How much oil does it take?

[kurtfriedrich]

I had my 04 cobra in for 1000mile oil change at Jiffy Lube, and they said there was some notice that Ford has said "put 6 quarts in, do not fill until the dip stick is at the top mark". So they put in 6 quarts and I am at about the 50% level on the dip stick. Anyone else heard this story?

thanks
Kurt

[RF Cobra]

I had my 04 cobra in for 1000mile oil change at Jiffy Lube, and they said there was some notice that Ford has said "put 6 quarts in, do not fill until the dip stick is at the top mark". So they put in 6 quarts and I am at about the 50% level on the dip stick. Anyone else heard this story?

thanks
Kurt
I've never found Ford's dipsticks to be very reliable. Haven't heard anything about a notice from Ford, but the manual says 6 quarts. As long as they put 6 in and you don't have a leak you should be fine.

[Big T]

6 quarts is what I do. No problems.

[Mirage]

kurtfriedrich~ As per the service manual: "Engine oil (includes filter change) - Motorcraft SAE 5W-20 Super Premium Motor Oil - 5.7L (6 quarts)". HTH.

[Coy]

You may consider going with Royal Purple (synthetic) for your next oil change and transmission. I believe that the rear end already has synthetic fluid. I think that you will notice an improvement. Six quarts for oil.

[beerkat]

I just changed my oil for the second time. I use 6qts. of 5w20 Syntec. My dip stick reads midway between add and full. With just 5 qts it does not read at all. Remember that oil will expand some as it gets hot. :thumbsup:

[Firme]

like some have stated. It would be a wise move to go with a synthetic oil, whether its mobil 1, royal purple, or amsoil. Also, using the OEM motorcraft oil filter is a good choice.

[smashedheadcat]

Letting the car sit will make the fluid level come up on the dipstick too. These heads hold quite a bit of oil. It takes awhile before it all drains down. Just something to think about.

[kurtfriedrich]

like some have stated. It would be a wise move to go with a synthetic oil, whether its mobil 1, royal purple, or amsoil. Also, using the OEM motorcraft oil filter is a good choice.
I generally assume this is oil company's plan to get more money from us. similar to how they advertise high octane gas, like it will make a low compression ratio 4 cyclinder get 20% more hp. The last time I saw a review on synthetic (which was likely 5 years ago) it left me thinking that its hard on the engine when you first start, but better for the engine on long hauls, racing at speed, etc. Since I start and stop mine 10 times a week to drive 5 miles to work, and rarely drive more than 20 miles, I have been thinking that it was not worth it for me.

Anyone seen any real long term study not done by Mobil?

thanks
Kurt

[Sniperfox]

Has anyone seen or read any long term studys by the automotive industry? the oil companies may have one take on it and the industry may have another. What does SVT say about it? They built the engines, maybe they have some input worth checking out.

[Firme]

Has anyone seen or read any long term studys by the automotive industry? the oil companies may have one take on it and the industry may have another. What does SVT say about it? They built the engines, maybe they have some input worth checking out.

well Ford/SVT uses Motorcraft synthetic blend in Cobra's.


As far as synthetics in Cobras goes, that has been a subject of discussion as long as I can remember. There is one guy I met online a while back when the 03's first came out that post on various boards as Cobra'03. The guy is a tribologist, and does independent research on oils as a Cobra owner. I can sit here and make a case for synthetic, but I think he does it best. here is a link

http://www.svtperformance.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=79898

Take special note of Test 6: Cold Crank Sumulator

here is a copy paste of the post
------------------------------------------- START OF POST

These are the most comprehensive and recent ones I could find. They date to March 2003 and May 2003. I will post the numbers, add a comment or two, and answer any questions you may care to pose. These tests were commisioned by Amsoil, but since they use standardized ASTM protocols, they could easily be verified, and any deception challenged. Based on my experiences with the products from all these companies, and the results of similar but less comprehensive tests posted elsewhere, these do not look doctored or suspect. But as I did not oversee them, I cannot and will not be accountable for any discrepancies, real or imagined. This was a lot of work to type, and I strived to get them right.

