Good extended drain option for Ford 4.6L?

[Jakob_1992]

Hello everyone,

I've been reading this site for a few months now. I'm really amazed at how much I've already learned, because of how much you all know! It's been a great experience.

Anyway, here's my situation:

My Mustang is, unfortunately, going to have to be my daily driver over the Michigan winter. I've had to change the oil over the winter before - yes, I refuse to go to a quick-change place - and while I would do it if my driving style doesn't sound like a candidate for an extended drain, I'd like to test the water and see if I could leave one fill in the sump during the snowy season.

So, the checklist:

Vehicle is a 2004 Mustang GT. I drive it like a Mustang most of the time, with spirited starts from lights. I avoid WOT for the most part, though. The car's in great shape, clean down the fill hole and in overall excellent working condition with ~78,200 miles on it.

My trip to school runs me about 14 miles, mainly on the highway. I'll warm the car up in the winter before leaving, and I tend to take longer highway trips on the weekends.

So, will an extended drain oil be a good option for me? I think I'd like to try 0W-20 over the winter, for the cold start properties.

Thanks in advance, everyone!
-Jake

 

[Hallmark]

If you average c. 1,000 miles/month as your vehicle vintage & mileage indicates, an oil/filter change in late October would run you through to c. May 1 with only 6,000 miles. With the descriptions of your driving (style, distances, etc.), it appears that you're safe at those OCIs with either conventional, semi syn, or syn...no sweat.

 

[HTSS_TR]

Your driving habit is easy on any oil, conventional or synthetic. You don't need to warm the engine in the winter for excessive amount of times, a minute or 2 is more than sufficient, but you should drive easy the first 2-3 miles to warm up all fluids.

Your choice of synthetic 0W20 in winter is very good idea, actually you can use 0W20 all year in the Mustang. If you drive more than 12-15k miles a year you should change oil and filter twice a year in spring and fall. If you drive 10k miles or less a year then you only need to change oil once a year.

For oil filter, Motorcraft is a good filter and can be purchased at Wallmart for around $4, another good filter that doesn't cost an arm or a leg is Purolator Pure 1. Either filter can go 10k miles oil change interval.

 

[chubbs1]

I will probably get blasted here but, I would not recommend doing any extended drains before a good UOA on your normal interval. Your driving habits sound perfect for extended OCI's. I just would want to see how everything is first ie. air filtration, fuel coolant, insol's. Be on the safe side my brother!

 

[Jakob_1992]

Thanks so much for the fast replies guys. I'd love to hear more, so keep them coming!

Chubbs1, I was thinking of doing a UOA... I probably will, since you mentioned it. Although, I do believe everything is good - I'm not losing any coolant, and the air intake is a stocker, as opposed to a K&N CAI like most Mustang guys do.

and Hallmark: I bought the car used with 69,226 on the clock, and I've changed at 70,000 (with PP) and 75,000 (with M1) as per the manual.

I'd feel most comfortable with 0W-20 syn during the winter, though I know how I drive is easy on even dino. Which 0W-20 would everyone recommend?

 

[Merkava_4]

Originally Posted By: Jakob_1992

My Mustang is, unfortunately, going to have to be my daily driver over the Michigan winter.


I hope the salt don't eat it up too much.

 

[Jakob_1992]

I'm gonna do my best to keep it clean all winter, I won't let the salt get at it too much. Hopefully I'll have enough to pick up some beater by next winter.

 

[Merkava_4]

It might be kinda hard to do, but you should probably try to rinse the underside
of the car with a garden hose as often as you can over the course of winter.

 

[austinlunsford]

if you know anybody that you can hitch rides with, do it!

 

[ltslimjim]

Originally Posted By: chubbs1
I will probably get blasted here but, I would not recommend doing any extended drains before a good UOA on your normal interval. Your driving habits sound perfect for extended OCI's. I just would want to see how everything is first ie. air filtration, fuel coolant, insol's. Be on the safe side my brother!


Blasted? That's what I would do to. +1!

 

[addyguy]

If you like Mobil 1 oil, Mobil 1 0W-20 would be an excllent winter fill, and will easily do a10k mile interval.

 

[Cujet]

Just an FYI, I had far better UOA results on M1 10W-30 in my 4.6L F150. Of course, the truck engine is different, with full floating piston pins, better rings, and so on. AND, I am in South Florida, where it's hot year round.

However, I did travel extensively, tow and generally thrash the truck. It currently resides with my brother in Vermont, and has 250,000++ miles. The cylinders looked great, as did the cams when I gave it to him at 230K.