5w20 or 5w30?

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Mar 26, 2008 | 08:32 PM

wahooracing

Thread Starter

Joined: Feb 2008

Posts: 4

From:

5w20 or 5w30?

I have a 2002 mustang gt. Would it hurt anything to run 5w30 oil in the engine. It requires 5w20, the warranty is up on the car, but will it hurt anything in the engine?

Mar 26, 2008 | 09:26 PM

m260gt

2nd Gear Member

Joined: Sep 2007

Posts: 208

From:

RE: 5w20 or 5w30?

i think mine takes 5w30.

Mar 26, 2008 | 11:20 PM

avexhype

3rd Gear Member

Joined: Jul 2007

Posts: 665

From: Houston, tx

RE: 5w20 or 5w30?

does it even matter? i mean its only a 10 point difference. on my daily driver (92 nissan stanza) i always put in different weights and brands with watever i find thats cheap at walmart. Runs like a champ at 227 THOUSAND miles, no joke. It doesnt seem to effect drivability or motor characteristics AT ALL. I run that car hard as hell to boot. Just for thread input though, i run 5w20 fully syn Mobile 1 on my 2000 GT.

Mar 26, 2008 | 11:25 PM

tbirdscwd

5th Gear Member

Joined: Sep 2006

Posts: 4,039

From: CA

RE: 5w20 or 5w30?

I always run 5w20 either RP or Mobil1. 5w30 isn't gonna hurt anything, but I'd use the 5w20 if its available. I believe the switch to 5w20 was an effort by ford to increase MPG.

Mar 27, 2008 | 12:03 AM

93_five_oh

2nd Gear Member

Joined: May 2007

Posts: 330

From: wa

RE: 5w20 or 5w30?

i'd stick with 5W20... it's thinner and lubricates better. as long as your oil pressure isn't dangerously low, you're fine.
unless you're racing your car i wouldn't go with 5W30

Mar 27, 2008 | 12:38 AM

manuelm

Joined: Mar 2008

Posts: 39

From: NM

RE: 5w20 or 5w30?

use the 5w20 if u can. if not the 5w30 isnt going to hurt anything. just make sure if u use a FULL synthetic oil u keep using it. cant go back, well at least your not suppose to...

Mar 28, 2008 | 05:34 AM

07 Shelby GT

2nd Gear Member

Joined: Oct 2007

Posts: 193

From:

RE: 5w20 or 5w30?

If you are from a extreme cold or extreme hot area you might want to take it into consideration. Extreme hot you will want a little heavier weight...opposite for extreme cold. I believe Ford puts 5W20 in just about all cars for some time now. I think Motorcraft 5W20 is a blend of synthetic and conventional. Other than that I don't think it really matters that much. I go with what Ford recommends and haven't had a mechanical failure in my last 3 stangs.

Mar 28, 2008 | 07:29 PM

08 Bullitt 2310

2nd Gear Member

Joined: Feb 2008

Posts: 461

From:

RE: 5w20 or 5w30?

You might want to do a little research on motor oil.Believe it or not the thinnest oil that you can use is always best.The viscosity difference between the two mentioned at operating temp is enough to cause a rise in oil temp.Sounds funky I know.Do some research,google is a good place to start.You will be amazed at what you find out about oil.