What type of oil and how many quarts goes in a 1986-2008 Taurus or Sable?

Answer 1

Oil Capacity - all with filter change

• 1986-1995
• • 2.5l and SHO - 5.0 quarts
  • 3.0l and 3.8l - 4.5 quarts
• 1996 - 2003 12 valve OHV, "Vulcan" engine - 4.5 quarts
• 1996 - 2003 24 valve DOHC, "Duratec" engine - 5.5 quarts
• 2004 and up Duratec engine: 6 quarts
• 2004 - 2007 Vulcan engines: 4.5 quarts
• 2008 - 5.5 quarts

NOTES:

• There is a Ford TSB (technical service bulletin) specifying 5x20 oil, covering all previous models and years of production

  Motorcraft brand 5w20 is a synthetic blend and is down-right inexpensive. Ex. Walmart has 5 quart jug for only $11.50(!)

• All of this information was referenced from theOwners Manual - See "Related Questions" below

Updated Oil Specifications

Ford issued a TSB (technical service bulletin TSB 02-1-9) regarding the 5w20 superseding 5w30 Owners Manual specifications. Applies to the majority of the car products back to the early 1990's.

See "Related Links" or search on FORD TSB 02-1-9 for more details.

Depends on Engine

1996 Ford Taurus 3.0L OHV 12 Valve 6-cyl "Vulcan" Engine Code U = 4.6 Qts w/ Filter

1996 FORD TAURUS 3.0L OHV 12 Valve 6-cyl "Vulcan" Engine Code 2 Flex-fuel = 4.6 Qts w/ Filter

1996 FORD TAURUS 3.0L OHV 12 Valve 6-cyl "Vulcan" Engine Code 1 Flex-fuel = 4.6 Qts w/Filter

1996 FORD TAURUS 3.0L DOHC 24 Valve 6-cyl "Duratec" Engine Code S = 5.5 Qts W/Filter

1996 FORD TAURUS SHO 3.4L DOHC 32 Valve 8-cyl "Yamaha" Engine Code N = 6.6 Qts W/Filter

Ford Motor Company reports that the company's switch from recommending 5W-30 viscosity motor oil to 5W-20 viscosity motor oil has saved 700 million gallons of gasoline since 2001. By reducing load and internal friction, lighter viscosity 5W-20 motor oils reportedly increase fuel economy by a half mile per gallon. In addition, Ford reports its use of 5W-20 oils has reduced carbon dioxide emissions by about one million metric tons a year.

Note: Ford issued a TSB (technical service bulletin TSB 02-1-9) regarding the 5w20 superseding 5w30 Owners Manual specifications. Applies to the majority of the car products back to the early 1990's.

See "Related Links" or search on FORD TSB 02-1-9 for more details.

Addendum:

I found out that the 5w-20 is just for CAFE regulations, the TSB is moot. 5w-30 should be run REGARDLESS in hotter climates such as the south especially on older vehicles. The use of 5w-30 vs 5w-20 is interchangeable. The only application where 5w-20 should be run is in the case of the vehicle being under warranty. Whereas ignoring the tsb might void the consumers warranty. These vehicles can run 5w-20, 5w-30, with NO problems. Also, from personal experience I have found that "semi-synthetic" or "synthetic blends" actually contain less than 50% synthetic compounds. Semi-synthetic oil has no gains other than a POSSIBLE mileage increase. It's from my personal experience that you should either run full synthetic or full conventional. Also, you can change from synthetic to conventional with NO repercussions or damage to your vehicle. The "fact" that you cannot switch back to conventional after switching to synthetic is another bogus argument--lube shops tend to use this to scare customers into buying their "cheaper" conventional lubes where they can order it cheaper and charge a premium over their more expensive-to-order synthetics. Also, synthetics have displayed the ability to run further apart oil change schedules than conventional, and this will cause them to lose business.

Also refer to the "Taurus/Sable Encyclopedia" included in the "Related Links" for more information on your vehicle.

Answer

5w30 can be used, but per the manual and the Ford website, 5w20 is the preferred oil to use. I used Motorcraft in my old 2002 Taurus, and just traded it in on a 2005 model after 179,000 miles. No engine problems or leaks when I traded it in.

Answer

As per the Owner's manual:

For the 2001: 5.5 quarts (5.2 liters) with engine oil filter change (according to the owners manual)

A 1998 Ford Taurus with the 3.0 OHV engine requires 4.5 quarts of oil; the 3.0 DOHC needs 5.5 quarts, and the V8 3.4L takes 6.5 quarts. Taurus/Sable engines are either DOHC or OHV. Oil capacity is about 4.5 quarts for all 6 cyl engines if the filter is changed when oil is changed. Add 4 quarts, warm the engine, let rest on level ground for 5 minutes then clean and check the oil dip stick. Add enough to bring the level between the lines in the area with the crosshach. Do not overfill.

The 3.0 and 3.8 both take 5 with the filter, and the 3.0 DOHC takes 6 with the filter.

4.5 quarts (4.25 liters) WITH ENGINE OIL FILTER CHANGE for the 3.0 L - OHV -

Vulcan engine that is used in a 2007 Ford Taurus (according to the owners manual)

The owners manual shows :

WITH FILTER CHANGE

3.0 L - Vulcan (4.5 quarts)

3.0 L - DOHC - Duratec (5.5 quarts)

5 W 20

3.0 L V6 (Vulcan) engine - 4.5 quarts (4.25 liters) with oil filter change 3.0 L V6 (Duratec) engine - 5.5 quarts (5.2 liters) with oil filter change

That will depend as to what size engine you have. Normally most engines require 4 or 4 1/2 quarts.

Answer

Depends where you live. Dealer recomends 5w30. Check your owners manual for temperature (where you drive it) related recomendations. Should be on the oil filler cap on some cars also.