Oil grade?

ShakeandBake

New Member

Jun 9, 2002

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Morgantown PA

Jul 9, 2004

#1

• Jul 9, 2004

• #1

Guys I need some input,
I bought my 98 Cobra 2 weeks ago and I want to change the oil, however I do not have an owners manual as of yet and was wondeering what grade oil is recommend by Ford to use? Thanks in advance.

-Chris

 

tygr1

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Jun 16, 2004

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SoCal

Jul 9, 2004

#2

• Jul 9, 2004

• #2

ShakeandBake said:

Guys I need some input,
I bought my 98 Cobra 2 weeks ago and I want to change the oil, however I do not have an owners manual as of yet and was wondeering what grade oil is recommend by Ford to use? Thanks in advance.

-Chris

Click to expand...

Hi Chris,

I just bought my 98 Cobra 3 weeks ago! I'm running 5W-20 synthetic, but let one of the experts here guide you, as I also have no owner's manual.

So, how's the new one? What color? Extras?

Mine is black/black leather. When I got it it already had 3:73 gears and Flowmaster Delta 40s welded in with turn downs in front of the rear axle.

 

ShakeandBake

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Jun 9, 2002

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Morgantown PA

Jul 9, 2004

#3

• Jul 9, 2004

• #3

Hi tygr1,
My Cobra is the triple black Convert. with 52,000 miles...only mods are Flowmaster mufflers. Congrats on your purchase, these are great cars to own.

Also, I think your right about the oil grade, 5w 20...but I hope someone here can help me out before I go to the auto store.

-Chris

 

missouri_guy197

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Aug 31, 2002

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St. Louis, MO

Jul 9, 2004

#4

• Jul 9, 2004

• #4

Ford recommends 5w30 for the 96-98's...

 

doogz

Founding Member

Apr 11, 2002

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London, UK

Jul 9, 2004

#5

• Jul 9, 2004

• #5

6 quarts of 5w-30. I use Mobil 1 synthetic

P.S: The dipstick reads about 1/2 low, the motor does not require 6.5 quarts.

 

S

saddlebackcobra

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Jul 8, 2004

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Jul 10, 2004

#6

• Jul 10, 2004

• #6

ROYAL PURPLE! - Its better than Mobil 1 and cheaper. You can usually find it in performance stores but I think Pepboys is starting to carry it too now. Use 5w-30. I use 6 quarts too. Royal purple has a higher synthetic blend than Mobile 1 and reduces friction allot better. Helped my gas mileage slightly too. I am not to sure I will do it, but Royal Purple says you can go up to 12,000 miles inbetween oil changes as long as you change your oil filter every 3k miles. A sales rep from the company spoke to our mustang club about all of the details. Pretty good stuff.

 

C

chuckystang

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Jul 12, 2004

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Jul 27, 2004

#7

• Jul 27, 2004

• #7

Hey all, I have been just throwing in 10w 30 or 10w 40 , is that ok for non synthetic? I have a 99 cobra???

 

ShakeandBake

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Jun 9, 2002

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Morgantown PA

Jul 28, 2004

#8

• Jul 28, 2004

• #8

Yikes, 10w 30 seems a bit thick! Not sure about the 99's but my 98 Cobra takes 5w 30...I used Royal Purple 5w 30. Hope this helps!

 

S

sg465

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Apr 16, 2003

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Jul 28, 2004

#9

• Jul 28, 2004

• #9

the ford service manual for a 96 says 5w-30, 10w-30 for moderate to hot climates. i used 5w-30 synthetic on my first oil change since i bought it and too am curious if anyone runs the 10w-30 in hotter climates, the valvetrain tick is annoying

 

C

chuckystang

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Jul 12, 2004

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Jul 29, 2004

#10

• Jul 29, 2004

• #10

I was told 5 w 30 was thicker than 10w 30, I did notice just the other day under my 99 cobra hood it says 5w30, but could anyone settle this once and for all, what the difference is between 5w30, 10w30, 10w40??????

