Motorcraft oil is an excellent motor oil that has passed tests to become API certified and is recommended by Ford Motor Company, which is a reputable auto manufacturing brand.
Nonetheless, the engine is almost like the heart of a car, and you can’t be too careful when choosing the right engine oil. So, is Motorcraft oil good?
This article covers more about who makes Motorcraft oil, its history, types, and all you need to know about the brand.
Table of Contents
Overview About Motorcraft Oil
Motorcraft is a vehicle parts brand owned and distributed by Ford Motor Company. It was launched in 1972 as Ford’s original auto parts and spare parts brand. One of the items under the brand is Motorcraft oil.
However, it’s noteworthy that Ford does not manufacture Motorcraft oil. It is ConocoPhillips who manufacture it on their behalf. They, in turn, source their base oil from South Korean-based S-oil.
History and background of manufacturers
Here’s a bit more background about the two Motorcraft oil manufacturers, ConocoPhillips and S-oil.
- Relationship between ConocoPhillips and S-oil:
In 2002, two companies – Conoco Inc. and Phillips Petroleum company – merged to become a great oil production company, ConocoPhillips.
The company has 13 oil rigs in the USA, Great Britain, Norway, and Alaska. Additionally, it has eight refineries in the USA. ConocoPhillips manufactures Phillips 66, Conoco Motor Oil, Kendall Motor Oil, 76 oil, and Motorcraft Oil.
S-oil is a South Korean oil refinery and was formerly known as Iran-Korea Petroleum Company. It produces group III base stock oils that it ships to various companies, including ConocoPhillips.
ConocoPhillips then uses the base stock oils to produce various products, including Motorcraft oil.
Types of Motorcraft Oil
Motorcraft offers a variety of motor oils for both diesel and gasoline engines. These motor oils are tailored to suit different needs and budgets and can be categorized into different types.
1. Full synthetic oil
Synthetic oil is artificially made and is mainly petroleum-based with a mix of other chemical compounds. This is unlike conventional oil, which mostly comes from crude oil.
Motorcraft full synthetic oil is precisely manufactured to have fewer impurities and designed to perform more efficiently and predictably. Whereas synthetic oil is more expensive than conventional oil, it lasts longer in the engine, meaning you will need less oil change, and leaves less residue.
Motorcraft synthetic oils include
- SAE 0W-20 Full Synthetic Motor Oil
- SAE 5W-20 Full Synthetic Motor Oil
- SAE 5W-50 Full Synthetic Motor Oil.
2. Synthetic blend oil
While synthetic oil is artificially made in factories and conventional oil is made from crude oil, synthetic blend oil combines the two.
It boasts some of the benefits of synthetic oil but comes at a more affordable price. Motorcraft synthetic blend motor oils include SAE 10W-30 Synthetic Blend Motor Oil, SAE 5W-20 Synthetic Blend Motor Oil, and SAE 5W-30 Synthetic Blend Motor Oil.
3. Premium oil
Premium oil is known for its high performance and excellent engine protection. In essence, premium oil is presented as higher quality synthetic oil.
Motorcraft also has a premium oil – the SAE 10W-40 Premium Motor Oil.
4. Diesel engine motor oil
Even though most cars in the US use gasoline engines that use the above Motorcraft oils, Motorcraft still provides engine oil suitable for diesel engines. Here are some Motorcraft diesel engine motor oils:
- Motorcraft SAE 10W-30 F-150 Diesel Motor Oil
- Motorcraft SAE 10W-30 Super Duty Diesel Motor Oil
- Motorcraft SAE 15W-40 Super Duty Diesel Motor Oil
- Motorcraft SAE 5W-30 F-150 Diesel Motor Oil
- Motorcraft SAE 5W-40 Full Synthetic Diesel Motor Oil
- Meets WSS-M2C171-F1
Motorcraft Oil Features
Below are some of the features that you can expect from Motorcraft oil.
1. Product formula
As much as Motorcraft cannot declare the secret formula for making their products, the base oils for their motor oil are 100% synthetic. Also, Motorcraft motor oil is manufactured with a high viscosity index.