1. All the oils were 10w30 viscosity
2. The oils tested were:
Amsoil (syn)
Castrol GTX Drive Hard (mineral)
Valvoline Synpower (syn)
Mobil Drive Clean (min) - isn't this the rebadged Honda oil?
Pennzoil Purebase (min)
Quaker State (Syn)
Quaker State Peak Perf (min)
Castrol Syntec (syn)
Valvoline (min)
Pennzoil Synthetic (syn)
Mobil1 SuperSyn (syn)

The following ASTM tests were run:
Thin-film Oxygen Uptake ( D-4742)
High Temp/High Shear ( D-4683)
NOACK Volatility ( D-5900)
Pout Point (D-97)
Total Base Number (D-2896)
Cold Cranking Simulator D-5293)
4-Ball Wear (D-4172)
**************************************************
*******
Test 1: Thin Film Oxygen Uptake:
Measures the oxidation stability of an oil.
The induction time (break point) in minutes is measured. The test uses standard amounts of fuel dilution, soluble metals, and water to offer a real-world applicability.

Results for this test(all units in minutes):
Amsoil: >500 (no break)
Mobil1: 397
Pennzoil Purebase: 242
Castrol Syntec: 221
Valvoline: 219
Vavoline SynPower: 211
Mobil Drive Clean: 209
Quaker State Peak Performance: 192
Pennzoil Synthetic: 159
Quaker State Synthetic: 159
Castrol GTX Drive Hard: 132

Test 2: High Temperature/High Shear (HT/HS)
Measures a lube's performance under severe heat and shear (mechanical stress) as would be found in the journal bearings under heavy load. The units displayed are viscosity based, using the centipose unit (cP). The minimum spec for a 30w is 2.9 cP.

Results for this test (all units in cP):
Amsoil: 3.51
Quaker State Peak Performance: 3.37
Castrol GTX Drive Hard: 3.35
Vavoline SynPower: 3.30
Mobil1: 3.30
Valvoline: 3.30
Mobil Drive Clean: 3.28
Pennzoil Purebase: 3.16
Quaker State Synthetic: 3.15
Pennzoil Synthetic: 3.14
Castrol Syntec: 3.13

Test 3: NOACK Volatility.
Measures the evaporative loss of lubricants in high temperature conditions. The higher the number, the thicker the lubricant will become. API SL and GF-3 specs allow for a 15% evaporation limit. In this test, obviously, lower is better. Syns almost always have an advantage due to their monomolecularity.

Results for this test (% weight loss):
Amsoil: 4.86
Vavoline SynPower: 7.03
Castrol Syntec: 7.77
Quaker State Synthetic: 7.80
Pennzoil Synthetic: 8.15
Mobil1: 8.92
Castrol GTX Drive Hard: 8.93
Quaker State Peak Performance: 10.63
Mobil Drive Clean: 10.83
Pennzoil Purebase: 10.93
Valvoline: 12.18

Test 4: Pour Point
This test reveals the lowest temperature at which a lubricant will flow when cooled under test conditions. The lower, the better the product will perform in getting from the oil pan to the upper oil galleys, and in providing oil pressure quickly. Synoils generally are the best, because they are free of wax crystals, but today's mineral oils are better refined to remove wax impurities, and use advanced pour point depressant additives to help offset the synoils' intrinsically better properties.

