I am sure this has been beaten to death. Just bought a 3,5 eco boost F150 and wondering what the consensus is for engine oil. Motorcraft semi synthetic?

 

"Synthetic" is not a motor oil performance specification, it is a marketing designator for method of manufacture. There is no performance standard the oil must meet over and above that of any other oil to be sold as "synthetic". Just have to use "accepted synthetic processes" in manufacture.

Motorcraft oils are excellent, and excellent value. Ford is motivated to produce oils which make Ford engines run better and last longer.

Consult your owner's manual for the Ford WSS spec for oil in your engine. Chose an oil meeting this spec. At one time the standard Mobil-1 did not but Mobil-1 EP did. Others say they are very pleased with Walmart SuperTech oils, and yet others say Costco's Kirkland oil pushes all the right buttons.

 

Ford changed filter and oil, and more, since I purchased my truck new in 2011. The present recommended oil in particular was created to improve timing chain life and prevent low speed predetonation. That’s something every 3.5l ecoboost owner might like to know.

My owner’s manual is dated and certainly does not reflect current recommended oil or filter, (and more). Better to check for the latest information.

Yes, Motorcraft filters and fluids are used to maintain mine.

2011XLT Screw 4x4 3.5l 3.55LS 163k miles

 

No reason to use semi over full synthetic. Motorcraft should now be the new GF6 standard (which you really want in the Ecoboost) and any of the top brands are too, Penzoil platinum, Castrol Edge etc.

 

Technically, Ford isn’t in the petroleum refining business, but they do source their oils out to ConocoPhillips from what I could see.

Their (Ford Motor Company) motivation is profit and not having CAFE and the EPA nickel and dime them (and the major stockholders) over missed fuel efficiency targets. Hence, why their vehicles will leave the factory with 5w-20, but 5w-30 is suggested for use in the case of a typical 3.5 Eco F150 for “severe duty”.

 

Agree with all this ^^. However, I think
that all ecoboost recommended oil viscosity is 5w-30. Even read the 5.0 is now 5w-30 since 2020.

 

Yes, Ecoboosts have always been 5w30. Only the 5.0 was 5w20, and correct, for the '21 model year, after introducing cylinder deactivation, they moved to 5w30 in the 5.0, matching the specification for the same engine in Aus from several years ago.

 

If I'm not mistaken, when the 3.5L EB very first came out, Ford was using 5W-20 oil in it. Ford very quickly realized that was a mistake, and changed to 5W-30. Of course the 1.5L EB "sewing machine" in my 2018 Fusion still calls for 5W-20 oil.

 

Could that have been a bit different 3.5l engine used in other lighter than F150 applications?

3.5l Ecoboost engine was first sold in 2011 F150s.

The owner’s manual in my ‘11 was printed December of 2010. It says to use 5w-30 in the 3.5l Ecoboost. So does the oil fill cap on the engine.

 

The 3.5L EB was put in other vehicles in Ford products before it before put it in the F150.