Oil Change

[megax29]

As some of you guys have found my knowledge for cars is very limited. I've gotten 2 oil changes since I bought my car brand new and the third is about 300 miles away, currently 10,0XX miles . I've paid both times cuz I thought it was a big hassle and I wouldn't save a whole lot of money if I were to do it myself. Recently I thought changing my oil is a good way to get me under the car and get my hands dirty and learn about my car. So I wanna change my oil. Since many may have the same basic car as I do I thought you all may be experts so who better to ask.
I want to know what size tools I need to loosen the oil pan bolt and if I really needed something to loosen the oil filter or if I could do it w/ my hand. Which of the two should I loosen first? Where should I expect oil to leak out from? Anything I should know or maybe cautious of? Give me some feed back and step by step instructions. I plan on parking my car where theres a hole in the ground to give me room to work and lifting my car w/ its jack. Recommendations greatly appreciated.

[kaper232]

Go here... http://www.v6stangs.com/index.php?pa...ange/index.php

[WhiteStang99]

I just changed mine saturday, you will probably need a tool to get the oil filter off, esp if you took it somewhere last time they probably wrenched it on. they make a tool specifically for that.

oil will come from the drain plug and from the filter. GL catching it all

[whipster24]

I caught all of mine last time

[Danger Dude]

Guys do not tighten the oil filter with a tool, Hand tight is enough. if you cant get it off with your hands use a jar opener ( thin rubber sheet about 6" square) found in most of your MAMA's kitchens.if you can then use a tool. When puttin one back on put a thin line of oil on the seal and screw it on by hand once you hit resistance go till it stops. That is it. Once it gets hot and cold the sucker with tighten even more.

[WhiteStang99]

i never tighten mine w/ a tool, i just hand tighten it like corey said. It only makes it a PITA to get off later. I do have a tool though, just rarely use it.

[01mineralgrey6]

Tell me about it... I do oil changes all day and its a real pain when someone brings there car after some grease monkey cranked the filter on there. Do just as Corey said

[kaper232]

I think the article I linked to explained it good enough for the guy...

[megax29]

Thanks for the link. I'm gonna try it this weekend. What type of oil do you guys suggest I use, and oil filter. I drive my car about 50 miles everyday in everyday city traffic and freeway about 50/50 w/ the occasional punch to the pedal (to race or to just step on it).
My car says i should use 5-20 when i got it changed they put 10-30 they said cuz its summer. What should i be using? I live in northern california. days are 80s as highs and 50s for lows.
What brand and **** should I use on my car?

[megax29]

Feedback greatly appreciated. Also, I feel like i get very little miles per tank full, how many miles do you get? I get about 225miles per tank full w/ 100% stock car.

[jimmy_beaner]

I just got 400... it was like 396, and the low fuel light turned on... so I got gas. The light was on for like 30 miles as I had to get gas somewhere, and this is Iowa... not suburbian CA... but yeah, 396 miles.... read my sig for my mods. I have an automatic

[Danger Dude]

with mods about 300-320

[01mineralgrey6]

Originally Posted by kaper232

I think the article I linked to explained it good enough for the guy...

It did, i just didn't look at it till now

[WhiteStang99]

i just got 300 last tank. trip to bham and back and some other places.

[Brent]

240

Dang 4.10s

[megax29]

So getting 225 per tank full is a result of my heavy driving habits I would guess, right? I would usually get 200-210 and I thought that was very little so I tried driving slower and I got to 235, but I had no idea I should be getting 300/tank, damn.
About the oil, what type or brand do you guys recommend?

[Brent]

Originally Posted by megax29

So getting 225 per tank full is a result of my heavy driving habits I would guess, right? I would usually get 200-210 and I thought that was very little so I tried driving slower and I got to 235, but I had no idea I should be getting 300/tank, damn.
About the oil, what type or brand do you guys recommend?

Mobile 1 or Castrol Synthetic

[WhiteStang99]

that last tank w/ me for 300 was at least 75% hwy. i usually get around 250 if im lucky.

[megax29]

I favor mobil 1, but the number thing is what i'm concerned about 5-20 or 10-30?

[jimmy_beaner]

I see mobil 1 has a 0W-20 replacement oil for our engines, (ones that run 5W-20)... what do you guys think of that? yay or nay?

[jimmy_beaner]

also, 200 miles per tank is HORRIBLE... you have a 16 gallon tank, figure in a 3 gallon reserve for when your check engine light comes on, that means you'd probably be running about 13 gallons for a full tank. Dividing 200 by 13 gives me 15.4 miles per gallon. 235 only gives you 18.1 miles per gallon... Your car is rated near 25 in the city I believe (that's what my car is) and that means 325 for a full tank. I get about 400 with mostly interstate driving... however, I also know I went under that 13 gallons into the reserve... and I averaged 28.9 miles per gallon just last week... so yeah, you're getting horrible gas mileage.

