How to Change the Oil for your Classic Mustang
Any Mustang Classic car is a
beautifully designed machine that demands your loving attention for
proper maintenance. One of the most important ways that you can maintain
your vehicle is by making sure that it always has the proper oil that
it needs to drive smoothly, even if you don’t plan to drive it often.
The oil in your Mustang is responsible for lubricating the engine
system; without it, the engine block will literally melt into itself and
you’ll be faced with massive damages.
It’s a good idea to change your oil every 3000 miles or so. Check on
the oil with a dipstick before you do change it to be sure that it’s
necessary to do so. Changing your oil at home saves you time and money
over taking your car to a service station, and it also allows you to
work intimately on your vehicle and to learn about its inner workings.
Read on for a step by step guide to replacing the oil in your classic
Mustang.
Step 1 — Gather the Materials
You’ll need the following items in one place before you can change the oil in your car:
- New oil filter
- New oil packages
- Oil collection pan
- Jack stand set
- Wrenches
- Paper towels, funnel and newspapers
Step 2 — Prepare the Area
Begin by jacking up the front end of the car so that you have more
room to work in. Next, open up the hood and prop it open with the
attached bar. Be sure to wait until the engine has been off for several
hours before you do this.
Step 3 — Locate the Drain and Drain the Oil
Determine where the oil container is in the car and place a set of
newspaper sheets underneath it to catch any spills or drips. Next, place
the oil container pan below the drain plug and then unscrew the drain
plug by hand. This will begin the flow of dirty, used oil out of the oil
container and into the pan. Allow several minutes for all of the oil to
drain completely from the vehicle.
Step 4 — Examine the Filter
After the oil has drained completely, clean off the drain plug area
with a set of paper towels. Then use a wrench to begin to unscrew the
oil filter. You can continue to screw it off by hand. Examine the filter
for signs of damage. Look for debris and other buildup. You’ll need to
change out the filter and replace it with a new one if you see that it
is damaged. Otherwise, you can place the old filter back on the car.
Step 5 — Replace the Oil
Next, close up the drain plug once again and insert the funnel into
the top of the oil container. Read the back of the oil packaging to
determine how many quarts you’ll need, then install the new oil into the
oil container by dumping it into the funnel. Allow all of the oil to
drain from the packages before you dispose of them properly. Then close
up the oil container and the hood of the car and lower it down off of
the jack stands.
Before you attempt to start the engine again, check the oil levels
with your dipstick. Be sure that you don’t need to either drain a small
amount of oil or to add more oil. If all seems to be in order with the
levels of oil in your Classic Mustang vehicle, you can safely turn on
the car once again.
All of the materials necessary for this project should be available
at your local hardware store or auto body repair shop. If you have any
more questions, ass a professional or a mechanic near you for additional
advice and assistance in changing the oil on your Classic Mustang car.