if you really don't feel comfortable right now doing it yourself, just take it to the nearest Ford dealer and get them to change it. They usually have deals where they do it for around $20 bucks or so and you can be sure it will done correctly too as dealerships have to maintain their reputation for good service work and they don't have high school dropouts doing service work for them like some of the quick change places do either.

 

Where do you live? Where in GA? Maybe some could help you.

 

live n augusta. did it today, with help. new filter and oil. 5w30. did filter only b/c i dont know when it was last changed, thanks for the help.

 

Take it to Jiffy Lube or another national quick oil change shop. Don't forget you also get additional perks with shops like Jiffy Lube: 1) they have all varieties of oil viscosities and specialty oils like synthetic, semi-sythetic and high-mileage oils for you to choose from; my locale JL even carries Mobile 1 (I suggest either 10w30 semi-synthetic or high-mileage), 2) they thoroughly check your suspension and seals under your car for leaks and tighten if necessary as well as lube your chassis if applicable (also true of water & tranny lines under your hood), 3) they set your tire pressure all the way around to proper specs so you don't wear your tires down prematurely, 4) they top off your windshield washer fluid and radiator coolant in your overflow tank (if you are very low on coolant you may have to pay a small upcharge for a gallon of antifreeze but, so what, it's done and full - they also check your coolant that it protects your engine down to the proper below zero level), AND, which I think pays for itself over and over, 5) you can go into any Jiffy Lube at 500 mile intervals and they will completely "top-off" your fluids (oil, washer & coolant) at NO CHARGE! What the f@#*, how can you possibly beat that? They also do transmission flushes (complete including torque converters with AOD's), radiator flushes, change serpentine belts, state inspections, fuel injector cleaning, etc. Plus, you don't have to accumulate all that spent oil only to haul it off later for disposal. ALL IN 10 TO 15 MINUTES!! Come on, why be hassled unnecessarily. Take your car in.

 

I suppose I should explain the Royal Purple in my '98 GT. Another good shop to take your car for oil is Pep Boys, providing you have one near you. For $15 they will put in any oil and filter you buy at their warehouse. I always choose Mobile 1 or Royal Purple (only $1 more than Mobile 1 per quart at PP) and a high-volume, micro-fine filter such as Purolator's top of the line blue filter (rate #1 for "continued" oil passage, not just single pass as other filters are rated and made for synthetic use). You go to the service counter, tell them what you want or bring the products to the counter with you. Simple as that. This way you know you are getting all premium parts for sure. Only draw back there is you have to wait your turn for service unlike the in/out drive throughs of the Jiffy Lube type oil shops. Take your pick. I do both from time to time. Have at it.

 

Its good to know how to do you own work.

 

Did anyone else look at the first post really quickly and think damn, no oil change for 83,000 miles??

 

actually it was no change for 3k miles, the car has 83k miles on it now. i bought it at 80k miles.

 

Thought about it, but then just thought to myself this can't be true. Oh-well maybe he bought the car used with 80,000 miles or 70, or 60, or O-lord thats a tuff little engine then. Oh and ATLANTICBLUE99, make sure you change the filter everytime you change your oil, i noticed you said you changed the filter this time because you didn't know when the last time the filter had been changed.

 

98stngfk, what is the best oil for high mile cars, say 88k when i do my next oil change? and change the filter every time? go with the motorcraft, fram, or what filter as well?