[SpectorV]

i would recommend swaping to mobile 1 5w30 ( I know the car is recommended to use 5w20 but 5w30 is all moblie 1 makes and will work just fine with no problems (ive been running it for nearly 50k) )

its a little more expensive but its a MUCH better oil.

Buy:
5 quarts of 5w30 mobile 1 oil (blue top)
1 ford AL-400S oil filter (check that but I think thats the right number)

you will need something to jack the car up, buy a hydrolic jack, walmart has em for cheap, buy some jack stands, also at walmart cheap, get the adjustable ones.

then you MAY need a oil filter remover tool depending on how tight it was put on, so pick one up and tke it back if you dont need it.

remove the oil cap on the motor

jack up the car and pull look under the car for the oil pan, unbolt the plug (15mm bolt) and let it drain into the pan you have, the bolt is on the driver side.

its easy after that put the plug back in let all the oil drain out that will, remove the oil filter.

use some new oil just open one of the bottles and get your filter wet with some oil and rub it around the filter seal so you get a good seal and stick the new filter on, not super tight just snug, check later if you are worried about it not being on good but just snug it on by hand.

then drop the car back on the ground fill it up with 5 quarts and crank the car and let idle for a couple check the oil level and your done.

i just pay for 5 bucks for labor and i bring them my oil/filter cuz i dont like messing with it/dont have time.

P.S. HOT OIL HURTS BAD.... so let the car cool off before you change the oil and the oil will jump out so have the pan centered around the oil plug maybe offset towards the driver side a bit more.

[WhiteStang99]

yep, i use 5w30, full synthetic.

and yes, hot oil burns.

[01mineralgrey6]

yeah the 400s is the right filter... pfft hot oil...outta drain one that just come of the interstate after about 12 hours of non stop driving. (damn tourists lol) but yes it can be hot. just be carefull

[megax29]

I've been using 10w-30, but will make the switch to 5w-30 since it seems to be favorite. :thanks:

[jimmy_beaner]

Originally Posted by SpectorV

i would recommend swaping to mobile 1 5w30 ( I know the car is recommended to use 5w20 but 5w30 is all moblie 1 makes .

incorrect, sorry but Mobil 1 makes a 5w20 replacement oil... as I posted like 3 posts up.... it's 0w20... I asked if it was a good idea to use that... no one even seemed like the read what I said.. gave any input or anything

[megax29]

I changed my oil on Saturday. I didn't catch all of my oil but most of it. I used Castrol GTX cuz Mobil 1 is hella expensive 4.90/quart...that's crazy. I'll continue on changing my oil from now on. Thanks

[MonteCitan]

I know you've already done it but..

just a note v6's take the FL-400S, the 4.6's take the FL-820S
The 3.8 recommends 5w20, but 5w30 works no problem, it takes 5 quarts
the 4.6 most 02s + (it was a running change, some 02s take 5, some take 6, get 6 quarts, put 5 in and check it, add 6th if below or at the bottom of the hatch area on the stick) and my 02 at least calls for 5w30 but 5w20 will work no problem, I believe the newest models call for 5w20

As far as I know a lot of 'grease monkeys' like myself don't hit oil filters on with wrenches unless it's a 3.0 2v taurus (the oil filters like leaking big time if they're not tight enough) but we've done so many oil changes we can wrench them on by hand real good - the idea usually is tighten by hand remove by wrench.. when the engine is hot (like someone coming into the shop) it's a better idea to use the wrench anyhow to get the filter started, then use a rag to spin it off, as the filter gets HOT..

be sure the gasket comes off with the old filter, if it stays on the mounting surface for the filter, you will double gasket the filter and lost all your oil.. and lightly lube the new filters' gasket with some of your fresh oil

after filling it with oil, run it for a few seconds, the engine might make some noise, but it should go away within 3-5 seconds.. after it calms down/settles down, shut the car off, wait 15-30 seconds, then check the oil level, and be sure you're not blatantly leaking all over the ground..

hope this helps

Also you can get 6 quarts of mobil 1 for $24 at BJ's - that's only $4 a quart.. and that's full synthetic, not a blend like castrol GTX

[jimmy_beaner]

is blended that much worse than full synthetic?... I mean, with the pure ''oil'' you're supposed to change every 3,000... and full synthetic, is like 6,000?... and somewhere near 4,500 with the blend? What's the deal here?

[lowflyn]

And if you can't get the old filter off..ram a screwdriver through that sob and get it off that way...not gonna be using it again anyways lol

[lowflyn]

And i feel you on the gas mileage...I get about the same as you lol

[MonteCitan]

Originally Posted by lowflyn

And if you can't get the old filter off..ram a screwdriver through that sob and get it off that way...not gonna be using it again anyways lol

be careful with that if you get the filter in the right spot.. it'll peel like a potato, then you have only a base to work with, that's no good..

synthetic blends aren't bad.. that's what I use in my 89 - I was just saying castrol gtx isn't the same as mobil 1.. which I use in my 02
as for oil change mileage.. you can go 5k miles on dino oil no problem