Crown Vic

[Studebaker]

We bought a 2003 Crown Vic (not an old police car) in December and it passed 100,000 miles on the way home. I have done 4 oil changes @ 5000 mi each, just about all hwy miles. The oil is very clean. Mileage is now 120,000.
I am using 5 qts of Havoline 5w-20 conventional and 1 qt Havoline synthetic 5w-20 and a motorcraft filter. It doesn't use any oil between changes.
I like the car, but it is low to the ground and I don't like crawling underneath it while it is on jack stands. I have a device that can pump oil out from the top, but I still have to get underneath for the filter. I am thinking of using supertech full synthetic and a fram ultra filter, changing the oil every 7500 miles and the filter every 15000 miles. Again, it is mostly hwy miles. Think this would be ok?

 

[Oldmoparguy1]

Use a Motorcraft filter.

 

[bullwinkle]

As long as the engine is clean inside (no sludge), sure. I would go all synthetic if I was going to go 7500, though-especially with all the deals going on now (like the Amazon PP & Ultra deal).

 

[Oregoonian]

Sounds like a good plan to me.

One other option might be to go to a semi-syn like Motorcraft and Fram Ultra filter (for 2 OC's) for 7500 OCI's. It would save a few bucks in oil costs and you'll only have to go under the car every other OC.

 

[SEMI_287]

The 4.6 is easy on oil and will almost run forever. I'd replace the timing chains and tensioners to be safe. PP would be a great oil to run.

 

[NMBurb02]

If it is that much of a pain, I would consider M1 EP 0W-20, a Fram Ultra, and a 15k mile OCI.

 

[Y_K]

I did over a million mile on a few towncars with the MC 820s and M1 oil - 15k miles OCI on the same filter and oil. M1 filter was too loud for my taste on cold start-ups. Another excellent filter is NAPA Platinum [on sale, of course]. All tiers of WIX filters behaved well too. The oil I used was M1 0W-40 and some guys used 5w30 EP. We had mostly highway operation: Eugene to SEA-TAC corridor.

 

[Bigdaddyeasy]

I think its a perfectly sensible plan. St is fine and priced very well. Its a dexos approved oil and ofcourse is an sn g5.
Crown Victoria is a ridiculously reliable car. Longevity is superb.

 

[eljefino]

Is there a way you can drive it up on a curb to get that extra little height you need? Not over the sharp part, obviously, but through a cut. Straddle a ditch. Get in, get out.

Apparently the old parallelogram steering released the filter for access with the wheel cranked but you should have rack & pinion.

 

[Nick1994]

Run some Mobil 1 EP for at least 10,000 miles.

 

[mjoekingz28]

Ramps?

Have a pit installed?

Buy Oil and filter at WM and watch TLE install?

 

[Merkava_4]

Originally Posted By: Studebaker
I like the car, but it is low to the ground and I don't like crawling underneath it while it is on jack stands.


Get some Rhino Ramps ... they're way more convenient than jack stands.

 

[Whimsey]

Originally Posted By: Merkava_4
Originally Posted By: Studebaker
I like the car, but it is low to the ground and I don't like crawling underneath it while it is on jack stands.


Get some Rhino Ramps ... they're way more convenient than jack stands.


+1. They are sturdy, get the heavier load/weight ones, yet light enough to move and store. Plus they are wider than most heavy metal ramps and can accommodate today's wider tires better. I use then to change my wife's oil in her 2005 Explorer. It makes getting to the oil filter, buried deep in the suspension, doable.

Whimsey

 

[SirTanon]

Originally Posted By: Merkava_4
Originally Posted By: Studebaker
I like the car, but it is low to the ground and I don't like crawling underneath it while it is on jack stands.


Get some Rhino Ramps ... they're way more convenient than jack stands.


^^^^ This.

I use Rhino ramps with my 2010 Fusion, and I used them with my 2003 Merc Sable. Easy to use, strong enough to easily support the front of your CV, and not expensive.

Place the ramps in front of your front tires, drive up slowly, and stop when you crest the 'bump' at the top. Then just throw it in park, engage your parking brake, and throw some chocks around your rear tires.

With both my Fusion and Sable, I get an extra 8" or so ground clearance, which is more than enough room to drain the oil and handle the filter.

As far as your oil and filter choice - You can't go wrong with that setup, but in all honesty, it may be overkill. You should be able to get that drain interval with a semi-synth like Motorcraft.. Heck if your driving is almost all highway driving, you could easily get away with using PYB instead of Supertech Synth.. or even stick with your current mix of 5/1 Havoline conv/synth

And I'd stick with the MC filter. I run a 7500 mile OCI on my fusion and so far have only used MC FL400s filters, and a very similar oil mix to yours (~4:1 Conv/synth blend). Just cut two filters open the other night, and they're pretty much pristine. Your Crown Vic should be able to easily handle the same regimen.

.. one final thought - 100,000 miles is child's play for that engine.

 

[CELICA_XX]

So many people on this site recommend using the Fram ULTRA for multiple oil changes, but I don't like it.

I tried it last month and decided to keep the filter on. The very next morning I checked my oil and it was considerably dirty/dark compared to how it should look 12 hours after an OCI.

I didn't realize how much oil comes out when I remove the filter, not to mention the filter itself being full of used oil.

Basically you're just adding half a quart of used oil to the mix. Not a good feeling in my mind.

 

[TFB1]

Originally Posted By: Merkava_4
Originally Posted By: Studebaker
I like the car, but it is low to the ground and I don't like crawling underneath it while it is on jack stands.


Get some Rhino Ramps ... they're way more convenient than jack stands.

Agreed, use mine on every thing here including two Grand Marquis, a F-150 and my oldies...

I've gone as far as 11K mi on M1, engines have no sign of sludge...

 

[Studebaker]

Okay, change of plans. The new Topsider fluid extractor will not work on the Crown Vic. There seems to be some sort of a baffle in the dipstick tube.
So now I am open to suggestions for a 10,000 mi oil and filter combo, and a 15000 mi oil and filter combo, to minimize the number of times I have to go under the car.
I do 4000 mi changes on the Wrangler and don't have to jack it up to get under.

 

[bigt61]

I think you could go 10k on the SuperTech Synthetic. Just use a Fram TG and pick it up while you're at Walmart buying the oil.

 

[tig1]

Originally Posted By: Nick1994
Run some Mobil 1 EP for at least 10,000 miles.


I used M1 10-30 in my 96 Merc GM 4.6 all at 10K OCI. I sold the car with 218k and it still performed very well.

 

[JustinH]

Why are you pumping the oil out the top when you still have to go to the bottom of the car to change the filter?

I can see doing this in a car that has a weird cover over the bottom of the car, or is otherwise a pain to drain the oil but the crown vic 4.6 is simple.

I had Rhino Ramps when I was in New York and they worked great.

You will still be crawling around just as much changing that filter, maybe take it somewhere that has a lift and let them do it?

Great car by the way, mine didn't use a drop of oil either, I just got a little bored with it so to speak.