Track pack oil change
3/29/13, 10:57 AM
#1
Cobra Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: September 16, 2012
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 1,164
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Track pack oil change
I know this has been beat to death, just curious if everyone is still running 5w-50 oil? My personal "mustang guy" mechanic says only 5w-30 is needed and that the 5w-50 is just for ford to have a bit of insurance if we drive off the lot onto the track. Plus worst gas mileage. Could it void my warranty running the different weight? Thoughts?
3/29/13, 11:45 AM
#3
Cobra Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: September 16, 2012
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 1,164
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
3/29/13, 12:02 PM
#4
Shelby GT350 Member
Join Date: May 6, 2012
Location: Crofton MD
Posts: 2,060
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
**** forgot it has the Boss cooler and what not. I would use 5/50 then since Ford recommends it but then go to Mobil 1 or something better than the Motorcraft stuff. People have also said that 10/40 Amsoil is really good because it won't shear like the 50 weights. And on the warranty, if they can prove it caused the failure or probably if they know you put something other then recommended in, they might void it.
3/29/13, 02:59 PM
#6
Member
Join Date: May 23, 2012
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I have 9400 hard driven miles on mine, mods done at 700 miles, and no issues using the recommended Ford oil. Unless your mechanic is a retired Ford engineer, I would stick with the people who built the motor...of course everyone knows better than them if you read any forums, lol.
3/29/13, 03:04 PM
#7
Shelby GT350 Member
Join Date: May 6, 2012
Location: Crofton MD
Posts: 2,060
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I have 9400 hard driven miles on mine, mods done at 700 miles, and no issues using the recommended Ford oil. Unless your mechanic is a retired Ford engineer, I would stick with the people who built the motor...of course everyone knows better than them if you read any forums, lol.
3/29/13, 03:19 PM
#8
V6 Member
Join Date: November 1, 2012
Location: Bethesda, MD
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I've spent a good two days reading the forums about oil since buying my Mustang. Fair warning; there seems to be little else that can start as big a debate/fight than oil threads. That said, what I've read indicates that Motorcraft 5w-50 quickly shears down to a 40 weight oil, and eventually to a 30, if you run the full change interval.
If you're worried about your warranty, use the recommended MC 5w-50. In a daily driver it's going to shear down to a 30 weight soon enough anyway.
If you're going to switch to a top-teir synthetic, that won't shear, I'd be worried that a true 50 weight oil is thicker than you really want. I'm not sure I'd drop all the way to 20 weight though, which seems awfully thin (and EPA-triggered).
I'm strongly considering switching to a high quality 5w-30 or 0w-30 for my daily driven GT.
If you're worried about your warranty, use the recommended MC 5w-50. In a daily driver it's going to shear down to a 30 weight soon enough anyway.
If you're going to switch to a top-teir synthetic, that won't shear, I'd be worried that a true 50 weight oil is thicker than you really want. I'm not sure I'd drop all the way to 20 weight though, which seems awfully thin (and EPA-triggered).
I'm strongly considering switching to a high quality 5w-30 or 0w-30 for my daily driven GT.
Last edited by SennaF1; 3/29/13 at 03:26 PM.
3/29/13, 03:35 PM
#9
Legacy TMS Member
I switched from the factory-fill 5w50 Ford oil to Amsoil 10W40 XL oil at 5,000 miles, now at 10,100 I switched again to BND Automotive's "QuantumBlue" custom-blended oil ... they made a formula for me in a 12.5W43 weight, especially formulated for my engine, my driving conditions, and my temps/weather.
I used their 8w35 in my '07 Charger Hemi 5.7 and loved it there ... it stayed clean well over 5-6,000 miles, and at 7800 miles the used-oil-analysis said I should try a 9k-mile interval next time, it was still that good.
I plan on draining this 12.5w43 at about 17,500 and sending out a sample for analysis.
I used their 8w35 in my '07 Charger Hemi 5.7 and loved it there ... it stayed clean well over 5-6,000 miles, and at 7800 miles the used-oil-analysis said I should try a 9k-mile interval next time, it was still that good.
I plan on draining this 12.5w43 at about 17,500 and sending out a sample for analysis.
3/31/13, 10:12 AM
#15
V6 Member
Join Date: September 23, 2005
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I've been reading bobistheoilguy in regard to Pennzoil Ultra and the new gas to liquid formed base oil having tremendous resistance to shear and volatility. It seems to be a great choice but 0w40 is the closest they have and it is hard to find. The 0w40 is recommended for Chrysler SRT motors. I can't help but think the 5w30 would be fine for track pack cars for daily driving.
4/17/13, 08:01 PM
#17
GT Member
Join Date: April 11, 2013
Location: Michigan
Posts: 110
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
That is the worst thing you could do is change the weight of the oil, you need to run whatever the book says there are many things inside the engine that depend on the weight of the oil. Timing chain tensioner, and the internal tolerances of the motor is designed to work with the oil that is recommended from the factory. Changing from 5W-50 to 5W-30 can cause harm in the timing components. Change the oil when you're supposed to and run the recommended oil and it will last forever.
4/17/13, 09:05 PM
#18
Mach 1 Member
That is the worst thing you could do is change the weight of the oil, you need to run whatever the book says there are many things inside the engine that depend on the weight of the oil. Timing chain tensioner, and the internal tolerances of the motor is designed to work with the oil that is recommended from the factory. Changing from 5W-50 to 5W-30 can cause harm in the timing components. Change the oil when you're supposed to and run the recommended oil and it will last forever.
4/17/13, 09:39 PM
#19
Bullitt Member
Join Date: January 25, 2013
Location: Jersey
Posts: 460
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
4/18/13, 07:46 AM
#20
Bullitt Member
That is the worst thing you could do is change the weight of the oil, you need to run whatever the book says there are many things inside the engine that depend on the weight of the oil. Timing chain tensioner, and the internal tolerances of the motor is designed to work with the oil that is recommended from the factory. Changing from 5W-50 to 5W-30 can cause harm in the timing components. Change the oil when you're supposed to and run the recommended oil and it will last forever.
Regular GT calls for 5W-20, Track Pack calls for 5W-50. Do you really think Ford builds separate Track Pack-specific engines with different timing chain tensioners and such...I doubt it. Track Pack cars likely get the same exact engine as non-Track Pack cars just with a different oil cap.
I had a UOA done at my first oil change, and Blackstone confirmed that after ~5000 miles the 5W-50 sheared down to a light 40W.
My opinion is that Ford fills with 5W-50 because they're selling you a car that is ready to be driven on track reliably right from the showroom.