haven't heard of the check valve in the ford filter, but i'll have to check this out. i have a wix filter and haven't heard any noises or had any issues.

 

This guy gets it. The same intense debate went on about 20 years ago when vehicles were switching from 10w30 recommend to 5w30, as I'm sure it did moving from 10w40. I change at 5000 mile intervals as most filters can lose integrity past that, seeing a few canister type filters deforming helped make that decision. The filter will collapse just like a partially clogged air filter does.

 

Modern engines have tighter tolerances and clearances. A thinner oil is needed to properly lubricate into these tight tolerances.

Too thick of an oil and you can oil starve a modern engine.

 

The main reason 5W-20 was specified for your engine is to increase the CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) reported to the Federal Government. CAFE is the combined average fuel economy of all of a vehicle manufacturers product line. Minimum CAFE levels are specified by the Federal Government. In order for a vehicle manufacturer to continue selling profitable large trucks and SUV's, which typically have poor fuel mileage ratings, as compared to smaller cars, and still meet mandated CAFE requirements, they must also sell enough of the smaller cars which have much better fuel economy ratings to offset the poor fuel economy ratings of the larger vehicles. For model year 2001, the change to a 5W-20 oil will allow Ford and Honda's overall CAFE to increase by a very small amount, typically in the tenths of a mile per gallon range. 5W-20 oil is a lighter viscosity than a 5W-30 oil and therefore has less internal engine frictional losses, or less drag on the crankshaft, pistons and valvetrain, which in turn promotes increased fuel economy. This increased fuel economy is virtually undetectable to the average motorist without the use of specialized engine monitoring and testing equipment under strictly controlled test track driving when compared to a 5W-30, 10W-30 or a 0W-30 viscosity motor oil.

 

This is such bullsh!t... stop it. Do you even know what "tight tolerances" they mean... no you don't... It's not that the rod bearings, mains and piston to wall are that much tighter. ... they aren't. What it means is manufacturing wise they are supposed to be more uniformly built from better equipment with more repeatability. Because of those supposed requirements you can run water consistency oil and still be blessed to build oil pressure. They tightened up their tolerance to error... You need clearance regardless to deal with with thermal expansion... that hasn't made engines suddenly need zero clearance between a bearing and a journal. Engines built 35 years ago can easily be machined with the same physical tolerances but magically they are okay to run with higher viscosity oils.... nope! The only argument I have ever seen that may present some validity is the cam phasers because depending on design oil pressure advances and retards the cam or cams. If it changes ant amount it throws the process out..... but that's it. Enough with this tight tolerance rubbish already!

 

WOW!
Tell me how you really feel.

 

I had one of my local Ford dealers refuse to install a WIX Gold filter that I'd brought in with me because it wasn't OEM. They said it did not have the right check valve......you could see the check valve if you looked inside, but that did not matter to them.
I also am constantly amazed at the claims about how "perfect" (fill in the brand name oil here) works based only on how many miles you've used it. I have never heard of an oil related engine FAILURE.....ever. You could probably run the cheapest recycled oil sold out of the back door of a wrecking yard, and your engine would not "fail" because of the oil.
Now if you want to talk about your engine seeming to start and run more quietly, or get better mpg, or as mentioned -- tearing it down and have it look new inside.....then I am all ears.

 

sterlingone, thanks for the info. the dealer might be pushing the brand or it could be totally different. the next oil change i'll change back and see if i notice a difference.

 

Oil is like religion .....

• pick one.
• stick with it and follow the regiments.
• you'll be saved (or at least OK).

 

I'm kind of a valvoline guy. Their fast and convenient, plus they have free slurpees. Do you guys think they are okay to use?