Motor Oil

[Peter Stahl]

Does anyone know who makes Motorcraft oil. I used to buy MC 5W/20 for my Wife's Ford Escape and the only place I knew I could get it from was Walmart and they stopped carrying it. Didn't do a lot of shopping there but did get my oil and filters there.

thanks, Pete

[Rob Russell]

Motorcraft is Ford's factory label. You can get it at an Ford, Mercury or Lincoln dealer.

My question would be - why? I'd just use another good quality oil. Buying the MC brand at a dealer is going to cost more than the other brands of oil and it's just oil that Ford buys from someone and has bottled.

[David LaRue]

Rob,

As an x factory rep, I can attest to the fact that not all oils are the same. Ford does has a leading oil company make their oil for them to their very exacting specs. While it is under warranty I would recommend that you only use the weight and brand the manufacturer recommends, and keep reciepts. My vehicle warranty actually specifies the brand and type of oil I must use to maintain my warranty. my.02

David







Motorcraft is Ford's factory label. You can get it at an Ford, Mercury or Lincoln dealer.

My question would be - why? I'd just use another good quality oil. Buying the MC brand at a dealer is going to cost more than the other brands of oil and it's just oil that Ford buys from someone and has bottled.

[David LaRue]

Pete,

Holman ford has a $24.95 oil change special. <TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top><TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top>Up to 5 quarts of Motocraft 5W-20 or 5W-30 oil</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top>http://www.couponbuilder.com/coupondatafiles/images/default/sqbullet.gif Lubricate chassis</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top>http://www.couponbuilder.com/coupondatafiles/images/default/sqbullet.gif Check and fill (where applicable</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top>http://www.couponbuilder.com/coupondatafiles/images/default/sqbullet.gif Brake fluid</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top>http://www.couponbuilder.com/coupondatafiles/images/default/sqbullet.gif Power steering fluid</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD><TD vAlign=top><TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top>http://www.couponbuilder.com/coupondatafiles/images/default/sqbullet.gif Replace oil filter with Motorcraft filter</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top>http://www.couponbuilder.com/coupondatafiles/images/default/sqbullet.gif Clean windshield</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top>http://www.couponbuilder.com/coupondatafiles/images/default/sqbullet.gif Radiator coolant</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top>http://www.couponbuilder.com/coupondatafiles/images/default/sqbullet.gif Transmission fluid</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top>http://www.couponbuilder.com/coupondatafiles/images/default/sqbullet.gif windshield washer fluid</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
http://www.couponbuilder.com/cgibin/allcoupondisplayA.pl?dealer=Holman_Ford

Note: No affliiation

[Randy Meijer]

...My vehicle warranty actually specifies the BRAND and type of oil I must use to maintain my warranty...DavidI didn't think car builders could do that???

[Rob Russell]

David,

I didn't say that all oils are the same - just that Ford has someone bottle oil for them. I had an interesting conversation with a friend of a cousin - the guy works for one of the major oil companies in their mixology department. His job is developing the brews based on the various additives manufacturers want. I definitely feel that all oils are not the same and only use "good" oil in our cars.

FYI, I run Mobil 1 in my wife's truck because most of her driving is short commuting to and from work and that's a high acid build-up situation. It's my understanding that the synthetic oils resist that acid buildup better than dino-oil. On mine, I run synthetic in the winter because of the better cold start lubrication and switch to a blend in the summer. Our old Mustang has straight dino-oil, because it's only run in the summer and the oil gets changed after very few miles. The pickup has dino-oil, but that's because I bought a book of oil change coupons when I bought the truck. It goes in for a oil/lube every 3 months (works out to be about every 750-1000 miles) and it cost me about $10 per oil change.

I also agree that I didn't think that a manufacturer could specify brand. Performance specs yes, but not "you must use X brand of oil".

Rob

[David LaRue]

You are right; typically manufacturers cannot specify the brand, but rather their specification (API, SH or SJ), and weight. Mercedes had a class action lawsuit against them for oil sludge with conventional oils. So they switched mid stream (after the warranty booklets went out) to synthetic oil and increased the warranty against sludge to 150k, and sent me a $35 certificate for my next synthetic oil change. This morning, I went back to my letters I received and looked it up, and you are right they did say 'recommend' and ‘suggest’ Mobil 1, Valvoline, Castrol, and Shell synthetic sorry for the miss-statement. :o

[Jim O'Dell]

[QUOTE=David LaRue]Pete,

Holman ford has a $24.95 oil change special. <TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 width="100%"

Hi all.
I work at a Lincoln/Mercury dealership. We charge 17.95 for what David shows in his post. Part of those items are on the sheet for Ford's Quality Care Maintenance check that is free. It also checks the brakes, tires, hoses, adjusts tire pressure, and several things I'm missing. It's a great deal. (Up until we were bought out about 2 ears ago, we did all of this at $9.95!!!! We still have people coming in wanting that deal.) Jim.

[Peter Stahl]

Thanks for the reply's. I forgot to mention that I was cheep too. I was getting the MC oil for $1.75 a quart and the Escape takes 5-1/2 quarts. I think Autozone might have it, I'll have to stop there and check it out. Also I like doing my own, don't like waiting around at the dealer and don't trust the speedy lube places.

[Matt Meiser]

Around here, Walmart usually has Penzoil 5W20 in quarts. Last time I bought Catrol because they were out of Penzoil. The Castrol came in a 5qt jug as well as quarts. We have an 01 Taurus and an 05 Freestar that both take 5W20. Most places around here want $35+ for an oil change if the car uses 5W20. None of the Ford dealers that are convenient have quick oil change, or free loaners, so it becomes an ordeal to have them do it.