An update on one aspect of this posting. I've been working on a new generation of global engine which will go into several Ford family vehicles, including the British ones. I won't say anymore, except that the sponsored link between BP Castrol and Ford still exists - so they are still validating each other's products during development.

Also I wanted to bring this posting back to the top for the benefit of Singleshot54 who asked about oil grades - there's some interesting stuff in this posting.

 

Yes this thread has been very helpful. I think I will go with 10W40 as I have in all my vehicles and will use Castrol's Syntec. I do disagree with the one message that calls motor flush a waist. I have a '90 Jeep cherokee with 185K miles that when I pulled the valves cover had a really bad build up of sludge. Three oil changes later (about 8K miles) most of it was cleared up.

I do have one other question. I've been using Phram oil filters for the last 10 years with good sucess in mostly Chevy vehiles. What are the goups thoughts on oil filters.

Jack in El Paso

 

Fram oil filters. Fram is part of Honeywell (who acquired the brand name as a result of various mergers I think in the early 1990s) - other names in their Automotive division include Garrett (turbos) and Bendix (brakes) etc etc. They are a huge company and have very good development resources. They also used to manufacture for Motorcraft (same product, different paint, different box); I'm not sure of they do now. They are a good company.

Purolator were, until recently part of ArvinMeritor. I cannot comment on them because they are a US only brand, and I've never used them.

Motorcraft filters are, in general, engineered to the same functional spec as the original Ford parts. The same I can imagine goes for Delco etc etc

I will recommend Mann & Hummel; they are an excellent German filter company that not only make filters but complete intake systems - indeed the Jaguar X type may be their plastic intake manifold design.

Synthetic oils - the only comment I will make is use an oil filter designed to be used with synthetic oils.