4.6 Ford...surely longer than 5000 OCI!

[Titan]

Bought a used 04 Grand Marquis to use as a highway cruiser only. 29,500 miles on it. Ford recommends 5000 OCI. Surely using Pennzoil Platinum and highway only, 7500 would be well within reason to get at least 250,000 miles out of this engine, wouldn't it? I drive about 50,000 miles per year, 98% highway.

 

[Merkava_4]

The 2004 Mercury Grand Marquis is the best looking one they ever made. I'd be supplying it with a constant supply of fresh oil if it were mine.

 

[02zx9r]

penzoil yellow bottle or any other brand name dino will do well at 5-6K as well if you will be doing 5K intervals, if you will be going further than that I would do synthetic at 10K intervals or amsoil for 15-20K since you put so many miles on your car and your driving (miles wise) is easier on the oil than most.

 

[SargeGTO]

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Bought a used 04 Grand Marquis to use as a highway cruiser only. 29,500 miles on it. Ford recommends 5000 OCI. Surely using Pennzoil Platinum and highway only, 7500 would be well within reason to get at least 250,000 miles out of this engine, wouldn't it? I drive about 50,000 miles per year, 98% highway.

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Surely. I would get a UOA on my first 7500 mile run...but I would be surprised if it didn't reflect problems with that OCI under those conditions. I think you have very reasonable expectations here.

 

[Gary Allan]

Put in a decent synthetic and sample @ 3 months to assure that there are no fuel or contamination issues. If everything is kosher, you go on to 6 months and check it again.

7-10 OCIs in a year is too many under just about any situation, let alone one where you're in the sweet spot for insult 99% of the time. If your using a dino ..I would think that every 3 months would be appropriate. If you use a 5w-20 in high speed usage (which you most assuredly will) you may experience some consumption.

I want to be on your list of people to offer this vehicle when it comes time to sell it.

 

[SargeGTO]

I meant to say "I would be suprised if the UOA reflected any problems"...

 

[Titan]

They sure are known to last a LONG time! I figure I'll have about 250,000 on it in 4 years...I'll give you a call then! B~)

 

[Titan]

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I meant to say "I would be suprised if the UOA reflected any problems"...

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Ah, that makes more sense! I'd be surprised, too. It seems a prudent step to take, though...already have the UOA kits ready to go.

 

[wavinwayne]

If I were in your shoes, I'd consider Amsoil's 25k mile 0w20 oil for this application, along with the Amsoil filter. Sounds like you could actually get the whole 25k out of the oil in your engine, since you said you'll be using the car for cruising on the highway.

 

[Gary Allan]

I think that would be a good combo too, wavinwayne. My only hesitation is the consumption issue that this engine can see in high speed usage (what some police fleets ran into trouble with). That is, this may be one of the few times I actually recommend a 0w/5w/10w-30 oil for a 5w-20 application ...and then only for the added expense that consumption can add to a 200+/- mpd commute.

..but..he puts on enough mileage in a short enough time frame to test many weights and compositions. He should be able to figure out what's up rather quickly

 

[Titan]

I have 12 quarts of PP 5-20 (swapped out 12 quarts of 5-30 PP that I had sequestered for the Subaru that this GMarquis is replacing as the highway car), so, I'll run that first. If no consumption (I'll be driving about 78 mph most of the time), maybe I'll give the AmSoil 0-20 a try. It's gonna be fun to see what happens!

 

[Steve S]

Guys be gentle but why not do an A R/X clean and rinse put on an Amsoil bypass filter "the single one" run the sso and the eao filter and the eaa air filter "if there is one for this model" And see if the oil will go for one year and the 50,000 miles with the proper filter changes. Also flush the trans and put Amsoil trans oil and do the differential oil.This car is the perfect use for syn oil and a bypass filter IMO.

 

[JustinH]

That motor will run forever on any 5w20 or 5w30 motor oil.

 

[Titan]

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Guys be gentle but why not do an A R/X clean and rinse put on an Amsoil bypass filter "the single one" run the sso and the eao filter and the eaa air filter "if there is one for this model" And see if the oil will go for one year and the 50,000 miles with the proper filter changes. Also flush the trans and put Amsoil trans oil and do the differential oil.This car is the perfect use for syn oil and a bypass filter IMO.

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You could be right! I've already ordered the rear end gear lube...did a flush-fill with new Mercon V just to make sure it was relatively clean...plan to drop the pan, change the trans filter and refill with AmSoil ATF the next time. Need to use up my freshly-swapped Pennzoil 5-20 12 quarts (two oil changes...car holds 6 quarts). If I go to AmSoil engine oil, I'll do UOA's to determine when to change, and will make sure I leave plenty of buffer room, AND, I'll use Terry Dyson as the interpreter of the results. I've heard of some of the Coil Over Plug systems misfiring...which I assume would result in fuel dilution...but, I check every tankful of gas, and I've attentive to any misfiring/irregularity, so, I think I could detect any signifcant fuel use change that would indicate an possible change in fuel dilution. I look forward to creative tinkering with it.

 

[Zacharyx]

I think I would have a shop with the machine that pulls from the trans cooler lines do a flush before changing to amsoil, just a preference as I feel it gets more of the old fluid out.

 

[Titan]

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I think I would have a shop with the machine that pulls from the trans cooler lines do a flush before changing to amsoil, just a preference as I feel it gets more of the old fluid out.

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Exactly what I did. I hope that to be the only shop-time this car sees, as I usually do everything myself. Just diagnosed and replace the electronic blower motor speed controller in the A/C system, for example. I wanted an experienced eye on that ATF flush, though. I'll run this new ATF for a bit, to get some additional value out of it, then, do the big changeout to AmSoil and a new ATF filter next...unless someone has a better idea.