Mustang 5.0 Oil Change

The Mustang 5.0 is a beautiful and powerful high performance
car, but it requires fresh oil periodically in exactly the same way that
every other car on the road does. It’s a good idea to plan on changing
the oil in your Mustang 5.0 every 3000 miles of driving or so. This
helps to keep the engine block from melting and preserves the overall
quality of the vehicle for many years to come.

There are several distinct advantages to changing the oil on your
Mustang on your own rather than taking it into a shop. First of all,
it’s cheaper and faster to do it on your own. Additionally, you’ll be
able to know exactly how good the level of worksmanship is. Finally, and
perhaps most importantly, you’ll develop a better sense for your
vehicle by changing the oil and will learn about your car. Read on for
some tips on how to change the oil in your Mustang 5.0.

Step 1 — Gather the Materials

You’ll need the following materials in order to change the oil in your Mustang:

• New oil filter
• New oil that matches the old oil in the car
• Funnel, newspapers and paper towels
• Wrench set
• Jack stand set
• Oil collection pan

Step 2 — Prepare the Car

Begin by jacking up the front end of the car on your jack stands.
Open up the hood on your Mustang 5.0 and prop it in place with the bar
that comes attached. Locate the oil container area and spread out a
layer of newspapers below it to catch any oil that may drip as you work.

Step 3 — Drain the Old Oil

Place the collection pan underneath the oil container. Begin to
unscrew the oil drain plug at the base of the container. As soon as it
comes loose, the oil will begin to drain into the pan. Be sure to keep
the pan close enough to the car that it will not splash or spill onto
the ground. Allow several minutes for the oil to drain fully. Once it
has drained completely, use the paper towels to clean up the base of the
oil container and the drain plug.

Step 4 — Change the Filter

Unscrew the oil filter from the base of the container. You may need
to use a wrench in order to begin to unscrew it, but it should then come
off easily by hand. Examine the filter for signs of damage and
determine whether or not you’ll need to replace it; you won’t likely
have to change the filter every time that you change out the oil. If it
does appear to be damaged or used up, place a new filter in its place.
You can examine the gasket system at the same time, if you’d like.

Step 5 — Install New Oil

Close up the oil drain plug 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 for your car. Pour that many quarts of oil into the
oil container through the funnel, and be sure to allow for all of the
oil to drain from the packaging. Close up the top of the oil container
then lower the vehicle off of the jack stands and close the hood.

Before you drive your Mustang 5.0, it’s a good idea to check on the
levels of the oil. Use a dipstick to measure the oil levels and
determine whether or not you’ll need to add a bit of oil to the
container or to remove some before you drive; it’s crucial that your oil
be at the proper level before you start the car up again.

All of the materials can be found at your local auto body repair shop
or hardware store. If you have any questions about changing the oil in
your Mustang 5.0, ask a mechanic near you for additional advice and
assistance.