craig_southampton

i want do change the oil in my focus 1.8 petrol and ive got loads of elf 5/40 that ive had for a while i no its meant to have 5/30 but do u think 5/40 would be ok. it done 112,000 miles if that makes any diffrence thanks.

tabetha

My dads mondy runs 5w40, and has done since it was mine and I fully rebuilt the engine(damaged repairable), that was round 40,000 miles ago, haven't noticed any problem in 5 years or so.
tabetha

craig_southampton

is that silver top or black to zetec?

Lord Melbury

5/40 will be fine young man, drive with confidence.

tommytxr

it will be fine on that m8

STeve

iTrader: (11)

zetecs run on 5/30, the end

Lord Melbury

Well, I'd concur if we were talking about a factory fresh example, but this specimen appears to have covered a considerable distance, I'm not alluding to young Craig's Focus being worn out, just pointing out that the clearances would've increased as a matter of course, thus making the manufacturers recommendations slightly obsolete in this instance.

At least with 5/40 there will still be the benefits of a lower viscosity start up from cold, which you must agree most of the wear occurs on a normal combustion engine.

No, I'm afraid I'd disagree with the rather sweeping statement that these Zetecs have to be lubricated their entire service life by the same specification oil all it's service life, with no scope for a slight viscosity increase.

Melbury.

pani_k

iTrader: (1)

Why should it matter if its done 30,000 miles or 130,000 miles?

Putting the wrong oil in is why engines go pop or run like a sack of shit with problems.

zetec-Sam

iTrader: (2)

I know people who run 5w30 ford spec. on engines over 100,000 miles, and they're fine. Our Sierra was run on it for over 120,000miles and was fine (shame the rest gave up )

Lord Melbury

Once again I'll have to disagree if I may be so bold.

By the very nature of the reciprocating parts of the engine wearing thus increasing the clearances the same oil specifications will become less & less applicable to an application that they were recommended for when the said engine was new, or "tight" if you prefer.

Now let us consider the same engines recommended oil in warmer climate where the ambient temperatures are far greater- the oil specified tends to a tad "heavier"

Like wise in colder climates, oils of a "thinner" nature are used.

So you see, my friend, there is more to this oil game than meets the eye, it's far more fluid than you'd think ( sorry, bad pun)

Melbury

tabetha

Rubbish, there are many reasons why engines go pop wrong oil is amazingly rarely one of them.
My own cossie used the WRONG oil for 200,973 miles, ie some on comma mineral 20W50 towards the end, never ever on fords 5W30 which is what ford say, this will cause it damage if used hard due to oil film breakdown.
The reason why ford say 5W30 is nothing more exciting than sales patter, when tested officially for MPG figures thinner oil causes less drag and ups mpg by an amazingly small amount, the same reason why ford used ATF in some gearboxes of test cars but stated these must be run on MTF.

Oh incidentally my engine that didn't go pop is still on the std crank size big ends and mains, despite 200,000 miles and now rebuilt is using the 200,000 old thrust bearings, presumably 200K from a cossie engine is not very good then, must be due to the wrong oil ?
Last mot test emissions were 0.97% CO and 137PPM, nothing adjusted for test to get car through this is what it was running all the time with perfection and 40+mpg could be had at times.
I can cast iron guarantee you put the stated 5W30 in a cossie and give it a seriously good kicking it will wear massively, my co needed a build as the rings were totally shagged, rings are normally first to go with prematurely worn engines at 200,000 miles.
My engine ran so "bad"(due to wrong oil ?) when opposite lock went in it, he didn't believe I hadn't switched it off in attleborough town centre, and made me rev it to show it was running.
tabetha

tabetha

Silver top.

zetec-Sam

iTrader: (2)

Tabetha, know anything about 1.6 zetec oil? lol. My engine is tappety as fuck!

STeve

iTrader: (11)

sawdust is your friend

zetec-Sam

iTrader: (2)

Don't take the piss

Big Will_

The 5W30 was essential on silvertops with hydraulic lifters, anything thicker was a potential risk for the lifters sticking open.

On the blacktops and ST170 engines, solid lifters are used and 5W30 isn't essential.

I run my own engines on whatever oil is most appropriate.