 

CrimsonCobra_01

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Oct 7, 2003

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Chi Town

Jul 29, 2004

#11

• Jul 29, 2004

• #11

my 01 asks for 5w-20 and i noticed that its always 25% more expensive per quart. sux but i hope its good

 

A

atvcrazy

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Jun 7, 2004

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Eastman GA

Jul 29, 2004

#12

• Jul 29, 2004

• #12

I would also like to know what oil for sure, ive been running 10-30 mobil 1 non synthetic in my 99. I live in southern GA where its pretty hot. I would like a rock solid answer though.

 

C

COBRA_SVT_VERT

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Feb 3, 2002

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JawJa

Jul 29, 2004

#13

• Jul 29, 2004

• #13

<<<<< Mobil 1 5w-50 blue cap...

 

Aaron 4.6

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Apr 10, 2001

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Georgia

Jul 29, 2004

#14

• Jul 29, 2004

• #14

chuckystang said:

I was told 5 w 30 was thicker than 10w 30, I did notice just the other day under my 99 cobra hood it says 5w30, but could anyone settle this once and for all, what the difference is between 5w30, 10w30, 10w40??????

Click to expand...

1st number = viscosity at low temp
2nd number = viscosity at high temp

5w30 is thinner at low temp, but the same at hi temp compared to 10w30
10w30 is the same at low temp, but thinner at hi temp compared to 10w40

 

COBRA90GT

Mustang Master

Sep 22, 2001

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HOCKEYTOWN ® , MI

Jul 29, 2004

#15

• Jul 29, 2004

• #15

chuckystang said:

I was told 5 w 30 was thicker than 10w 30, I did notice just the other day under my 99 cobra hood it says 5w30, but could anyone settle this once and for all, what the difference is between 5w30, 10w30, 10w40??????

Click to expand...

Whoa, whoa, whoa...looks like someone fed you some wrong information.

5w-30 & 10w-30 oil are the same "thickness," a thirty weight. 5w-30 and 10w-30 both flow the same once at operating temperature. However,they only differ in that at cold start-up, the 5w will flow faster/better than the 10w...until the oil reaches temp.

Again, both the 5w & the 10w thirty-weight oil will have similar flow characteristics at operating temperature.

Regarding "thickness:"

40 weight oil is thicker than a 30 weight (briefly: 50 weight is thicker than 40 weight, which is thicker than 30, which is thicker than 20).

There's really no need to use a 40 or 50 weight oil IMHO unless you are running your car hard during a long endurance event, such as open-track/road-racing. Variables such as climate (Arizona desert? New England cold?) come into play. Daily driver? Track-only car?

As mentioned earlier, the recommended oil was/is 5w-30 for the 96-98s, as well as the 99's. Ford then went to 5w-20 w/ the '01+ models strictly because of CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy - read: $$$$ savings for Ford). Many of us still use a quality 30 weight oil with no ill repercussions...

...the choice of oil brand (a whole 'nuther thread -LOL) & weight can be a very confusing topic, but the logical choice is to use an oil that is "just thin enough" for your application (for performance reasons/frictional losses/etc).

 

C

chuckystang

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Jul 12, 2004

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Jul 29, 2004

#16

• Jul 29, 2004

• #16

wow great answer, finally ahah. So does it matter if say you have put some 5w30 in there and then some 10w30 because they were out of the 5w30 or vica versa, another words, under most conditions it really doesnt matter right? or is it really bad to have 2 different kinds in there at once because honestly when I get my oil changed at firestone I have no idea what grade oil they put in my 99. but I have never had problems with my oil since the 5 years Ive had a mustang... I think someone told me 10w40 is good for the winter and 10w30 for summer? does that make sense... Im not sure where the "5" w 30 or 5w... That first nuber still seems confusing ahha i think im just being slow tonight ahah
thanks all

 

BlackenedSVT

Active Member

Jan 18, 2004

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New Jersey

Aug 7, 2004

#17

• Aug 7, 2004

• #17

Well what about the "0w-20" and "0w-30" motor oils..what does that mean?
What would these be best for?

I drive in NJ, and on the highway to Vermont a lot. I use 5w-20. Think thats about right for my application?

 

W

woomaster

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Apr 21, 2004

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San Antonio, TX / Wheaton, IL

Aug 9, 2004

#18

• Aug 9, 2004

• #18

click here


This should provide some education, it's a good read for those who aren't familiar with what vicosity numbers actually mean.