Just one last correction to my first reply. It was Motorcraft 5W-20 semi-synthetic with the WSS-M2C930-A spec not 15W-20.

Some what off oil change subject

I'd like to try something thinner like Mobil 0w-20 to see what that would do to my mileage. But so far I can't find anything else to meet that Ford spec. I would hate to see the 0w-20 go shooting through my gaskets.

Used to that was one of the main advantages to running synthetic was getting to run something thinner while still getting the same protection. I had a 260e that called for 20w-50 or 5w-40 synthetic. Switching to the synthetic pushed me up from 22 mpg to about 25 mpg plus eliminated the extreme cold weather valve tap when I started it in the winter after it had been sitting outside all night at work. Cold oil takes a while to pump you know. But the difference between the two oils in sub-freezing tempatures was like comparing maple syrup to Coca-Cola. Don't know if there is as much benefit today as there used to be because there are a lot of newer cars that specify thinner regular oil.

That may be one of the reasons this Escape of mine always wants to warm up before it shuts down to run in electric only mode. A 200 mS start specification could be a little extreme with cold syrupy oil. I think the other reason might be to keep the catalytic convertor hot to minimize the other than CO2 emissions.


Back on subject. Honest...

Has anybody every been to a dealership where they didn't at least have the oil filter for the cars the sell??? I mean they shipped out all kinds of posters and brochures for the hybrid... Why not a few spare oil filters, O-rings and maybe a case of oil to celebrate the launch of a vehicle Ford could actually sell at Full Sticker? I mean a lot of Ford vehicles like the F-150 and the Explorer seem to be going for well below invoice.

Hope I don't need a transaxle somtime soon. Because according to the shop manuals the LRU (Lowest Replacable Unit) for the motor/generator/CVT/PTO is that transaxle.