My dealer put wrong oil type on my V6 SOHC explorer?? HELP please

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?
Reply to
Jim
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