Basic Maintenance? few q's
01-24-2013, 08:51 AM
#11
Cut & Paste Expert
Join Date: May 2007
Location: NW Arkansas
Posts: 13,322
Not putting a lot of miles is gonna kill you quick.
The moisture is going to build up in the oil
from lack of bringing it up to operating temps.
Not allowing the high temps to boil off the
acid producing moisture.
My cooling system has 6 years on it and I dont
plan on doing any flushing soon. That flushing
is like snake oil. If the antifreeze is up to snuff,
what is getting in that needs flushed out?
And the brake fluid should be good for quite a long time.
But if you must spend $$, the brakes would get
the most attention.
Drop a 174 degree thermostat in there and call it good.
Fuel filter
fuel filter
fuel filter
CANT SAY IT ENOUGH
Check the rear diff fluid level
and the manual tranny gearbox
for the proper fluid levels and
add accordingly.
The moisture is going to build up in the oil
from lack of bringing it up to operating temps.
Not allowing the high temps to boil off the
acid producing moisture.
My cooling system has 6 years on it and I dont
plan on doing any flushing soon. That flushing
is like snake oil. If the antifreeze is up to snuff,
what is getting in that needs flushed out?
And the brake fluid should be good for quite a long time.
But if you must spend $$, the brakes would get
the most attention.
Drop a 174 degree thermostat in there and call it good.
Fuel filter
fuel filter
fuel filter
CANT SAY IT ENOUGH
Check the rear diff fluid level
and the manual tranny gearbox
for the proper fluid levels and
add accordingly.
Last edited by 157dB; 01-24-2013 at 08:55 AM.
01-24-2013, 01:27 PM
#12
I see you already got a lot of good feedback on this. It’s best to follow the information in the 2008MY Mustang Scheduled Maintenance Guide 3rd Printing and the 2008MY Mustang Owner Guide 3rd Printing (starting on page 236).
For a free downloadable copy of both guides, go here:
http://Owner.Ford.com/servlet/Conten...OwnerGuidePage
Cory
Last edited by FordService; 01-24-2013 at 01:31 PM.
01-24-2013, 05:56 PM
#14
6th Gear Member
Too few miles per trip is death to an engine, I don't care WHAT oil you use. You need a good 10 miles or more (for your location, likely more) each way to begin to burn off the moisture in the crankcase. If not, NO oil has enough protective properties to last long.
With the mileage you put on, you should be using the factory synthetic blend and changing it and the filter every 4k to 5k miles; earlier if you're seeing babypoop yellow on the underside of the oil cap. Using full synthetic and having to change it WAYYYY too early due to moisture buildup is a waste if you change it before 10,000 miles.
Other than that, replace the fuel filter every 25k to 35k miles.
With the mileage you put on, you should be using the factory synthetic blend and changing it and the filter every 4k to 5k miles; earlier if you're seeing babypoop yellow on the underside of the oil cap. Using full synthetic and having to change it WAYYYY too early due to moisture buildup is a waste if you change it before 10,000 miles.
Other than that, replace the fuel filter every 25k to 35k miles.
01-24-2013, 08:40 PM
#16
3rd Gear Member
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Jacksonville NC
Posts: 968
I use the owners manual as a guide and use Motorcraft filters and oil, the synth blend that came in it from the factory. Had antifreeze and brake fluid flushed at 60k miles as it was 7 years old. Change my fuel filter and air filter every 30k miles. Oil, filter and tire rotation every 5k miles.
05 GT with 62k miles and no mods except SLP loudmouths, Koni shocks and struts and cosmetics. I enjoy doing my own maintence.
05 GT with 62k miles and no mods except SLP loudmouths, Koni shocks and struts and cosmetics. I enjoy doing my own maintence.
01-25-2013, 09:32 AM
#17
Ok, so I drive my car 5 days a week about 2miles back and forth to work on the weekdays. On the weekends I do a bit more driving as it is fun 
normally ill spend around an hour at somepoint on the weekend driving around. I also live just off the highway so Im pretty much always driving on the highway. Hopefully this is ok? I didnt realize short trips were bad 0.o Learn something new everyday. This is why I use these forums!
normally ill spend around an hour at somepoint on the weekend driving around. I also live just off the highway so Im pretty much always driving on the highway. Hopefully this is ok? I didnt realize short trips were bad 0.o Learn something new everyday. This is why I use these forums!
01-25-2013, 02:47 PM
#18
6th Gear Member
If I had only a few miles to get to work, I'd get a bike (I mean peddle!) as long as the environment supported that. My wife used to drive under 2 miles each way to work and it PAINED me but we were in the Chicago area and driving was safer (believe it or not). In the winter, it didn't take long for underneath her oil cap to look as if she had a blown gasket. We moved, she drives farther (and it's warmer) so no more yellow snot in her oil.
As long as you're burning off the moisture on a weekly basis, you're better off than if you didn't. I'd still stick with the synthetic blend but change early; at about 4k miles to 5k miles; 3k miles if you have a great need to be ****.
As long as you're burning off the moisture on a weekly basis, you're better off than if you didn't. I'd still stick with the synthetic blend but change early; at about 4k miles to 5k miles; 3k miles if you have a great need to be ****.
01-25-2013, 03:04 PM
#19
If I had only a few miles to get to work, I'd get a bike (I mean peddle!) as long as the environment supported that. My wife used to drive under 2 miles each way to work and it PAINED me but we were in the Chicago area and driving was safer (believe it or not). In the winter, it didn't take long for underneath her oil cap to look as if she had a blown gasket. We moved, she drives farther (and it's warmer) so no more yellow snot in her oil.
As long as you're burning off the moisture on a weekly basis, you're better off than if you didn't. I'd still stick with the synthetic blend but change early; at about 4k miles to 5k miles; 3k miles if you have a great need to be ****.
As long as you're burning off the moisture on a weekly basis, you're better off than if you didn't. I'd still stick with the synthetic blend but change early; at about 4k miles to 5k miles; 3k miles if you have a great need to be ****.
01-25-2013, 03:10 PM
#20
6th Gear Member
Also, the condensation in the oil is more of an issue in the colder weather. You can extend your oil change frequency a bit in the warmer months. The OM states 7500 miles on the blend IIRC but I'd still change it in the summer at about 5k miles what with your short weekday drives and as long as you're still burning off the moisture on the weekends.