viscosity at operating temps. 0W20 does not thicken as much as 5W20 at ambient temps, so will minimize wear at start-up. Both are OK, but the 0W20 might be better year round, especially in a colder climate.

Re: 5w20 or 0w20
 

I have ONLY used Mobil 1 0w20 year-round for the past 4 years.
I started using it at about 8,000 miles, and now I'm close to 90,000 miles.

I sometimes change at 10,000 but often, 15,000 mile intervals.

Ford recommends 0w20 for owners with cold starts below 0'F.

There's a definante help with 0W20 in cold temps.
Probably no help in warm months, but no harm either.

Re: 5w20 or 0w20
 

0W20 is always better for start-up because that is when most of the wear occurs. Oil thickens as it cools. As long as the correct viscosity is there at operating temps, thinner is better at start-up.

Re: 5w20 or 0w20
 

It’s important to remember just what those numbers mean. The first number is the cold viscosity rating of the oil and the second is the hot rating. A zero first number is still more viscous when cold than the oil will be when hot because the oil rating is compared to other oils at the same cold temperature. Thus the zero weight oil is less viscous than a 30 weight oil would be, at those cold temps, but still plenty viscous.

Since the issue is whether the oil has sufficient viscosity to protect the engine, and the oil is thicker than even a 30 weight oil at the same cold temperature, I believe that 0W-20 will work just fine.

When Mobil One first came out in that weight oil I put it in my Mustang without problem. My Mustang is now at 260,000 + on the odometer.

The benefit is that the oil drag on the engine is reduced significantly when starting and initially running while cold.

Re: 5w20 or 0w20
 

Both Mobil 1 0W20 AFE and 5W20 meet Ford spec WSS-M2C930-A for the FEH. Both Mobil 1 0W20 and 0W20 Advanced Fuel Economy are the exact same motor oil. ExxonMobil rebranded the 0W20 with the Advanced Fuel Economy to highlight the slight mileage benefits to a lower drag motor oil upon startup and upon ICE startup.

As other posters have pointed out, as long as you're within Ford spec, you're fine. Same thing with ATF and coolants...

Re: 5w20 or 0w20
 

This. But bear in mind that for an engine, "cold" is anything below operating temperature. Thus, where most people live, the engine is "cold" at startup year-round.

Re: 5w20 or 0w20
 

Unless you're going a lot longer than the recommended change intervals, 0W20 should be fine. If you want more miles between changes, use the Mobil 1 Extended Performance. I have 5W20 in my car and I don't know whether Mobil offers EP in 0W20. It has an enhanced additive package for extra miles and supposedly the mix of base stocks is different also. Use a quality filter - either a real, non-counterfeit Motorcraft, or be like me with a spin-on car and use a Mobil 1 Extended Performance M1-102A.