# Is it ok to use 5w-30 when Ford wants 5w-20? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [March 14, 2009, 9:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-it-ok-to-use-5w-30-when-ford-wants-5w-20/27769 "2009-03-14T21:24:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sutherfam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c2a13f/32.png) [@Sutherfam](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Sutherfam)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2009, 9:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-it-ok-to-use-5w-30-when-ford-wants-5w-20/27769/1 "2009-03-14T21:24:46Z")
I needed to change my oil so I went to the store to purchase my 0w-20 or 5w-20 AMSOIL, but they didn?t have either. They did, however, have plenty of 5w-30 AMSOIL. So I put that in. Did I make a bad choice? ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2009, 9:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-it-ok-to-use-5w-30-when-ford-wants-5w-20/27769/2 "2009-03-14T21:35:17Z")
It’s Ok. 5w-30 oil is an acceptable alternative when 5w-20 oil isn’t available. Tester ---
**Author:** ![waterboy](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/waterboy/32/764_2.png) [@waterboy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/waterboy)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2009, 9:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-it-ok-to-use-5w-30-when-ford-wants-5w-20/27769/3 "2009-03-14T21:39:58Z")
I use castrol and in my ancient years decided to have a shop do an oil change, I asked about having castrol 5w\_20, and they said we just use 10w\_30, So I said thanks, but in my mind no thanks and did it myself. I think if the oil change place cannot provide the oil specified in the manual you need to find another place. As tester said I don’t think it will be a problem either, but in my mind if it says to use ‘A’ why take the chance and use ‘B’ ---
**Author:** ![FoDaddy](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/fodaddy/32/717_2.png) [@FoDaddy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/FoDaddy)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2009, 9:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-it-ok-to-use-5w-30-when-ford-wants-5w-20/27769/4 "2009-03-14T21:49:54Z")
It’s okay. Before 5W-20 was widely available even Ford dealerships were substituting 5W-30 for 5W-20. ---
**Author:** ![bloody\_knuckles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@bloody\_knuckles](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bloody_knuckles)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2009, 12:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-it-ok-to-use-5w-30-when-ford-wants-5w-20/27769/5 "2009-03-15T12:58:29Z")
It’s OK until you have to make a warranty claim. If the manual doesn’t spec 5W-30 then I wouldn’t use it. ---
**Author:** ![Caddyman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/caddyman/32/23_2.png) [@Caddyman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Caddyman)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2009, 5:52pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-it-ok-to-use-5w-30-when-ford-wants-5w-20/27769/6 "2009-03-15T17:52:44Z")
Personally, I would PREFER 5-30 during the summer months… ---
**Author:** ![Sutherfam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c2a13f/32.png) [@Sutherfam](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Sutherfam)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2009, 6:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-it-ok-to-use-5w-30-when-ford-wants-5w-20/27769/7 "2009-03-15T18:11:41Z")
Being that it is March, my timing is good.