5w-20 oil by mistake.

[redneck21]

2 weeks ago i was at the store to get oil and i picked up the wrong bottle instead of the 15-w30(for the summer) i graped the 5w-20 should i go out and change this tonight or can i weight till the week end and could this have messed up anything i drove about 500 or so miles with the 5w-20 and new filter. At least it was motorcraft synthetic blend

 

[CDW6212R]

Be assured that no harm has been done. The use of a synthetic or synthetic blend oil is far more important than the viscosity. Today's oil is far better than those of twenty years ago.

The only places that viscosity matters is in extremely cold or hot temperatures. Between about zero to 100 any very high quality oil is fine, from a 0W-30 to a 20W-50. Try to use what is recommended yes, but don't worry if you chose a different weight of oil by accident. The lower weights are all more common now due to the high quality oils. Now even a quality 0W-20 can be fine for most hot climates. That wouldn't have been wise twenty years ago. Regards,

 

[Blacksheep Josh]

you can wait till the end of the week. just don't go hauling ass around town. so 3 weeks with 5w-20? it's very doubtful any damage has occured, because it's still relatively new oil, and it's still lubricating like the 5w-30 would, it's not a DRASTIC difference.

so just don't put the engine under to much stress, you'll be good. hope this helps

 

[redneck21]

Ya i was thinking the same may but just wanted to be 100% sure. I was think it would be about the same as 10 or 15W that had gone a few K. I still need to flush the oil with some seafoam i forgot last time but glade it can wait a week or 2.

 

[Black92LX]

just so you know Ford released a TSB that actually suggests you use 5w20.

I do and have no problems plus Wal-Mart Carries the 5 quart jug for 10.50. can't beat that
http://www.ford-trucks.com/tsb/fulltext/show_article.php?tsb=02-1-9

 

[dynamite196]

It is highly unlikely you caused any damage under daily driving conditions using the 5w20. As far as using the 20w according to the TSB, I'm skeptical to say the least. The 20 weight may be okay in the smaller engines listed (4 cylinder, 2 liter for example) but it's definitely not a good idea in a 4 liter V6 that lugs around an SUV. As pointed out in the bulletin, the thinner oil saves gas how much gas is the question. A whopping 1% according to some studies, is that worth losing thousands of miles off the life of your engine, not quite. Synthetic is a whole different ball game. Basically it only helps you at extreme hot and cold temps as was mentioned, it's also slightly more resistant to viscosity break down which is the main reason you can extend your oil change intervals on synthetic. IMO under daily driving conditions you're still better off using a high quality dyno oil and changing it at 3000 miles then using the synthetic and stretching it to 4500 miles. There are exceptions to this, mainly towing or if you live in a really hot climate (i.e phoenix), however these are considered extreme conditions and should have the oil change intervals adjusted accordingly. In these conditions the synthetic is able to significantly outperform regular oils and is strongly recommended. here's a link to a great oil article, some great stuff in there about filters too that I'd highly recommend reading http://www.calsci.com/motorcycleinfo/Oils1.html

 

[redneck21]

Thanks guys ill be going back to the 15w next week with it being summer time it's 90+ 5w should be fine but i want to be safe it's on $10 buck.

 

[CDW6212R]

... slightly more resistant to viscosity break down which is the main reason you can extend your oil change intervals on synthetic. ...

Synthetic oil is extremely more resistant to viscosity breakdown. Amsoil with the Amsoil filter is good for one year or 25,000 miles. In severe duty it's good for 12,500 miles. I went to 11,800 the first time in my SOHC Explorer, no oil loss, still full. At about $55 per year for one oil change, that's a big labor savings, plus a little money. Now the fuel savings, could that be worth it, ask a few others watching their mileage go up.

Cheap plain regular oil should be changed every 3000 miles, but the air filter is more important. 99% of all oil contaminants come from dirt which gets past the air filter. Buy the best air filter you can.