Engine Oil

[FRANK ATHERTON]

My Mondeo handbook says use 5W-20 engine oil. I live in Spain and can only seem to find 5W-30 oil. Is this OK to use?

[Guy Heaton]

If I recall correctly it might even be better as Spain is a hotter climate.

[oilman]

On 2/23/2021 at 10:38 AM, FRANK ATHERTON said:

My Mondeo handbook says use 5W-20 engine oil. I live in Spain and can only seem to find 5W-30 oil. Is this OK to use?

What model/year is your Mondeo?

Cheers,

Guy

[Paul G.]

AFAIK the first number states the hot side viscosity and the second number if for the cold side viscosity of the oil.

Therefore, in Spain, where the climate is warmer than average in EU the higher cold side viscosity doesn't mean any harm on the motor. So you can use 5W-30 oil without any problem, just keep on eye on km's. Forget factory suggestions of fairy tale 20k km's oil life. 10k or max.15 k is the reality. 20k value is valid only for new car and highway use. In everyday use with relative short distances a day oil life is much shorter. That's all.

[Waggy]

Unless you know what you're doing, stick to exactly what is recommended in the manual. The engine will run at roughly the same temperature whether it's in Spain or the UK. If you use Castrol Magnatec to the Ford specification, you won't go far wrong. 5W-30 "probably" ok if you can't get anything else, but surely you can order a can of the correct grade online?