Hello, I just changed my oil in my 2013 Ford Fusion. Owners manual calls for 5W-30.
I asked the clerk at the auto parts store for the filter and oil and he gave me 0W-20 instead of 5W-20. I have not drove it yet. Two questions….
Should I drain it and refill it with the 5W?
If I don’t drain and refill now. Can I drive, let’s say, 500-1000 miles before I do so and not damage the engine. My guts says take the hit now drain it tomorrow and refill.
Should I drain it and refill it with the 5W?
If I don’t drain and refill now. Can I drive, let’s say, 500-1000 miles before I do so and not damage the engine. My guts says take the hit now drain it tomorrow and refill.
-W is the oil weight when the engine is cold. 0-weight oil is very runny, but it's not necessarily a bad thing if you live in an exceptionally cold area. Thinner oil flows to the top of the engine better than a 5-weight oil.
Once the engine is fully warmed up, the oil behaves differently. At the engine's operating temperature, 20 stands for 20-weight oil.
You should probably change your oil again, though. 20-weight oil is slightly thinner than the factory recommended 30-weight oil (you didn’t specify what engine or mileage your car has on it, please specify next time).
Based on my prior experience with Fords, your engine is more than likely an EcoBoost I4. EcoBoost engines have turbochargers and they require thicker oil to help wick away heat coming from the turbocharger more effectively. Using thinner oil increases thermal loads on the turbo. It won't break itself right away if you don't immediately change it, but I wouldn't drive that car very hard while it has 20-weight oil in it. Stick to the factory recommended 30-weight oil.
