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Fluid/Oil/Grease Maintenance - Inspection - Change

H

hivewax

Member
I want to know what everyone does in maintaining our Mustangs...

How often do you change:
1. Motor oil? I change mine every 3000mi, full synthetic... recommended by machine shop.
2. Anti-freeze? I was told flush every year.
3. Rear gear oil?
4. Zerk fitting lube?
5. Drive-shaft U-joint lube? I was told service every oil change.
6. Brake fluid? I use DOT 3 synthetic.
7. Air + fuel filter?

Do you follow the Ford manual?
I think in some cases, our cars are pushed way more harder than stock... shortening the life-cycle of the lubricants.
 
IIRC, back when these cars were new, the service interval recommended by the factory was 6 months or 6,000 miles for oil/filter/lube with tune ups including plugs, points, condensor, air, and fuel filters every 12 months or 12,000 miles. I would guess that the other fluids were scheduled for every 2 or 3 years.

That being said, I drive my car less than 6,000 per year so I tend to go with the calendar and generally service it twice per year or every 2,500 to 3,000 miles.
 
IMO you should be able to get more mileage out of fully synthetic oil, assuming you aren't using a "blend". My BMW recommends 16,000 miles per oil change but I go 8k just because I don't trust that many miles on oil. I use Castrol Syntec.

Amsoil suggests 25k mile change intervals, with exception of having to meet automotive warranties. https://www.amsoil.com/lit/g1490.pdf
 
Carbureted engines tend to pollute their oil more so than EFI. I like Jeff's intervals even though I use synthetic. Even after an oil change, my oil tends to get dirty quick.
 
My 347 has the older style short skirted pistons. I change the filter every year.... and just keep filling up the crankcase as I drive it. When we did the 45th show last year IIRC it was a 1400 mile R/T and I went through 6-7 quarts of Mobile1 getting there and back.
 
I lube and change everything before the season starts. Last couple years I drove the 65 maybe 100 miles and the 67 hasn't moved.

So, this year I will change the 67 if we take it to Knott's.

Otherwise , I do nothing until it is going to be driven.

Mel
 
Manufacturer extended service intervals are very misleading. All of those intervals are for "ideal" driving conditions, meaning mostly extended trips with lots of freeway miles. Even then, I wouldn't trust them as far as some mfg's suggest.

Most cars on the road fall into the 'extreme service' interval recommendation. This means standard daily driving, common short trips, and fewer freeway miles. This kind of driving is obviously harder on the engine and the oil.

Synthetic oil doesn't sludge up like dino oil does, but it still gets dirty. Even a good filter (Wix, Bosch, Nippon, K&N, and Mobil 1) can't filter out everything. I NEVER recommend any more than 6k mi on synthetic oil, and no more than 3k if the car has a turbo. With dino oil, I always recommend to customers 3k mi/6mo oil changes. Do that religiously and the motor will last a long time. Switch to the 15k+ mi intervals recommended by some mfg's and I bet the motor lasts half as long as it could.
 
"hivewax" said:
I want to know what everyone does in maintaining our Mustangs...

How often do you change:
1. Motor oil? I change mine every 3000mi, full synthetic... recommended by machine shop.
I change mine every year (unless the engine comes out, then I change it again).

2. Anti-freeze? I was told flush every year.
Don't need to flush, it mysteriously loses water so it's always refreshed.

3. Rear gear oil?
Every 2 years.


4. Zerk fitting lube?
Every spring

5. Drive-shaft U-joint lube? I was told service every oil change.
non greasable U joints, but would do them every spring if it was needed.

6. Brake fluid? I use DOT 3 synthetic.
Since it spends most of the time on track, I bleed the brakes before each track day (anywhere from 3-6 times a year).

7. Air + fuel filter?
Every spring

Do you follow the Ford manual?
I think in some cases, our cars are pushed way more harder than stock... shortening the life-cycle of the lubricants.
Click to expand...


I have a coolant tester that tells you what temp it's good for. You can buy them at any parts store.
 
I change my oil with the seasons also. fresh oil and filter every spring after hibernation.
in the fall I usually just drain the oil and put in fresh stuff for the winter but not the filter.

I tend to leak a lot of oil so I am constantly adding all summer as I drive it.

The coolant I change every couple of years as needed.

my DD Is a Volvo with a turbo. I change the oil every 4-5000 with full synthetic mobil 1. Which is about every other month for me.
All highway miles.
 
1. Motor oil - full synthetic - Every 5K miles, which is twice a year.
2. Anti-freeze - Every Spring before summer
3. Rear gear oil - I seem to pull mine out every couple years for inspection, so that is when I do it.
4. Zerk fitting lube - every Spring and fall
5. Drive-shaft U-joint lube - every Spring and fall
6. Brake fluid - DOT 3 synthetic Full flush every winter
7. Air + fuel filter? - Clean my N&N every 3 to 4 months. Fuel filter, every year.
 
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