Hi everyone,
I just had my 1998 explorer serviced and noticed on the bill that they've been putting this new 5W20 oil instead of the recommended
5W30.
I checked TSB 01-4-7 & 02-1-9, and the 1998 explorer V6 4.0L SOHC is not in the approved list of vehicles supporting 5W20. Is this correct?
Why is it that Ford is recommending 5W30 for the '98 explorer, but my dealer is putting 5W20 instead? Could this do damage? Has this happened to anyone else?
I would very much appreciate any comments you may have regarding 5W20 on '98 explorer. I've attached a copy of this TSB at end of message for your reference.
I was looking into changing to 5W30 Penzoil's new SUV synthetic blend on next oil change.
Any comments? thanks in advance and thank you for your time
Regards,
Jim
------------------------------------------------ Ford SAE 5W-20 recommendations TSB 02-1-9
-------------------------------------------------- Ford has updated its viscosity recommendations for many vehicles with the availability of API SL classification oils. The latest recommendation is to use SAE 5W-20 oils in most 2001 engine applications, and in many earlier applications that used SAE 10W-30 and SAE 5W-30. This bulletin updates TSB #99-8-16, 05/03/99, which changed the recommendation from SAE 10W-30 to SAE 5W-30 oil for many earlier Ford vehicles. SAE 5W-30 oil continues to be recommended for any 1989 and later Ford engine/vehicle combination not listed in Table 1.
Table 1. Recommended Ford engines/vehicles for SAE 5W-20 oil
2001 2.0-L Zetec Focus
2001 2.0-L SPI Focus
2001 2.0-L Zetec Escape
2001 2.0-L SPI Escort
2001 2.0-L Zetec Escort ZX2
1995-2000 2.5-L Contour/Mystique
1999-2001 2.5-L Cougar
1996-2001 3.0-L 4V Taurus/Sable
1999-2001 3.0-L (Vulcan) Ranger (flexible fuel and gasoline), Windstar, Taurus/Sable (flexible fuel and gasoline)
2000-2001 3.0-L Lincoln LS
2001 3.0-L Escape
1996-1997 3.8-L Thunderbird/Cougar
1996-2001 3.8-L Mustang
1996-2001 3.8-L SPI Windstar
1997-2001 4.2-L SPI F-150 (under 8500 GVW only), Econoline
1996-2001 4.6-L 2V Mustang
1992-2001 4.6-L Crown Victoria/Grand Marquis
1991-2001 4.6-L Town Car
1994-1997 4.6-L 2V Thunderbird/Cougar
1996-2001 4.6-L 4V Mustang Cobra
1995-2001 4.6-L Continental
1993-1998 4.6-L 4V Mark VIII
1998-2001 5.4-L 2V/4V Navigator
1997-2001 . 4.6-L 2V Triton F-150/250 (under 8500 GVW only), Econoline, Expedition
1997-2001 5.4-L 2V F-150/250 (under 8500 GVW only), Expedition, E-150/250/350, E-350 chassis/RV/cutaway
2000-2001 5.4-L Excursion
1997-2001 6.8-L E-250/350, E-350 chassis/RV/cutaway
1999-2001 6.8-L Super Duty F-250 HD/350/450/550 motorhome
2000-2001 6.8-L Excursion
Table 2. Recommended 2001 Ford engines/vehicles for SAE 5W-30 oil
2.5-L Ranger
3.3-L Villager
3.9-L Lincoln LS
4.0-L Ranger, Explorer/Mountaineer, Explorer Sport, Explorer Sport Trac
5.0-L Explorer/Mountaineer These vehicles were factory-filled with SAE 5W-30 oil.
---------------------------------------------------------------
So as I can see, from above the 4.0L explorer should use 5W30 until
2001. And therefore it is *wrong* to put 5W20 on a 1998 explorer sport?