This is the first car I have owned that required this ultralight oil. I search google and found Mobil 1 recommends their 0W-20 instead. I have 350 miles and am just about ready to do my first change. That light of an oil seems odd to me. I guess the later Honda and Ford cars have been that way for a couple of years?

 

3500 or 350? 350 is too soon, imo.

I would wait till at least 1k. This is my usual break in procedure:

1k break in
3k 1st oil change
10k Mobil1 synthetic

Worked on my Focus and Jetta.

 

The Tribute, and any other engine that uses the current Ford based Duratec V6 (MPV, 6), use 5W-20 oil. I heard the new 3 would be using it as well. It has slightly less viscosity that the 5W-30, and thus provides better mileage at highway speeds. Castrol makes a good 5W-20. I currently use Amsoil Series 2000 5W-20 in my 03 Protege. Works great.

 

ehhhh, all new fords use that, its not for fuel economy, its because of the tolerances in the engine, and seriously DONT change the oil for the first 5k, other wise that engine will burn oil like a saturn at 50thousand miles

 

Obviously, you know nothing mazprotojoke. The rest of your posts on this board show that. Fine particles rubbed off by friction from leftover machining during assembly are inside the oil. Plenty of engine rebuliders have told me that it is always good to change the engine oil at least by its first 1000 miles, new or rebuilt. They have disagreed on oil change intervals after that, but all agree by the first 1000 miles.
By the way Ford and Honda have both specifically stated that the rise in 5W-20 use is because of the increase in cruising (highway) fuel economy. Before you open you mouth and dismiss stuff with an "ehhhh", check your facts newbie.

 

test

 

Ok then.

The 5w20 and 0WXX oils that have been in vogue the last few years are the result of CAFE standards. CAFE=corporate average fuel economy. North American car sellers are under heavy pressure from congress to increase their CAFE. These thinner oils enable them to scrape out a mpg or two out of their cars.

This is largely a North American thing. If you look at the exact same car's owners' manual sold in Europe or Australia, you'll see 10w30, 10w40, 15w50, etc. being recommended.

However, they seem to work ok based upon some used oil analysis I've seen. But it depends on the driving one does, I guess. I wouldn't use it for heavily laden car idling in traffic at 100+ temps.

I would have no problem putting in a quality 5w30 in summer on such a car recommending 5w20.

 

<~~used to work for the largest quick lube in the SE.

5W-20 is a standard ford oil now. The new 3 is a for dproduct "somewhat". The oil is reccommended due to it's slight increase in mileage with no difference in wear characteristics.

I prefer to use 5W-20 in all of my vehicles that I do not run Royal Purple or Mobil 1. My SHO only gets Mobil1, the Mazda's only get RP and my fords only get 5W20.