Results for this test (all units in degrees Centigrade):
Amsoil: -48
Mobil1: -46
Vavoline SynPower: -46
Castrol Syntec: -43
Pennzoil Synthetic: -40
Quaker State Synthetic: -40
Pennzoil Purebase: -37
Valvoline: -37
Mobil Drive Clean: -37
Castrol GTX Drive Hard: -37
Quaker State Peak Performance: -34

Test 5: Total Base Number (TBN)
TBN displays the lubricant's reserve alkalinity, and is, of course, the opposite of TAN (total acid number). A high TBN will help resist the formation of acids from sulfur and other sources. It is also a good indicator of reserve resistance to oxidation. The higher the number, the superior ability to suspend contaminants and the greater the ability to provide long-drain intervals
Results for this test (all units in mg KOH/g):
Amsoil: 12.34
Vavoline SynPower: 11.38
Castrol Syntec: 10.39
Pennzoil Synthetic: 9.73
Mobil1: 8.57
Valvoline: 7.88
Quaker State Synthetic: 7.82
Castrol GTX Drive Hard: 7.74
Mobil Drive Clean: 7.71
Quaker State Peak Performance: 7.55
Pennzoil Purebase: 7.40

RR's comments: I was very impressed with all the oils, as the mineral oils have significantly improved, consistent with previous comments about how mineral oils are closing in, and that the GF-3 spec has resulted in very good performing products. Mobil1's showing is the best i have seen for that product, which usually was in the 5-6 range previously. It certainly also supports my previous comments that the 3K oil change "necessity" is out of place with current technology. Like an enema for a dead man, while it may not help to do a 3K change, it wouldn't hurt I guess.

Test 6: Cold Crank Sumulator
This one determines the apparent viscosity of the oils at low temperatures and high shear rates, simulating the dreaded cold start. It has direct applicability to engine cranking, the lower the number the better in terms of stress on the battery, starter, etc. A 10w is tested at -25degF and must show a vis <7000 cP to pass.

Results for this test (all units cP at -25degC):
Pennzoil Synthetic: 3538
Amsoil: 3590
Mobil1: 3967
Quaker State Synthetic: 4142
Vavoline SynPower: 4541
Quaker State Peak Performance: 4620
Castrol Syntec: 4783
Castrol GTX Drive Hard: 5804
Pennzoil Purebase: 5936
Mobil Drive Clean: 6448
Valvoline: 6458

RR Comments: If you live and drive your car in very cold climates, the advantage of the synoils is obvious. Keep in mind that the NOACK performance figures here as well, as this tests hows the performance of fresh oil - after a few thousand miles, the oils with higher volatility will likely have thickened, unless there has been high dilution from fuel, such as can occur if excessive startup idling warmups are employed.


Test 7: Four Ball Wear
This one is a good indicator of the wear protection of a lubricant, although in the real-world it is should be factored in with the TBN of the oil. Three metal balls are clamped together, and a rotating 4th one is pressed against them in sliding contact. A scar is produced, since at some point the film strength (resistance to being squeezed out) of the oil will be exceeded. The scar is then measured, and the smaller the average wear scar, the better. This test is affected by both the base stock of the oil, and its additive package.

Results for this test (all units in inches):
Amsoil: 0.40
Castrol Syntec: 0.45
Vavoline SynPower: 0.55
Quaker State Synthetic: 0.55
Mobil Drive Clean: 0.55
Pennzoil Synthetic: 0.60
Mobil1: 0.60
Valvoline: 0.60
Castrol GTX Drive Hard: 0.60
Quaker State Peak Performance: 0.60
Pennzoil Purebase: 0.65


RR Comments: Amsoil and Castrol Syntec are the clear frontrunners, indicating excellent chemistry and use of anti-wear additives. Once again, the high performance of the mineral oils against the 2nd tier synoils is notable, although one cannot dismiss the superiroity of the synoils across the board.

However, it is also admirable how well many of the mass-produced mineral oils fared. If you do frequent oil changes, they are very worth considering. The gap between synoil and the hydro-isomerized GIII mineral oils has significantly narrowed, especially when the GF-3 spec was implemented.

**************************************************
************

Final comments:
I think that except for one of the lubes, there was a wide discrepancy of performance for the others - one might be good here, not so good there. As in life, consistency of performance is what sets apart the great from the good.
As Voltaire said, "The best is the enemy of the good". Perfectly good performance can be found in any of these products, and a thinking owner would factor his/her driving styles, operating conditions (environmental), maintenance schedule (intervals between changes), cost constraints, buy vs lease, and expected length of ownership into making a choice.

