I've always changed oil after the first 1000 miles with every new car I've owned (probably mostly due to superstition, but what the hey).

Since that's where I'm at, and am about to get it done, I thought I’d get your opinions about oil changes in general.

For those of you who are NOT using synthetic, how often do you change oil?

I know lots of you ARE using synthetic – I never have. My question is if you’re going to change oil every 3000-4000 miles, does synthetic really make a difference?

Some cars are easier than others for performing an oil change. Any tricks to oil changes on these puppies or is it pretty straightforward?

Any other opinions about the subject you may have are welcome.

Thanks.

 

i did my first change at 5000

i have only changed at every 5000 since then, and with factory motorcraft oil. engine runs great. if you dont beat and race your car constantly, there is no need for synthetic.

lastly the oil changed are pretty darn easy, get a set or standard rhino ramps a 17mm (i believe) and a pair of wide channel-loks for old filter removal, and your set. very easy

 

I did my first oil change at 50 miles (got out alot of metallic pieces), and I'll change again at 500 mi, then 3,000 miles, and every 3,000 miles after that. I'll stick to Motorcraft filters & the syn blend Motorcraft oil myself.

 

See my 'How-To'.

 

Fabulous write-up! Thanks TB!

 

Since the 2003 5.4L 2V V8 runs so well on German Castrol 0W-30, I was thinking about using that in the 4.6L 3V V8.

 

well done !

 

Wonder what effect that might have on the cam phasers???? Thats what I'd be wondering about, they are hydraulically actuated.

 

Changed my oil first @ 500 miles, again @ 2500 miles, both these used Dino oil (Castrol). Changed @ 5000 and every 5000 since with Mobil 1 5W20.

 

I was all set to change my oil for the first time yesterday. Car has 1300 miles. Had the car up on Rhino Ramps, had my Motorcraft 5W-20 oil and my Motorcraft filter. Even had a couple of wrenches to attempt that pesky factory-tight filter removal.

Thanks to the great write-up by TacoBill, I knew I needed a 16mm wrench for the drain plug but when I went to get mine, both my socket set and my wrenches went from 15mm to 17mm! No 16mm in my garage! I had to go out and buy a 16mm socket. Couldn't finish that day so I'm waiting for this weekend.

 

Try a 5/8" box ended wrench. I'm surprised Ford would change the drain plug design. The 4.6 2V V8 and 5.4 2V V8 both used the same drain plugs (5/8" hex head). I figure it would be the same for the 4.6 3V V8.

5/8" also converts to 15.8 mm, rather close to 16 mm.

I normally grab my trusty 5/8" Craftsman Quick-Wrench and a filter wrench to change the oil on the modular motors, but I have not had a chance to crawl under the GT yet.

 

Like "CookieMonster" , I changed mine at 500 , 1500 and every 3000 after that with Motorcraft 5W20. And gee..I have a whole 4300 miles on it!!

WOOT!

 

did the same thing man,glad i did tons of metel chips

 

Somewhat the same here. First change at 750, then 1,500. That's where it's been sitting since storage in November. When she comes out at the end of this month, another oil change at 1,500 to get rid of condensation when starting her up over the winter. I'll change it again at 3,000 and then every 3,000 after that. I stick with the Motorcraft synth blend.

2 2X12's nailed together in a step fashion (a set for each side) is an alternative to the ramps. Plenty of room to get underneath.

 

syn oil all the way mobil one! First change around 3k miles and then every 8 to 10 or once a year. Syn oil is worth the extra cash. Better mpg and more hp to name a few. If you run syn oil and change every 3k miles you are just wasteing our natural resources and your cash OH and driving the price up.

 

Mobil 1 hasn't affected my gas mileage at all. Synthetic oil is man-made and wouldn't waste natural resources.

 

yea I know but it sounded really cool. mpg increase I supose may be small seeing how the stang comes with syn oil already.

 

Did my first oil change @ 670 miles, then the next @ 2,800 and now I'll do it every 3 to 3.5K miles...I, too, will stick with the Motorcraft semi-syn 5w-20 oil. It held up very well in my last Stang ('02 V6).

 

OK, so what's this "multi-point inspection" they also recommend every 5,000 miles? Is everyone documenting this for their warrantee?

 

First change @ 1,000- Mobil 1