What kind of oil does my 03 ford taurus take

Harold, According to the 2002 Ford Focus Owner manual,
With engine oil filter change : 2.0 liter SPI engine takes ( 3.78 liters / 4.0 U.S. quarts of 5W-20 )
2.0 liter Zetec engine takes ( 4.25 liters / 4.5 U.S. quarts of 5W-20 )
links below talk more about what they think oil should be used.
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Oil recommendation for 2002 Ford Focus Passenger Car Motor Oil PCMO...

Ford Focus 1998 2004 99 1 8 Confusion over acceptable oil grade to use...

What kind of oil do you use in your Focus

2002 Ford Focus Specs

Depends on what engine you have.
2.0 HP Zetec SVT Focus 5W-30 motor oil all others 5W-20 motor oil.

5W-30 should be okay. It will state what motor oil to use on your oil cap in the engine bay.

From what I've been able to find is the 3.0 and 3.2L engines used somewhere between 4.5 and 5.5 qts of oil. That's a pretty big discrepancy to have between the owner's manual and the shop.

After you replaced the oil filter just fill it one quart at a time and make sure that you check your dipstick 5 mins or so after every quart until you're in the operating range marks.

Also make sure your car is on a flat, level surface.

If you're not comfortable with doing it all then just have a shop do it.

now ford has came out with a memo recommending 5w20. 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 2000. 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.
So in short in your manual it may say 5w30 but now they recommend using 5w20.
if you need further assistance please let me know, Thanks, MIDwest-TEK

The weight of the oil will be on the oil fill cap. (Usually 5w-30 or 5w-20)
Go with a good brand, as in Valvoline, Castrol, pennsoil.

4.5 quarts with filter of 20w50 oil

5W-20

Of coarse they did. They only have oil in a big tank. One size fits all.

Educate yourself and stop listening to all the nonsense.

Walk into the service bay at a dealership and ask a tech what they use 5W-20

For 1994 Ford Taurus 3.0L EFI 6cyl the Engine Oil Type and Weight is:

4.5

Application:
Oil for use in all temperature ranges

Quarts with filter change
VV174

Application:
Oil for use in all temperature ranges

Valvoline Premium Conventional 5W-20 Motor Oil

Hope thos help (remember rated and comment this) Good luck.

The recommended fill point will be 4 1/2 Quart. This includes the filter, as well. Fill to 4 1/2 Quarts. No more, or less. Valvoline SynPower Full Synthetic 5W-20 Motor Oil is the only oil to run is this particular vehicle. If you run a heavier oil in this engine, you risk clogging the head oil ports, and the timing chain tensioner oil channels, as well. This will induce massive repairs down the road.

use fords recommemdation 5w-20 oil