[GTconnor]

Hey everyone hows it going? I have an 08 mustang GT and i run castrol GTX 5w-30 motor oil and i change it very early so my engine will have maximum protection (i change it every 2000 miles). Im switching over to a synthetic motor oil, and from what i hear most synthetic motor oils can go up to a maximum of 15,000 miles before being changed. So this is my question, When is an early oil change for synthetic motor oil??? like 4,000 miles? i always like to keep my oil clean, but know nothing about synthetic motor oil. (I know its a dumb question by the way) Thanks for the help.

[walter]

I change my oil with Mobil 1 Synthetic (no extended service or any special additive oil) every 5000 miles with a Motorcraft oil filter.

This is Ford's scheduled oil change interval and they calculate this interval using Motorcraft oil (which is a synthetic blend) and filter. So I know I can do this safely with a quality full Synthetic.

I hear Ford revised the maintenance schedule even futher with the 2010's (which have the same engine as the 05-09) to 7500 so I definitely know I'm covered.

[Gearbanger 101]

You do realize that how clean, or dirty looking an oil is has nothing what so ever to do with the protection it offers, right?

Flushing your oil every 2,000-miles is like flushing money down the toilet. Even a synthetic at 4,000-miles is a huge waste.

If you really want to be meticulous about it, why not just change the filter every 4,000-miles and the oil every 8,000-miles. Anything less is a waste IMO.

[The Fang]

Arnt the GTs supposed to get 5w20?

[GTconnor]

Yes i do realize that, and i know i change it VERY early. But i know for a fact that my engine is going to last a very long time doing it this way, and the oil i buy is only 20$ a jug so its not that wasteful to me. I only put about 5,000 miles on my stang a year so its not that bad. But thanks for the tip...

[BLKNED]

For the '08 Ford's service interval is 7500 miles, why change it before that if that's what Ford says it's good for? I use nothing but synthetic in my car, if you are so concerned about maximum protection why are you using conventional oil?

[GTconnor]

Thats exactly why im switching to a synthetic oil, because i just realized there is alot better stuff out there. Why ford says change your oil at 7500 miles i will never understand, gasoline pollutes the oil and it looses its lubrication over time. My friends dad bought a brand new toyota truck a long time ago and he changed the oil every 5,000 miles and it currently has about 200,000 miles on it and its burning oil. My dad has an old toyota truck that he bought brand new as well, and it has over 350,000 miles on it and it doesnt burn a single drop of oil!!! and he changed his oil every 2,000 miles. Thats how important changeing your oil early is.

[walter]

One common misconception is that the oil coming out of the car has to be clean to be a good thing.

WRONG it's gotta be dirty but without any major chunks (think spoiled milk) or excessive metal shavings. Clean oil coming out of your car should tell you whatever oil you're using is not doing its job at removing contaminants and accumulated combustion debris from the engine. That's a sign letting you know your engine is taking a serious beating internally and the oil isn't helping any.

[DMAN302]

It's not the oil that needs to be addressed so cautiously...it's the filter you need to be looking at. Walmart brand oil and the best quality filter will save your bearings to a far better degree than #1 brand and a cheap filter. It's the FILTERING of the oil that's my main concearn...not to mention a good structural drainback in that filter for the cold starts that I worry about most.

I can say though that my fox bodies previous engine got to 200,000 HARD miles on Cheap oil and fram filters...previous owner stated such. It still ran GREAT....just something to think about.

[DarkFireGT]

I run Mobil 1. I live in the Midwest and don't drive mine during the winter. I change it every spring before starting it up for the first time. I put about 3000 miles on it a year, but after sitting all winter, it collects water.

[Gearbanger 101]

Originally Posted by GTconnor

Yes i do realize that, and i know i change it VERY early. But i know for a fact that my engine is going to last a very long time doing it this way

At least that's what you believe anyway, right?

Switching out your oil early isn't going to make your engine last any longer than it would changing it within the schedule Ford recommends. A scheduled oil change, is a scheduled oil change. And fresh oil isn't going to protect any better than an oil with only a couple thousand miles on the clock when its formulated to last much longer. Hell, excessive early morning cold starts, short duration start and stop trips, high/low climate temps and inconsistencies in manufacturing would negate any advantage you might think you're gaining by changing out your oil so early.....so stop sweating it!