And apart from being Ford tested and approved, the motor oil is also API certified and meets API SP/Resource conserving.
It is of high quality and designed to perform well under high and low temperatures, preventing high-temperature oxidation and low-temperature gelling. It also leaves fewer engine deposits and wear and protects against foaming and rust corrosion.
2. Distance coverage
Several factors can affect the mileage that should be covered between oil changes when you use Motorcraft engine oil. These include driving style, type of road mostly used, etc.
However, under normal circumstances, Motorcraft oil should last 7,500-15,000 miles before needing an oil change.
3. Viscosity
Motorcraft motor oils have different viscosity grades. For example, the Ford Motorcraft oil 5W-30 viscosity is
- cSt @100℃ = 11.1
- cSt @40℃ = 66.2
- Cold crank viscosity @-30℃ = 5,832
While the 10W-30 synthetic blend motor oil viscosity is
- cSt @100℃ = 10.4
- cSt @40℃ = 69
- Cold crank viscosity @-30℃ = 5900
The Motorcraft oil’s viscosity applies to different weather conditions as recommended by FCSD (Ford Customer Service Division). For instance
- SAE 15W-40 for temperatures above -7℃ (20℉)
- SAE 0W-30 or 0W-40 for temperatures above -40℃ (40℉)
- SAE 5W-40 or 0W-40 for temperatures above -29℃ (-20℉)
4. Cost
The prices of the Motorcraft motor oils differ depending on the type you choose and where you get it, but most range around $4 to $5.9 per quart.
5. Motorcraft oil quality
Motorcraft has one of the finest engine oils; and is API certified. They have undergone numerous tests to prove they offer adequate protection for your car’s engine.
Especially if you drive a Ford, the additives that consolidate the synthetic oils are tested for Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury and ensure optimal performance for those engines.
As much as Motorcraft oil can also be used for other vehicle brands, there are better alternatives that have been proven to work better. However, that does not dilute the fact that Motorcraft has some top-quality engine oils.
Pros and Cons
Ford recommends using Motorcraft oil for their car engines as they have tested it and concluded that it’s the right product.
Aside from the Ford recommendations, car users and other reviewers give the following as pros and cons of using Motorcraft oil:
- The Motorcraft synthetic blend oil offers a cheaper alternative with some advantages associated with synthetic oil.
- Protects the engine from excessive friction and the wear and tear of the components while minimizing engine deposits. This prevents engine damage.
- It lasts longer, so you will not have to worry about frequent oil changes. For example, you can last up to six months before an oil change when using Motorcraft compared to the recommended three months when using conventional oil.
- Prevents high-temperature oxidation, thickening, and deposits left by the turbocharger.
- Protects against corrosion, rust, and foaming.
- Formulated to prevent gelling in low-temperature conditions.
- Less prone to deterioration.
- Costlier than some similar products that are of a higher quality.
- Hard to disintegrate and, therefore, difficult to dispose of and might cause pollution upon improper disposal.
Comparison With Other Brands
Each manufacturer has their trade secrets, and it is usually hard to find even two different engine oils garnering identical scores after testing how well they protect the engine.
These tests include cold cranking viscosity, four-ball wear, high-temperature performance, and pour point.
But, after extensive tests, the motor oil that has been found to perform almost at par with Motorcraft synthetic blend oil is the Chevron Supreme motor oil.
And while Motorcraft performs better than other competitors, it performs poorly compared to Penzoil, which beats it for cold testing, evaporation, and friction tests.
Conclusion
Motorcraft oil is a good brand, recommended and distributed by Ford, which is a credible and well-established car manufacturer. It has passed tests by the Society of Automotive Engines and is established to be great for optimal engine performance.
It also protects against engine damage by preventing rust corrosion, foaming, and other factors caused by low and high temperatures.
Additionally, Motorcraft oil reviews by car enthusiasts and mechanics are mostly positive.
So, the next time you want to know your engine oil and wonder, “Is Motorcraft oil good?” just refer to this detailed guide.
Working with Vernon and Ryley has been a great experience for me. Together with the rest of the team, I hope to create reliable and useful information for our readers, no matter where they are and their experience with car maintenance.
