I have 2700 miles on my '06 GT and am about to go in for the first oil change. When I look at the dipstick the oil is about 1/3-1/2 up from the bottom of the crosshatch pattern on the dipstick. I know the manual states that as long as the level is somewhere between the two holes on the stick that the level is considered normal. I'm just wondering if my level is similiar to the other GTs out there. I was always under the impression that if the level is at the bottom of the stick that it was a quart low. I would just like to know if you guys have similiar oil use.
Your engine's oil level is approx. 1/2 quart low, which as you had noticed in the manual is acceptable. If this is the 1st time you have checked the oil level, then the engine may have been filled only up to the current level(1/2 quart low) at the factory. If you had previously checked the level, and it was up to the full mark, then the engine is either leaking or burning oil. You can easily check for an oil leak by either inspecting the engine's exterior, and/or by checking the pavement directly under the engine after the car has been parked there at least overnight. If there's no evidence of a leak, then check the level immediately after the oil is changed, and then again after 1000-2000 miles. If the level drops, then it's burning oil.
There may be a little usage during the break-in (as your rings set in)...but I changed mine at 620 miles in order to ensure I got rid of an early metal shavings (old school method)...but as long as you're between the two markings on the dipstick, you should be fine.
do your cars have synthetic? i have a buddy that has a z06 and before he bought it he heard about people having problems with it using oil(synthetic) he realized with the synthetic it wasnt breaking in so when he bought his he drained it out and put regular oil in it for the first 1500 or so and then put the synthetic back in and hasnt had any trouble with the oil loss. just something to think about
The 05 and later Mustang GT's are filled with a 5W-20 multi-blend synthetic oil at the factory. I've used only that oil for all of my changes. Mine was 1/2 quart low brand new right off the lot, it stayed at that level until I changed it at 1500 miles, and it has not lost any oil between any of the subsequent 3000 miles changes.
You are fine. A LOT of guys have posted the same findings on their '06s and I am one of them. When I put the 6 quarts in, it is in the middle of the hatch marks, just like it was when I first checked my oil. Don't overfill it. I did my first change at 800 miles, the second at about 2000 miles and I have almost 5,000 on it now and will probably do one this weekend. Easy car to change the oil on.
im a ford tech and this is my say on this. the 4.6 mod engines arent know to use oil. anything within the crosshatch is a good oil level to have. i think people go way to crazy over oil levels personally. people read a dipstick and see it drop a lil on the stick and all of a sudden think the level is so low. when an engine is new your rings are still seating so yes there will be some oil getting burned in the combustion chambers. in fact even on a perfectly running engine ur still burning oil. the rings cant possibly seal all oil out of combustion. id wait till you change the oil and then jus continue to monitor it.
ZO6's come from the factory with Mobil1 synthetic, ..as do Viper's, Porshe's, etc. I would discount the idea of a synthetic not allowing "proper break in" of a Z06.
the best way to break in ur engine and let the rings seat is to not continually shift gears and jus let the engine operated in the meat of its powerband as this creates a vaccum and makes the rings seat better. i dont know if this makes sense. nowadays engines break in so easy all these theories are exactly that. theres engines that were beat on from day 1 and some that werent and both might operate great and not burn any oil.
HEY guy's i have an o6 vert and today i checked the oil for the 1st time and it was 1/4 up from the bottom of the stick so i added some 5w/20 it only took little more than 1/2 the quart, but i never even checked it until today, it only has 1600 miles on her so oil change is around the corner anyway i say drive it like you stole it, best break in advice i will say, enjoy your car!!
Interesting as this sounds exactly the opposite of what the manual says and everything I have heard over the years. They say to continually change speeds to help seat the rings. I made sure to constantly change the throttle input and speed for the first 500 getting more aggresive with it as time went on. I didn't drive it like I stole it, but didn't baby it either. I found that I drove it harder the 1st 1000 miles than I do now at 5300 miles though. Just changed the oil last week again and 6 quarts fills it to close to halfway on the safe mark on the stick and that is where it was before I drained the old stuff out.
