synthetic motor oil?

mustangmuscle · Apr 11, 2004

i have read many articles dealing with synthetic motor oils and have actually used mobil 1 in my 93 5.0 LX and my 02 GT. but recently, i have read that some synthetics may not be all that great. if memory serves, i believe the oils mentioned were mobil 1 and royal purple, as they did not perform very well in a lubrication study of several different synthetics. however, another synthetic, amsoil, was at the top of the charts!
i now own a new 04 Cobra and have, as yet, to change the oil......it only has a couple hundred miles on it. was hoping to get some info/feedback on which synthetic is best and why u think its best..........thanks

COBRA90GT · Apr 11, 2004

synthetic > semi-synthetic > dino-oil

This is one of those questions where everyone will give you a different response. Some are die-hard Amsoil fanatics, while others love RoyaPurple, RedLine, Mobil 1, & all of the other various synthetics.

Here's my personal opinion:

Generally speaking, as long as you are running a synthetic oil, the rest is just "details." Of course, there are going to be small differences among the different synthetic oils out there on the market (as with any product comparison), but you'll be hard pressed to see any really significant (read: worthwhile) results. IMHO, they (today's synthetic oils) are very closely matched. I would also look for independent oil research papers, as opposed to the research data which may be found on the actual manufacterers' websites...

Finally, I run Mobil 1 because of its relatively cheap pricing & it's wide availability. YMMV...

Tunnel2vision · Apr 11, 2004

Amsoil=Liars.. they say that a certain type of their oil can only be changed once a year? Ya my moron Mother started to take that to heart in her 1989 Lx 5.0 and i checked the oil the other day ( and yes she was using their oil filter) and the oil was jet black and a quart low, -flush that **** and put in Mobile 1- 3000 mile oil changes no problems, dont be a tool just change the oil every 3k.

Lsredy2kstang · Apr 12, 2004

Yeah, I use Castrol Full Synthetic and have wonderful results!

If synthetic was really bad, then why is FORD using a synthetic blend on the Cobra's?

I would have to aggree that there are so many slight differences in the makeup that they are all good, it is just what you want to pay?

Uncle Meat · Apr 12, 2004

My Cobra has seen nothing but Mobil 1 oil & Mobil 1 filters which are replaced every 2500 miles.

This subject has been covered numerous times in these forums. This link started as a Royal Purple thread, but turned into a oil discussion and argument. Still has some good data and links in it though. read it and then come back if you have any questions....

http://forums.stangnet.com/showthread.php?t=426631

U.M.

ScottJ · Apr 12, 2004

My wife's old Chevy Cavalier we traded for the A4 had 205K miles all on Mobil 1.

Cobra-Master · Apr 12, 2004

I've got 7,000 miles on my '03 Cobra, and have been thinking about a switch to synthetic oil.

However, I'm VERY apprehensive because I previously owned a '00 Z28 and I switched to synthetic oil at about 10K miles and it started using oil and burning it on start up almost right after the switch. I sold it with 33K miles and it was still doing the same thing.

I sure do not want a repeat on my '03 Cobra.

Any ideas?

CobraCruiser · Apr 12, 2004

I think that with the Amsoil you have to follow their instructions to the letter, as far as leaving the oil in for any length of time. I am sure that you have to change filters at certain intervals.

I do know that they sell a special filtering system that uses a high pressure filter that over the course of a certain amount of time all of your oil will eventually flow through. This filter is very fine and restrictive and is separate from the regular filter, as only small amounts can flow through it at any one time. I am sure that this is intended mostly for fleet owners whose vehicles accumulate many miles a year. I doubt that its cost is justified for us regular drivers.

As for what I use, my '99 Cobra has never had anything but Mobil 1 in it since the first oil change. My '03 has only had Royal Purple in it since the first change, but is going to Mobil 1 this week. Mobil 1 is much easier to get around here. I have to order RP and have it delivered to my house, which is a pain at times. The oil itself is fine, though. I used it because at the time they offered the recommended 5w20 and Mobil 1 didn't. Since Ford does my changes for free (I think that all '03 Cobra owners get this benefit.), I try to use what they prefer.

Cobra-Master · Apr 12, 2004

CobraCruiser said:
Since Ford does my changes for free (I think that all '03 Cobra owners get this benefit.), I try to use what they prefer.

This is the first I've heard of '03 owners getting free oil changes... please tell me where it says this is possible. I'm due for a change right now, and I'd really like a free one!

Gray02GT · Apr 12, 2004

I dont get free oil changes.

Using Mobil1 5w30 here BTW.

mustangmuscle · Apr 12, 2004

thanks to all!

thanks to everyone that replied to my post. i appreciate the valuable info and opinions expressed here.
btw, i would also love to know about the "free" oil changes on cobras........please reply with any info.....thanks again

GREENBIOCH · Apr 13, 2004

Cobra-Master said:
I previously owned a '00 Z28

That was the problem right there!

CobraCruiser · Apr 13, 2004

My dealer changes my oil every 5,000 miles for free. I believe that it came as part of some package with the car. I don't think that it cost anything. If I remember correctly, it is part of the premium service package that came with the new Cobras.

Check with your service rep at the dealership where you bought the car.

CRCarl · Apr 13, 2004

Free oil changes ----

The free oil changes come with the uber-fancy extended warranty - retails for ~$4,800 on an '03 Cobra. I decided against it, and just got the standard extended warranty, but the next time you buy a Ford you might get the dealer to throw it in on the cheap (~$2500) and that might make it worth it.

C

seidler · Apr 13, 2004

1200 Miles, RedLine 5w20

schteve · May 1, 2004

My extended warranty ( Premium) was only 2100..get your game face on b4 you see the finance dood...Scum I say...SCUM!!

Snake03 · May 2, 2004

schteve said:
My extended warranty ( Premium) was only 2100..get your game face on b4 you see the finance dood...Scum I say...SCUM!!

There is no single extended warranty for the Cobra. Ford offers several versions, each adding a bit more than the previous, and of course costing a bit more.

You can also go "cafeteria" plan and pick and choose individual elements as you see fit. The only thing I took was gap protection becuause I only put about $4500 down on the car and will be "upside down" for a bit. It was very cheap.

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