I did my first oil change yesterday on my '12 GT. She has just over 1000 miles on it.

First thing I took notice of was how dark the oil that came out was, It looked like oil that had been run to the end of it's useful life. I hope that it is from engine break in and isn't a sign of things to come.

As you can see from the pictures, there was some debris caught in the filter. You can see the larger aluminum chunks pretty well, but there is also quite a few small "flakes" of metal caught at the bottom of every pleat.

This is the first time i've ever cut a filter open, can anyone on here with more experience with this chime in on weather this is a normal amount for break in and the reason the oil was so dark at just 1000 miles.

Thanks Guys!!

 

Holy crap, that looks scary. I'm interested in the input anyone might provide on this.

 

are u sure none of that is from cutting open the filter?

 

Nope, I used tin snips to cut the case open. There were no filings from a hack saw or anything. Plus all the debris was down at the very bottom of the pleats.

I WISH it was from me....

I will definatly be cutting the filter open at the next oil change to make sure this isn't a trend

 

Did you get a tick after the oil change? Im just comming up on 5k and would like to change my oil.

Also what oil/filter did you use?

 

No, no tick.... that I've noticed. I've only put on maybe 50 miles since the change. Now snow is on the way so it'll be sitting for quite a while.

I used Mobil 1 5W20 w/ a fram filter which will be coming off ASAP and replaced with a Wix or Motorcraft after reading the stories of the fram filters disintegrating and voiding engine warranties.

 

Yeah i see a lot of people going with the mobil 1 so ill do the same. Yeah id rip that fram right off, I only use motorcraft filters

 

That's common for a new aluminum block engine. That's why you have an oil filter.

 

i rebuilt a few engines, and i like to change the oil after about 100-200 miles and then 1000 and then it can be done regularly. Im not familiar with factory break in, I'm sure they run it for a bit to make sure things are good before putting it in the car, but not sure if they change the oil after they run it or just put it in. Ill probably do the first oil change myself at 500-1000 miles and then do the rest at ford

 

You got nothing to worry about, the Oil Filter did its job. As for the oil, you can't judge it by color alone, it only stays clear for about 500-miles before starting to get darker.

 

Right - something about the drain back IIRC.

I'm kind of shocked at that much metal. And what I would consider big chunks.

 

Yea I found out about the fram filters right after I got done with the oil change. I figure the 50 miles I did drive with it on should be fine.

I know it's the job of the oil filter to do just that...filter. BUT after seeing the size of some of that stuff it really makes you wonder how long it was floating around before it was caught and what else hasn't made it through the filter yet.

The reason I'm asking about the color is because I read somewhere else about someone saying that after their initial oil change the oil stayed fresh looking for many thousand miles, just wondering if anyone else noticed this.

 

engines are not started before installing into a car and they do not change the oil afterwords either. I am a biog proponent of a 1000 mile first oil change. Have been for years since building engines. Normal machining leaves lots of debris in the oil galleys.

 

I'm pretty sure Ford starts all of their engines on a test stand.

I saw some program on the science channel about the ford engine plant. They were running truck motors at the time, but every single engine was started before being crated up and sent to the assembly plant.

 

I just changed my oil at 3400 miles with ford filter and oil. It was dark also. None of my other cars had this dark of oil. I think there is some additive like graphite to maybe help with break in. My stang was one of the last 11's. I wonder if a very early build 11 had this dark oil. I believe the 12's do.

 

What do you guys think about Wix filters? I have one sitting on my bench and i'm about to pull the Fram off.

 

Wix and amsoil filters are the only 2 filters I use ever.

 

Well the Wix filter on on now. I feel much better now that the Fram is in the garbage

 

Wix is one of the best filters out there. Fram is trash...

 

I have always noticed with all my vehicles that although the dipstick looks like light honey, it comes out pretty black in the pan.

Also, keep in mind until the rings seat you're going to get a bit more blow-by contaminating the oil. I use an oil sep after I saw the carbon on the butterflys (4.6 3V) at only 15k.






From the sep