Synthetic motor oil?

Sniperfox · 10-23-2004, 01:58 PM

What is the prevailing opinion on synthetic oil for 03-04 cobras? What brands and vis is preferred for year round use. Any advantages or disadvantages to synthetic over traditional motor oils?

ausie · 10-24-2004, 10:25 AM

Concerning the 03/04 motor, from what I have seen in other forums, the teflon coating on the pistons will dislove when syntetics are used. This may be nothing more than BS but was a topic to disclose the reason for the piston slap issue which is more than likely related the the iron block since it takes longer to expand than does aluminum. I have used many synthetic brands of oil in my 01 as well as my 96 exploder. I found that the AMSOIL 20w-50 series 2000 racing oil worked the best in both vehicles even in the dead of winter. That stuff poors like water in cold temperatures since it does not solidify like butter as does the same grade of oil in conventional form. One word of caution, synthetics usually tend to splash more in the valve train and tend to get sucked in through the PCV passage. You may want to get an oil separator for the PCV line to reduce the amount of oil entering the combustion chamber. That is something I have yet to do to the 04 in which I intend to do very soon. Royal purple also is a good oil as well as Red-line which may cost a little less than AMSOIL. Some auto-parts shops may carry Royal purple or Red-line but you need to locate a dealer for AMSOIL. I have even used Mobil 1 but that caused the hydrolic tensioners in the timming chain to make a lot of noise in the 01. When it comes time to perform the first oil change in the 04, I may just stick with conventional oil and not change over until 6000 miles unless I find out that Ford used their synthetic blend from the start.

Mirage · 10-24-2004, 12:33 PM

Sniperfox~ I did my first oil change at 600 miles using conventional oil and then at 2,000 miles I started using synthetic. I'm currently at 8,000 miles and have had no problems. My car has also been to the dealer for the necessary "spark plug upgrade" and they did not notice any problems what so ever. Of course this is my experience and there may very well be people who've had problems with the change over. To date, I've only met people who firmly believe in synthetic (I also use it for my motorcycle) motor oil.

Sniperfox · 10-24-2004, 12:56 PM

Thanks for the info. Hey Mirage, what necessary "spark plug upgrade" are you referring to?

**Firme** · 10-24-2004, 04:50 PM

good reading

http://www.svtcobraclub.com/forums/s...ead.php?t=7375

Mirage · 10-24-2004, 08:24 PM

Sniperfox~ I got a notice in the mail saying that FORD suggested a "hotter" spark plug and if I desired it (of course) I should bring it to the dealer. As such, I did bring it in (with all my mods on the car) and they did the service. The guy that I had work on my car also had an '03 Cobra and was SVT certified (or so he told me) which made me feel better. He was also quite knowledgeable about Cobra's (he said he's had many of 'em through the years). I'm sure if you call the dealer they'll tell you mroe. Best of luck!

Sniperfox · 10-24-2004, 10:39 PM

I wonder if I will receive a similiar notice for my 03. What year is yours and how long have you had it?

Mirage · 10-25-2004, 09:07 AM

Sniperfox~ I have an '03 Sonic Blue Cobra. It'll be two years come December 2nd that I'll have her. Other than not getting good gas mileage (that's to be expected) I've had no complaints about the car.

Sniperfox · 10-25-2004, 06:08 PM

I bought my 03 this past June and it runs great.

Mirage · 10-26-2004, 06:52 AM

Sniperfox~ Here's mine:

Sniperfox · 10-26-2004, 02:09 PM

beautiful blue. These are my other 2 horses

ausie · 10-31-2004, 08:57 AM

Poor gas milage? Yeah sure at first I was getting 120 to 150 miles per tank, but now reaching 200 miles with mixed driving. It seems that my milage is increasing the more I drive it. On the highway I can but up to 153 miles on a half tank which I think is pretty good considering I am doing 80mph.

03 cobra toy · 11-01-2004, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ausie

Concerning the 03/04 motor, from what I have seen in other forums, the teflon coating on the pistons will dislove when syntetics are used. This may be nothing more than BS

PURE BS

SVTMADMAN · 11-04-2004, 09:45 PM

Im using the Mobile 1 full syn and love the reults Ive been getting, Ive been to the strips the road coarses and an occasional street race thru Deals Gap and it doesnt seem to effect it at all, it looks as if I just changed it even at the 3000 mark!

10-23-2004, 01:58 PM	#1
Sniperfox Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Wilmington NC Posts: 127	Synthetic motor oil? What is the prevailing opinion on synthetic oil for 03-04 cobras? What brands and vis is preferred for year round use. Any advantages or disadvantages to synthetic over traditional motor oils? __________________ "You cannot fulfill your dreams unless you dare to risk it all."

