Best Oil / Filter

[JayD]

The wifes Fez has just clocked up 10 K and it seems an awful long wait to the 15 K suggested service, so I thought I might change the oil. Can someone make suggestions on the best oil in the recommended viscosity, and the filter, or should I go OEM filter?? Any input appreciated.

Ta, Jay

[kiwijohn42]

Standard ford filter should be fine. I've got a Ryco on cos ford was shut when I needed it. I use Castrol Edge Sport 5-30W oil & I wouldn't trust the dealer to know that's what it should run.
15k does seem a long time so I change mine every 7.5k. I do think the economy improves with good new oil.

[melbzetec]

Motorcraft are actually a very good filter. So stick with the OEM.

I'm not sure of the oil spec for the Fiesta. 5W-30?

I have preferred oil brands.....but basically you get what you pay for. ie a cheap oil is usually just that...cheap

[DJBOOBY]

Ryco have a no drain back valve

[zetec]

So does the Motorcraft.

[Ives]

IMO Motorcraft oil filter is pretty decent so.. just get those.

For the oil, I use Castrol EDGE 5W-30... it's much better than the oil that came with the car. 15,000km service interval is fine if you're running high-quality synthetic oil.

[AuzTurbo mk6]

I use semi synthetic penrite oil and never had any dramas with it cooking with the turbo.

[aussiblue]

Australian Ford/Motorcraft filters used to be made by Ryco before the moved off shore.
In fact historically Ryco/GUD they started out with a strong association with Ford:

See http://www.rycofilters.com.au/company

GUD Manufacturing Company commenced spin-on oil filter production in the late 1950’s. Two of the first part numbers were Z9 and Z10, both for the Ford Motor Company. The Z10 oil filter was used as original equipment on the Ford Falcon, Z9 becoming the service replacement oil filter for the same model.

See http://minimopar.knizefamily.net/oilfilterstudy.html
and
http://www.aus-cartalk.com/auspoc/techstuff.htm

for some interesting comparisons.

[aussiblue]

And from Rycco GUD Annual reports:

GUD Automotive has been recognised by Ford Motor Company as a preferred supplier and was presented the Ford Q1 Award in December, 1993 and re-certified in 1998 and 2002.
and....
GUD Automotive is an equipment contract supplier to major car companies such as Ford, GM, Nissan, Toyota, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Daihatsu and Mercedes. We are Australia's No. 1 supplier of filters to the automotive parts and accessory aftermarket.

[aussiblue]

But since GUD closed Aust and NZ manufacture and moved to outsourcing from Asia and South Africa I have been less keen about their products.

http://www.gud.com.au/downloads/pdf/ar05.pdf

GUD
announced in September 2004 that it would be ceasing
the manufacture of automotive filters in Australia in early
calendar 2005. GUD Automotive, the Group’s business
unit that supplies the market leading Ryco brand of oil,
air and fuel filters to automotive aftermarkets in Australia,
determined that to be able to compete in the future it
needed to have access to a much lower cost product.
Continuing to manufacture automotive filters in Australia
did not enable this business to generate the margins
required to ensure satisfactory future returns, hence the
decision was made to cease manufacturing and to
source products from quality-accredited offshore
suppliers....

snip------------------------------------------------


and in the summary of operations

Automotive aftermarket products:
• Ryco oil, air and fuel filters
• Wesfil and Cooper filters
• Wix heavy duty filters
• Goss fuel pumps
Closed filter manufacturing plant at
Tottenham.
Converted Ryco Australia to a full
import business.
Grew CVA return despite tough market
conditions.
Retained key housebrand contracts in
New Zealand.
Consolidate new sourcing structure
in GUD Automotive.
Support Ryco with targeted sales
and marketing programs.
Introduce new image for Ryco with
revamped packaging.
Evaluate further geographic expansion
for Wesfil.
Implement new business enterprise
system in Wesfil.

snip---------------------------------------------------


The conversion of Ryco Australia to a full import business
mirrors the strategy adopted in Sunbeam in the late
1990s and finalised with the relocation of electric blanket
manufacturing.
The final facets of Ryco Australia’s transition, following
the partial move in 2003/04, encompassed the closure
of the Tottenham oil and air filter manufacturing lines,
the identification of suitably qualified, cost-competitive
manufacturers and the establishment of product quality
assurance processes with the chosen suppliers, to
ensure that all products meet Ryco’s technical
specifications.

[Ives]

Thanks for the info, aussiblue.

[aussiblue]

GUD also own another Oz icon Victa mowers and with cheap Asian mower imports and drought driven lower mower sales (see http://www.current.com.au/news/article/AVUKDZOEWF) you can see that going offshore as well.

[robjh80]

Buy the genuine filter from Ford (Motorcraft) so there is no "issues" with your warranty if any problems should arise down the track.

I also used to use Castrol Edge Synthetic in my Fiesta and changed the oil every 5k.

[aussiblue]

You might find the GUD/Ryco warrenty better than the Ford one. see http://www.rycofilters.com.au/company/warranty

[robjh80]

Originally Posted by aussiblue

You might find the GUD/Ryco warrenty better than the Ford one. see http://www.rycofilters.com.au/company/warranty

Not sure if Ford Motor Company would see it that way though.

The genuine oil filter for the Fiesta is the Motorcraft one, if anything other than genuine one is used they "could" get difficult in the event of a warranty claim "if something untoward" were to go wrong mechanically.

Personally I would and always did stick with the genuine one, it costs about the same anyway, not like it's twice the price or something.