maintenance

Mustang_GT_02 · Apr 2, 2008

Alright getting ready to do the maintenance on the GT, couple of questions
how much oil does it take?
anyone have description on how to change the trans fluid and what fluid to use and how much?
what kind of spark plugs to get, and wires?

anything else I should change/look at ?

Jbauer · Apr 2, 2008

add six quarts of engine oil, then check it and see if you need anymore.

Trans takes 3.25 qts of Mercon ATF (for manual transmissions)
..two plugs, one drain, one fill, that are loosend with a 3/8 ratchet. you may need a siphon pump or something to get the fluid in.

BurningRubber · Apr 2, 2008

Your car will take 6 quarts of oil. Motorcraft is good stuff. Its a synthetic blend, and its fairly inexpensive. Also use a Motorcraft filter if you can. JUST STAY THE ~~~~ AWAY FROM FRAM!!!

For the transmission fluid, if its a manual its just drain and refill. Using some kind of suction pump makes it alot easier to get the fluid back in, or you can refill it from the top by removing the shifter if you like. Either way is annoying.

Make sure the car is level when you are filling it (if not, make sure its level when you check and see if its full), and as soon as fluid starts overflowing from the FILL plug you are full... tighten it back down and your done. I used Mobil-1 Synthetic ATF (yes, ATF) and its nice and smooth. Got to change mine again soon also. I think I used 3-4 quarts... id buy 4 just in case.

I use Autolite (basically the same thing as OEM Motorcraft) spark plugs. I have been running the coppers (cheaper) and they do fine. They burn a little hotter than the rest, and they also need to be replaced sooner... I beleive they are 764's but you can double check at the parts store. You can use platinums if you want, I reccomend not using Bosch plugs.

There are no spark plug wires, just individual coil packs. No need to replace them if the car isnt running rough/mis-firing... unless you REALLY want to, but they are expensive. Accel, MSD, and Motorcraft seem most popular.

Change your fuel filter while you are at it. You will need a fuel line disconnect tool (you can get them at Advance Auto for $12 or so), I like the silver wrench-like one. Its a 3/8" and something else size. You will use the 3/8" end IIRC.

Thats the basics...

If you want more draining/refilling your coolant if it hasnt been done in a long time.

If you have alot of miles it wont hurt to drain/refill your differential fluid. But thats a stinky, messy job... also make sure you use friction modifier (if the differential fluid isnt pre-mixed with it) when you refill it.

www.bullittarchive.com is helpful.

98COBRA281 · Apr 2, 2008

whats wrong with FRAM? i might know somebody who has one on his car

bdcardinal · Apr 2, 2008

98COBRA281 said:
whats wrong with FRAM? i might know somebody who has one on his car

the orange cans of death are low quality, plus you can get a motorcraft filter for so cheap its not worth using anything else.

98COBRA281 · Apr 2, 2008

ive always liked fram there rely that low of qualty? ill have to check out motocraft

lvmustanggt · Apr 2, 2008

Farm FTMFL

BurningRubber · Apr 2, 2008

98COBRA281 said:
ive always liked fram there rely that low of qualty? ill have to check out motocraft

Yes, really. They suck.

Fram just recalled a shat-ton of them due to the element inside the filter breaking down and blocking oil flow...

Killa · Apr 2, 2008

Use NGK TR55, its had long thread then autolite.

bdcardinal · Apr 2, 2008

KillaGT said:
Use NGK TR55, its had long thread then autolite.

or else he can use the motorcraft plugs. the updated ones have the full length threads.

98COBRA281 · Apr 2, 2008

FTMFL whats that, i guess im sort of a noob

40th GT · Apr 2, 2008

for the mutha ****in loss.

lol

98COBRA281 · Apr 2, 2008

40th GT said:
for the mutha ****in loss.

lol

ooh!! damn i just changed my oil 600 miles ago, i guess i have to wait to the next time i change my oil

GettinThere · Apr 3, 2008

BurningRubber said:
For the transmission fluid, if its a manual its just drain and refill. Using some kind of suction pump makes it alot easier to get the fluid back in, or you can refill it from the top by removing the shifter if you like. Either way is annoying.

Make sure the car is level when you are filling it (if not, make sure its level when you check and see if its full), and as soon as fluid starts overflowing from the FILL plug you are full... tighten it back down and your done. I used Mobil-1 Synthetic ATF (yes, ATF) and its nice and smooth. Got to change mine again soon also. I think I used 3-4 quarts... id buy 4 just in case.

Good advice.

I found it easy to fill through the shifter, and to use a shifter gasket to reinstall the shifter:

http://stangshiftergaskets.com/

Info about draining and refilling the transmission with the correct amount of new transmission fluid, from a Ford TSB published July 20, 2004:

"Fill the transmission with 3.0 liters (6.3 pints) of Motorcraft Mercon ATF (XT-2-QDX). The full fill level is approximately 19 mm (0.75") below the fill hole. Note: shift quality may improve further with break in, approximately 644 kilometers (400 miles) of driving."

I also used Mobil-1 Synthetic ATF.

BurningRubber said:
I use Autolite (basically the same thing as OEM Motorcraft) spark plugs. I have been running the coppers (cheaper) and they do fine. They burn a little hotter than the rest, and they also need to be replaced sooner... I beleive they are 764's but you can double check at the parts store. You can use platinums if you want, I reccomend not using Bosch plugs.

From a previous post about spark plugs by Randy: "...if you want "stock" platinum heat range in a Motorcraft, it's a AGSF-32-PM which is now a SP-493, if you want the same heat range in a copper core, get a AGSF-32-C or SP-447..."

To the o.p., get a Haynes manual if you don't have one already.

Mustang_GT_02 · Apr 3, 2008

thanks a lot guys! whats better copper or platinum? and should I not use the recommended oil from ford and just use ATF?

StangYellow · Apr 3, 2008

I buy the Napa Gold filters, they are the same as a Wix... but without the name, and sell for $6 instead of $15.

Fram filters are junk, no matter how many ads you see on tv, stay away from them. Motorcraft filters are Purolators... the cheaper ones, i forget what they are called. Still a decent filter.

*If I am not mistaken, arent Penzoil filters the same as Frams, but yellow?

98V6 K.I.T.T. · Apr 3, 2008

I've used nothing but FRAM, maybe I will have to swap now.

98E9GT · Apr 3, 2008

Pennzoil oil filters are exactly the same is FRAM just disguised differently, I use motorcraft FL820S filter, thinking about swapping to a mobile one though.

GettinThere · Apr 3, 2008

Mustang_GT_02 said:
...whats better copper or platinum?

The copper plugs provide a little more performance, but should be replaced at least every 30k miles. If you don't want to change plugs that often (spark plug blowout might be an issue), the platinums are fine. For a basically stock car, Motorcraft platinum plugs probably are the best choice, imho.

Mustang_GT_02 said:
...and should I not use the recommended oil from ford and just use ATF?

I think you have the T-45 transmission, not the 3650 that I have, so I can't recommend anything other than what Ford (or Tremec) recommend. I'm sure others will chime in with recommendations.

How many miles do you have on your car?

Mustang_GT_02 · Apr 3, 2008

I have got 56K just bought it so im not sure what maintenance the previous did or did not do.

So anything else I should look at or change?

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