Oil Analysis for 10k mi interval, '23 Hybrid XLT

[AVC]

This is my first OCI since buying the truck with 5k miles on it, back in January. Just clocked 15k mi, and the 5w-20 (might actually be 0w-20) from the Ford dealership had 10,100 mi on it. Oil life was at 26%. Had a Ford filter.

As I am in North Texas, I replaced the oil w/ Kirkland 5w-30 synthetic, to see if I can lower the already excellent wear metal number. Also need to check the air filter to see if it is ingesting some dirt (silicon #).

Here are the results from SpeedDiagnostix

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[The Real Maverick]

Gee....

Do you think you should FOLLOW CAP DIRECTIONS and add 0W20?

I don't think your truck will blow up.
But wear could be GREATER with this oil and MPG 0.51427 lower.

Thanks for being THE Guinea PiG to see if this is harmful or not.

Good luck!

 

[AVC]

Well, the cap viscosity is always a compromise value for the variety of operating conditions where the vehicle is sold, and of course however Ford reacts to pressure from CAFE. Is 0W20 optimal for *my* Maverick, in *my* operating conditions? Maybe. Maybe not. Fortunately, I can be data driven here, rather than speculation based on superstition, guessing, anecdotal reports, etc.

I do *know* that Ford 0w20 (probably) and very likely other SN-Plus/GF6A rated 0w20 performs quite well for 10k miles in my truck, and I could continue using that viscosity in confidence. Will 5w30 be better, worse or the same? Time and data will tell.

My seat of the pants impression with 5w30 is that the engine is slightly quieter than on 0w20. No material change of MPG during 3/4 tank on 5W30, nor detectable difference in power.

 

[inline_five]

Well, the cap viscosity is always a compromise value for the variety of operating conditions where the vehicle is sold, and of course however Ford reacts to pressure from CAFE. Is 0W20 optimal for *my* Maverick, in *my* operating conditions? Maybe. Maybe not. Fortunately, I can be data driven here, rather than speculation based on superstition, guessing, anecdotal reports, etc.

I do *know* that Ford 0w20 (probably) and very likely other SN-Plus/GF6A rated 0w20 performs quite well for 10k miles in my truck, and I could continue using that viscosity in confidence. Will 5w30 be better, worse or the same? Time and data will tell.

My seat of the pants impression with 5w30 is that the engine is slightly quieter than on 0w20. No material change of MPG during 3/4 tank on 5W30, nor detectable difference in power.

Being in TX and moving into the winter months, I would've for sure gone with 0W-20 but that is just me.

The 2.5l has been around for a long time and many people have hundreds of thousands of miles on them using 0W-20 and 5W-20. I actually pondered why Ford moved to 0W-20 a few days ago and received this as a response, which makes total sense:

No, the thinner oil is specified because in normal driving conditions the hybrid starts the engine at least 10x as much as a gas-only engine. The hybrid engine is essentially cold or cooler in normal operation a lot more than other engine types. It also preloads the oil pressure before starting up. Getting lubrication as fast as possible when starting is the most critical component of engine wear, and there is not a lot of wear occurring when an engine is running.

Keep in mind Ford spec'd an alternative oil for the Ecoboost if operating in colder weather (below -20°F), but for the hybrid they did not. This tells me they are confident in the oil choice made.

The 2016, 2019 etc Escape (just as an example) came with the 2.5l (non-hybrid) as well and spec's 5W-20, not 5W-30.

The current gen escape hybrid has a very similar powertrain similar to the Maverick 2.5l and spec's 0W-20.

Per Ford's manual:

Use oil that meets the defined specification and viscosity grade.
If you do not use oil that meets the defined specification and viscosity grade, it could result in:

• Component damage that your vehicle warranty does not cover.
• Longer engine cranking periods.
• Increased emission levels.
• Reduced vehicle performance.
• Reduced fuel economy.

In summary if you were going to use any different oil, I would personally use 5W-20 and not 5W-30.

I understand your concern about engine wear and personally share it, as in "how thin is too thin for oil these days" and I'm sure mfg's have spec'd lighter weight oils to help with MPG. However, if properly designed this does not seem to be a long term issue at all.

For some light reading, here is someone who did an 8000 mile OCI on Motorcraft 0W-20 and a Motorcraft FL-910S filter:

2021 Ford Escape Hybrid - Motorcraft 0/20 FS - 8355 Miles | BobIsTheOilGuy

Basically zero wear.

 

[AVC]

You made my argument; for 0w20 or 5w20, vs 5w30, an immaterial to zero difference in viscosity for cold/cool ambient/operating, but a notable difference--I'm assuming beneficial until the next analysis-- in viscosity for hot ambient/operating, where my Mav spends the majority of its time. 5W is objectively plenty thin for NTX.

As for getting oil to all the bits in a timely fashion, it's a positive displacement pump, so it produces (in practice) the same volume of oil per rotation, for any commonly available gas engine oil. Whether it uses slightly more energy to do so for higher viscocities, for sure.

 

[AVC]

For some light reading, here is someone who did an 8000 mile OCI on Motorcraft 0W-20 and a Motorcraft FL-910S filter:

2021 Ford Escape Hybrid - Motorcraft 0/20 FS - 8355 Miles | BobIsTheOilGuy

Basically zero wear.

Very different operating conditions from mine. While his wear metric is a spectacular 1.8 ppm/1000 mi, mine is a good, but possibly not optimized 5.1 ppm/1000 mi. I aim to improve upon that.

 

[AVC]

Also noted his Silicon ppm are higher, like mine. Would like to see that improved as well.

 

[2lbgill]

This is my first OCI since buying the truck with 5k miles on it, back in January. Just clocked 15k mi, and the 5w-20 (might actually be 0w-20) from the Ford dealership had 10,100 mi on it. Oil life was at 26%. Had a Ford filter.

As I am in North Texas, I replaced the oil w/ Kirkland 5w-30 synthetic, to see if I can lower the already excellent wear metal number. Also need to check the air filter to see if it is ingesting some dirt (silicon #).

Here are the results from SpeedDiagnostix

And who knows how much is just oil pan sludge from mfg. Too many variables..

 

[inline_five]

Also noted his Silicon ppm are higher, like mine. Would like to see that improved as well.

Silicon normally comes from dirty air or in newer motors with the assembly lube/sealers used. It’s not a result of wear.

https://www.blackstone-labs.com/the-silicon-bugaboo/

 

[AVC]

Silicon normally comes from dirty air or in newer motors with the assembly lube/sealers used. It’s not a result of wear.

https://www.blackstone-labs.com/the-silicon-bugaboo/

The air filter was spotless, no tears. Will see if silicon drops over time.

 

[inline_five]

The air filter was spotless, no tears. Will see if drops over time.

Not sure how good Motorcrwft filters are but apparently the Wix line is really good according to Project Farm.

All the talk of oil but honestly a non-premium air filter contributes a lot to wear.

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