If there is ever any doubt in your mind about this fact, just consider all of the modular powered Taxi Cabs, Police Vehicles running the roads today. They spend endless hours at idle (which is harder on your engine more than anything) and then rack up hundreds of thousands of miles when taxi services buy them up. I know of taxi companies that have gone 30,000km between oil changes and their cars are still running strong with 200,000 and 300,000km on the clock....and these cars have never seen anything buy conventional dino oil.

Originally Posted by GTconnor

Why ford says change your oil at 7500 miles i will never understand, gasoline pollutes the oil and it looses its lubrication over time.

What you fail to take into account here is how gasoline and additives added to engine oils have changed over time…..not to mention the engines themselves.

Engine assembly tolerances are much more consistent and precise than they were in the cars build between the 50's-90's and you also need to consider a lot of this "old school" mind set originates from mechanics who lived through an era where 50,000-miles on an engine was considered a lot. Leaded gas was all that was available and oil refinement process and formula's were nowhere near what they are today.

Gone are the days of archaic carbureted induction, or early generation computer controlled fuel delivery systems. Modern EFI air/fuel deliver methods are far more precise now a days than it was back when you had to worry about fiddling with jets and the like. No longer is seeing an optimal 14.7:1 A/F ratio dependant on running your engine in an environment with ideal temperature, altitude and barometric pressure. A slew of computer controlled sensors connected to advance ECU calibrations and variable cam and ignition timing now control that environment for you.

Let’s put it this way….you may not know what Ford was thinking, but they certainly do. Do you think they would risk having to perform millions of dollars in warranty repair if they though 7,500-mile oil change intervals weren’t sufficient? Especially now, considering they’ve increase the old 3/36,000-mile power train warranty to a standard 5-year, 60,000-mile one on top of it all?

Like I said, it’s your money to flush….but make no mistake. You’re basing your decision to do so on unfounded paranoia, and nothing else.

[DarkFireGT]

Running full synthetic, I would never change mine before 7500 or 1 year, unless I'm running at the track every weekend.

[GTconnor]

Okay well i'm not going to argue with you about this subject anymore, you do it your way and i'll do it my way. And thank you walter for actually answering my question that i posted on this tread, 5000 miles sounds good.

[Gearbanger 101]

Look, you're the one who asked the question and admitted you knew nothing about synthetic oils (and based on your logic stated above, engine oil in general it seems). If you already "knew it all", then you shouldn't have asked the question. And you damn sure shouldn't be getting bent out of shape because you don't comprehend the answer. If I knew you were going to just disregard the advice and throw up your arms in disgust because it didn't "agree" with your undeniably flawed logic on the matter, I and the other members here trying to help steer you in the right direction (and remember….because you asked) wouldn't have wasted the time doing so.

Next time, leave a disclaimer at the top of the thread saying "Only looking for answers that I want to hear….because anything else upsets me!"

[GTconnor]

Hahaha you need to calm down man, who said i was getting upset and throwing up my arms in disgust?? and who said i knew it all?? obviously i dont know it all or i wouldn't have asked the quetion about synthetic oil. I know alot about regular oil but nothing about synthetic oil. Don't take this crap so seriously dude.

[Wraith413]

Originally Posted by DarkFireGT

I run Mobil 1. I live in the Midwest and don't drive mine during the winter. I change it every spring before starting it up for the first time. I put about 3000 miles on it a year, but after sitting all winter, it collects water.

Water isn't the only thing it's collecting. The oil has also trapped various contaminants, which can have corrosive effects over time, iirc.

[wusthof]

I use 5w30 M1 and a K&N filter @ 10k km intervals. Mayb I could go a lil longer? If I can make it stretch, I will............ the denero is tight these days.

[GTconnor]

Thank you for all the info guys, i really appreciate it.

[1965coupe]

The Shelby gets Mobil 1 5w-20 every 5000-6000 miles (every nine months or so).

The '65 (with a new crate motor, carburetor) gets 10w-30 Mobil 1 every year - which is only a few hundred miles (it's a show car).

I would quit changing it at 2000 miles. It might be giving you piece of mind, but it's a waste of time and money.

[NastyStang113]

I love oil threads .. I love my Amsoil 0w30 (Gold Series) with Amsoil filter. Good stuff.