5W-20 Motorcraft BLK or RED BTL

[Van Daddy]

Bought two cases of 5W-20 @ Wal-Mart. Turns out one set of bottles are red and the other black. I bought both cases because this was the second Wal-Mart I went to and the fourth store I went to and first time I found 5W-20. Both cases are Motorcaft and cost the same ($21.++).

The red bottle appears to be a synthetic and the black bottle appears to be non-synthetic. Since they cost the same I am wondering if I should keep the red bottles and return the black…OR is there a difference?

Any thoughts?

[SCOTTx88]

All I've used so far is the red synthetic,Wal-mart is a heck of a lot cheaper than my local dealer,by $1 a quart.It's $1.77 at local wally world.

[Keith W]

As far as I know the black and red bottles are the same. Look at the bar code and part # on the back of the bottles. The red bottle just has a newer revision date. I believe they relabeled it as a synthetic blend to draw more attention to it, not because it changed. Truth of it is, a hydrocracked synthetic is a highly refined mineral, not a synthetic like Mobil 1.

Castrol opened the gates for this. Syntec is labeled 100% synthetic, but it is a pure hydrocracked ( Motorcraft is a hydrocracked blend) synthetic. So watch for everyone that has a highly refined mineral to start labeling them synthetics.

[Van Daddy]

Bar codes are the same for each bottle – 31508 27014

Red Bottle:
API Service = SL
Part number: MLL-82 XO-5W20-QSP
Ford Internal Ref. No. 163073
Rev. 10/2001

Black Bottle:
API Service = SJ
Part number: MLL-82 XO-5W20-QSP
Ford Internal Ref. No. 157263
Rev. 4/00

The only Differences I see are with the API Service code, Ford internal reference numbers, and Rev date. If we go by the part numbers, both bottles are the same thing.

This hydrocracked is a new term for me I will have to look into it to fully understand. Is there truly one 5W-20 that is better than another is?

Happy New Year to all!!

[Van Daddy]

Found this info about hydrocrack"ing" @ WWW.motorcraft.com

Oils and Lubricants

Like all Motorcraft® products, Motorcraft® motor oils and lubricants are designed, engineered and recommended by Ford Motor Company. Motorcraft® oils are made with the finest base oils and refined using a revolutionary process known as “hydrocracking”. This process dissolves unstable oil molecules before they can decompose in a car's engine. The result is a base oil that's so pure, it's crystal clear. These oils dramatically outperform and outprotect standard solvent-refined oils.

And

Hydrocracking

A refining process in which middle and heavy distillate fractions are cracked (broken into smaller molecules) in the presence of hydrogen at high pressure and moderate temperature to produce high-octane gasoline, turbo fuel components and middle distillates with good flow characteristics and cetane ratings

[Keith W]

There's nothing wrong with the Motorcraft oil, its a highly refined mineral/mineral blend, and not a bad deal at $1.77. The main reason I brought the hydrocracked thing up is because I believe a lot more companies will start throwing the "synthetic" word around. I just think companies are pushing the envelope a little bit calling them synthetics, Castrol in particular. Amsoil does make a true synthetic 5-20 though.

Mobil sued to try to get Castrol to quit labeling their product 100% synthetic. The court ruled in Castol's favor. They were only required to remove some choice words from the label. It's not that the Castrol is a bad oil, it's just not in the same league as true synthetics. It cost about half as much to produce, but they sell it for the same amount. Watch for other companies to throw in the towel and start marketing hydrocracked oils to up profit. Afterall, the word "synthetic" sells the product, why should they bother making a true synthetic that will cost twice as much to produce. Who knows Mobil may be or already have switched to hydrocracked mineral themselves. If you can't beat'em....