5w-20 motor oil

Vic Dura · 2005-06-19T11:13:59+00:00

I just bought a new car last month. My previous car was a 1997 modeland it specified 10w-40 motor oil, as had every car I have owned forthe past 30 years. This new car (a 2005 Ford Focus) specifies 5w-20oil. I've since found out that 5w-20 has been pretty much standard forthe past couple of years.Question: Why the apparent reduction in lubricating requirements? Ican understand that theoretically the 5w requires less power to pumpand therefor *might* result in some mileage improvement; but the hightemp reduction from 40 equivalent to 20 equivalent doesn't make senseto me. What am I missing?

Jun 19, 2005 21 Replies

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TPutmann 21 years ago

I'm still looking for some 1w1000 oil. That should work for anything.

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Joseph Meehan 21 years ago

Or nothing. It would be like water when cold and worse than tar when hot. :-)

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