10-24-2004, 10:25 AM	#2
ausie Don't let the dog drive Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Kinston, NC Posts: 1,883	Concerning the 03/04 motor, from what I have seen in other forums, the teflon coating on the pistons will dislove when syntetics are used. This may be nothing more than BS but was a topic to disclose the reason for the piston slap issue which is more than likely related the the iron block since it takes longer to expand than does aluminum. I have used many synthetic brands of oil in my 01 as well as my 96 exploder. I found that the AMSOIL 20w-50 series 2000 racing oil worked the best in both vehicles even in the dead of winter. That stuff poors like water in cold temperatures since it does not solidify like butter as does the same grade of oil in conventional form. One word of caution, synthetics usually tend to splash more in the valve train and tend to get sucked in through the PCV passage. You may want to get an oil separator for the PCV line to reduce the amount of oil entering the combustion chamber. That is something I have yet to do to the 04 in which I intend to do very soon. Royal purple also is a good oil as well as Red-line which may cost a little less than AMSOIL. Some auto-parts shops may carry Royal purple or Red-line but you need to locate a dealer for AMSOIL. I have even used Mobil 1 but that caused the hydrolic tensioners in the timming chain to make a lot of noise in the 01. When it comes time to perform the first oil change in the 04, I may just stick with conventional oil and not change over until 6000 miles unless I find out that Ford used their synthetic blend from the start. __________________ 2004 SVT Cobra, Silver, February 2004 SVT Build # 2485 out of 3768 SLP Loudmouth Cat-back UPR double lock firewall adjuster UPR GMS extreme double hook quadrant Wheels: Ford SVT 10th anniv. wheels (track duty) SVE 10th anniv. style 17x9F, 10x10.5R BBS RK Plasma 18x8.5F, 18x10R (retired) (retired) 2001 black SVT Cobra, October 2001 missed but not forgotten

10-24-2004, 12:56 PM	#4
Sniperfox Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Wilmington NC Posts: 127	Thanks for the info. Hey Mirage, what necessary "spark plug upgrade" are you referring to? __________________ "You cannot fulfill your dreams unless you dare to risk it all."

10-24-2004, 10:39 PM	#7
Sniperfox Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Wilmington NC Posts: 127	I wonder if I will receive a similiar notice for my 03. What year is yours and how long have you had it? __________________ "You cannot fulfill your dreams unless you dare to risk it all."

10-25-2004, 06:08 PM	#9
Sniperfox Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Wilmington NC Posts: 127	I bought my 03 this past June and it runs great. __________________ "You cannot fulfill your dreams unless you dare to risk it all."

10-24-2004, 12:33 PM	#3
Mirage Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 91	Sniperfox~ I did my first oil change at 600 miles using conventional oil and then at 2,000 miles I started using synthetic. I'm currently at 8,000 miles and have had no problems. My car has also been to the dealer for the necessary "spark plug upgrade" and they did not notice any problems what so ever. Of course this is my experience and there may very well be people who've had problems with the change over. To date, I've only met people who firmly believe in synthetic (I also use it for my motorcycle) motor oil.

10-24-2004, 08:24 PM	#6
Mirage Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 91	Sniperfox~ I got a notice in the mail saying that FORD suggested a "hotter" spark plug and if I desired it (of course) I should bring it to the dealer. As such, I did bring it in (with all my mods on the car) and they did the service. The guy that I had work on my car also had an '03 Cobra and was SVT certified (or so he told me) which made me feel better. He was also quite knowledgeable about Cobra's (he said he's had many of 'em through the years). I'm sure if you call the dealer they'll tell you mroe. Best of luck!

10-25-2004, 09:07 AM	#8
Mirage Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 91	Sniperfox~ I have an '03 Sonic Blue Cobra. It'll be two years come December 2nd that I'll have her. Other than not getting good gas mileage (that's to be expected) I've had no complaints about the car.

10-26-2004, 06:52 AM	#10
Mirage Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 91	Sniperfox~ Here's mine:

10-26-2004, 02:09 PM	#11
Sniperfox Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Wilmington NC Posts: 127	beautiful blue. These are my other 2 horses __________________ "You cannot fulfill your dreams unless you dare to risk it all."

10-31-2004, 08:57 AM	#12
ausie Don't let the dog drive Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Kinston, NC Posts: 1,883	Poor gas milage? Yeah sure at first I was getting 120 to 150 miles per tank, but now reaching 200 miles with mixed driving. It seems that my milage is increasing the more I drive it. On the highway I can but up to 153 miles on a half tank which I think is pretty good considering I am doing 80mph. __________________ 2004 SVT Cobra, Silver, February 2004 SVT Build # 2485 out of 3768 SLP Loudmouth Cat-back UPR double lock firewall adjuster UPR GMS extreme double hook quadrant Wheels: Ford SVT 10th anniv. wheels (track duty) SVE 10th anniv. style 17x9F, 10x10.5R BBS RK Plasma 18x8.5F, 18x10R (retired) (retired) 2001 black SVT Cobra, October 2001 missed but not forgotten

11-04-2004, 09:45 PM	#14
SVTMADMAN Registered User Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 92	Im using the Mobile 1 full syn and love the reults Ive been getting, Ive been to the strips the road coarses and an occasional street race thru Deals Gap and it doesnt seem to effect it at all, it looks as if I just changed it even at the 3000 mark!

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)