1st oil change on my new 2001 Cobra. Oil questions.

littlechief0

New Member
Nov 18, 2010
34
1
0
First off, it took 7 quarts. So somewhere along the way before it came to me, someone put a bigger oil pan on it. Why would someone have done this? Also, the manual called for 5W-20 high performance synthetic oil. Auto Zone had 5W-20 for $9 a quart and as low as $3 a quart. I went with the high dollar stuff this time but is that necessary? Thanks guys.
 
  • Sponsors (?)


Aftermarket oil pan isn't a bad thing - more oil volume never hurts with these engines. What other mods are on the car?

As far as the oil question. You can use a synthetic or even conventional oil. Most people on the online message board community refer to themselves as "enthusiasts," and elect to run synthetics, more often than not. The important thing is to keep a semi-regular eye on your oil level, as some have driven their cars low on oil and ran into internal engine damage.


Further, Ford (back in '01 or maybe it was '00 , etc) revised the recomended oil weight to improve their CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) score. Ford used to call for 5w-30 spec oil, but then changed it to 5w-20. CAFE is the entire manufacturer FLEET fuel rating (city/highway miles per gallon, etc) for ALL vehicles models produced by the company IIRC.


By switching from the 5w-30 to a lighter 5w-20 weight oil, the friction/wear on the internal engine parts are reduced (ever so slightly, due to a thinner layer of protection). This also yields a VERY small increase in fuel economy and therefore if ALL of the car company's vehicles are seeing minor increases in fuel mileage, it brings up the total CAFE fuel mileage - which saves the company money, etc.


:cheers:
 
Thx for the info. Here are the mods listed on the original ebabbk long tubes

bbk off road h-pipe

jba 3'' stainless steal catback

march underdrive pulleys

cold air intake

4:10 gears

mgw short throw shifter


Suspension mods include:

h&r race lowering springs (lowerd 1 1/4 inch)

caster chamber plates

I pulled the IRS out and replaced all the bushings with delrin racing bushings to really tighten up the rear end

adjustable toe link bars in the rear also.


Appearence mods include:

Smoked headlights with clear turning signal lines

tinted rear tail lights

Mach 1 chin spoiler

tinted windows

and it is lowered.
y listing for the car.
 
You may have an afermarket oil pan but my stocker has always taken 7 qts to the fill line. I have always used a good synthetic oil. Do keep an eye on the oil level as these motors will spin a bearing in a heartbeat if you get low. The heads keep a lot of oil up there with all those cams/followers and a proper oil level is essential. The timing chains also pull oil up there, too.

Love these cars!!
 
since we are on the subject of oil. I have a 1996 cobra and after i run the car for few miles and check oil its shows perfect. but after it sits for about 4-5 hours it shows a quart low. whats the true oil lvling reading after its ran or after all the oil has drained to pan?
 
since we are on the subject of oil. I have a 1996 cobra and after i run the car for few miles and check oil its shows perfect. but after it sits for about 4-5 hours it shows a quart low. whats the true oil lvling reading after its ran or after all the oil has drained to pan?


Most prefer to check the engine oil level after the car has sat for awhile to get a proper reading and the oil has had a chance to drain down into the pan (assuming your dipstick is reading accurately - sometimes the dipstick gets botched during header installations).


It's cheap insurance to keep a semi-regular eye on the oil level on these engines or you could find yourself with toasted bearings.


:cheers:
 
Most prefer to check the engine oil level after the car has sat for awhile to get a proper reading and the oil has had a chance to drain down into the pan (assuming your dipstick is reading accurately - sometimes the dipstick gets botched during header installations).


It's cheap insurance to keep a semi-regular eye on the oil level on these engines or you could find yourself with toasted bearings.


:cheers:
ok ty bro, sorry for orig poster didnt mean to seem like im hi jacking your thread :=)