Now, what about the other top synoils? Well, they were not tested here, but certainly the industry giants were. Based on tests I have run or seen from sources I trust in the industry, Red Line, NEO, Motul, and others would likely score in the top quartile of these tests. The tests and UOA's I have seen for Royal Purple have never shown it to be other than mid-tier, competitive with the synoil or GIII mineral oils from the major companies.

Hope this is useful to you - I found it fascinating to watch the goo go head to head.

Happy Motoring!!

[Boney]

What type of oil would you recommend for 1993 stock cobra with 70,000 miles.

My daughter just bought one.

Thanks
Dave

[kurtfriedrich]

Well Firme,

now that's what I call the anwer to a post!!!

thanks

[Firme]

What type of oil would you recommend for 1993 stock cobra with 70,000 miles.

My daughter just bought one.

Thanks
Dave

It depends on the previous owner(s). Did they do thier oil changes on schedule? What type of Oil did they use? General rule of thumb, I have been told, is if you have a high mileage engine, do not switch from mineral to synthetic.


Well Firme,

now that's what I call the anwer to a post!!!

thanks

:thumbsup: I always love to share a good find

[cobrabitn]

6.5 quarts of oil to go in your 4.6L engine. This is what they said on the assembly line in Dearborn, MI last year. (Puts it up to the "full" mark on the dipstick) They said the engine runs better with that much in it....can't remember why though?? :doubt:

[RF Cobra]

well Ford/SVT uses Motorcraft synthetic blend in Cobra's.

Happy Motoring!!
Prior to '03 yes.

Ford specifies the Motorcraft super premium 5w-20 for the 03 & 04 Cobras which is a full synthetic according to Ford. :)

[Firme]

Prior to '03 yes.

Ford specifies the Motorcraft super premium 5w-20 for the 03 & 04 Cobras which is a full synthetic according to Ford. :)

sweet... even more reinforcing goodness of synthetic :thumbsup:

[jimmysidecarr]

Prior to '03 yes.

Ford specifies the Motorcraft super premium 5w-20 for the 03 & 04 Cobras which is a full synthetic according to Ford. :)
Wrong!
The Motorcraft ---->Super Premium<---- 5w20 is IN FACT a synth blend..... and that is factory fill , and the recommended oil.... PART# XO5W20QSP , <---- SUFFIX IS SHORT FOR "QUART - SUPER - PREMIUM"

With that said though..... Ford does make a full synthetic in 5w20 part# XO5W20QFS <--- note suffix indicates "quart - full - synthetic"...... the name of this product is not super premium............. but FULL SYNTHETIC.... Which is not factory fill..


BTW our sticks are notoriously inaccurate.... due to the crimped ends


6 quarts equals full!!....... just remark your stick after at least 15/20 minutes of drain down .... or better yet.... mark it the next morning.
how to mark????-----> I used a mini hacksaw, but Dykes would work too.

If you are going to open track.... and are concerned about our heads retaining oil, due to less than optimal drain backs...
Stick 6 1/2 in there....
or get an Accusump, or a Canton 9 qt road race pan with windage tray .... or both $$$$$$$

Either way it's cheaper than an $11k engine....

Regarding Synthetics-------> It's the best protection you can buy!
I currently run 10w30 Royal Purple street synthetic, in an extremely hot climate that never really gets cold even in the winter....
I am thinking about switching to Amsoil very soon... due to the secretive "ways" of the Royal Purple Corp with regards to..... test specs, and components, ....but they are guarding trade secrets on a very proven killer product...

LEGAL DISCLAIMER The above information was shared 100% "tone free" and in no way implies or claims any of the previous information posted herein is incomplete, inaccuate, misleading, or fraudulent in any way.

Thanks for taking the time to read it.

Jimmy ;)