I am just woundering if anyone can help me with this one. My car a 1.25 fiesta zetec is due an oil change very shortly and was woundering which oil is the best for engine protection and fuel economy. Motorcraft 5w30 OR Castrol GTX Magnatec 5w30.
Also while we are on the subject of oil, Are the gearbox's really sealed for life or would it not hurt if i changed the gearbox oil while i am at it. What Gearbox oil do they recommend. Also what are the benifits of changing the gearbox oil. The car is only 5 years old and has got 32000 miles on the clock.
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Either of those oils would be great, IIRC the Motorcraft oil is the Ford dealer stuff and it has a good name, even the most obsessive drivers on Mondeo.org seem to swear by it, and it's cheap. But equally Magnatec has a good name and may be useful if you do a lot of cold starts...
The most important thing (and I know that I'm preaching to the converted!) is that you're using the 5W30, I think too many people use 10W40 and then wonder why their Zetec engine isn't working anymore!
Can't help with the gearbox I'm afraid except to say that changing the oil made a noticeable difference to my old MK3 Fiesta which was N reg, this was about 18 months ago.
Blue
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Without doubt use the Motorcraft oil. It is made by Texaco, is a semi synthetic. Personally I have yet to be convinced of the 'magnatec, bit.
Andrew
Simplicate and add lightness!
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Can anyone inform me how much is the MotorCraft 5w30?
I believe Castrol Mag 5w30 is around 20 pounds per 4.5 litre.
Thanks,
Garrison
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Motorcraft ain't that expensive, I would recommend buying it directly from your local Ford dealer, it's only about £15 I think...
Blue
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If one is handy to you I'd take the car to a Ford Rapidfit Centre - they'll use the correct oil, you won't get your hands dirty and the cost will be marginally more than the price you will pay for the oil - I think I paid about £20 for an oil and filter change on a Fiesta a few years ago. They'll also advise you about the gearbox situation.
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Gazza
Ford Part Number for 'Formula E 5w 30' is: 1212636 and retails at £21.51 inc VAT.
Make sure you get this part number as the specification was improved to 'API SL' a little while ago and you may get fobbed off with old stock that was API SJ.
HTH
Charles
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Charles
I wouldn't get too woried about getting SL on the can. The SL spec's only been about for a while, and these tend to follow the oil developments, rather than lead them. Most decent brands meeting API SJ will probably be capable of meeting SL anyway, it's just that they haven't been formally tested. It's a bit like the suddden appearance of oils meeting VW 501 spec. I wouldn't worry in the least if it says SJ on the can. These days, most European makers recommend oils to the ACEA specs, rather than the American API specs.
Regards
John S
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JohnS
Trying not to labour a point but the later spec Ford oil also complies to a later Ford Specication WSS-MC2913-B.
There's no difference in the pricing but I thought I'd point out to the Forum that the specification had changed.
Regards
Charles
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Charles
Yes, fair point that the spec number has changed. All I was saying was that if anyone has, or buys, the older SJ oil, don't panic - it's perfectly good, and no reason to get concerned about using it.
Regards
John S
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Our local ford dealer has Formula E on offer at the moment at less than £10/5 litre.
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jc,
Whereabouts are you? At that price I would travel a few miles and get some stock in ! Seriously !
Adam
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Personally I have yet to be convinced of the \'magnatec, bit.
Glad it\'s not just me! Assuming it\'s based on some sort of magnetic property, how does that help in a largely aluminium engine?
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Assuming it's based on some sort of magnetic property....
I think it actually bonds molecularly to metals, rather than by magnetism.
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If the oil had magnetic properties and did exactly what it says on the tin, you could never get the fluffy dicing stuff out!
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all oil bonds molecularly: how else does it work?
BBB is in evidence in much oil advertising.
madf
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Thanks chaps for the information on the oil which i am going to do myself how about some information on the gearbox oil.
More information would be greatly appricated.
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Can't help with the gearbox bit I'm afraid.
But looking at the prices for the oil, it actually is cheaper to get Rapidfit to do the oil change (they only use Ford Forumla E 5W30) than buy it and do it yourself. Our local Rapidfit charges £20 to do an oil and filter change...
The oil alone looks likely to cost you more than that and then theres the filter to buy.
Blue
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My local Ford crew use Shell Helix 5W 30 when servicing.
PP
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Ford dealers are allowed to use whatever oil they like provided it meets the Ford spec.In the same way,there is no requirement on them to use Ford spares as long as they are prepared to match the Ford warranty.
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I have been doing all changes on my 1.25 with:
"Chevron Supreme 100% Synthetic 5W-30 Motor Oil
This is the preferred viscosity grade of U.S. automobile manufacturers. It exceeds the requirements of API SJ and ILSAC GF-2."
or so it says on the tin.
You can get it for £11.75 from Costco. Not bad for fully synthetic. Used it for last 4 years and engine never missed a beat. Rocker box look like new inside.
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I thought they are 5w40 in Costco because I've been using it on my QX.
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Personally I have yet to be convinced of the 'magnatec, bit.
>>Glad it's not just me! Assuming it's based on some sort of magnetic property, how does that help in a largely aluminium engine?
It may be aluminium casings but the main friction parts are all steel or chromed steel. Rings, pots, valves etc...
Edited by mawds on 05/01/2009 at 12:28
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