I just bought a very clean one owner 2007 Mercury Grand Marquis GS. It has 41,000 miles. As it was purchased from an estate the owner is not around to relay what maintenance has been done. I am really considering a total fluid change in the trans. What ATF would you all use if it was yours? Mercon V is specified. It had an oil change before it was sold. According to the sticker is filled with 5W-20 Castrol GTX. I am leaning toward using 5W-20 Motorcraft and an 820S filter. My average yearly mileage is less than 10,000. I will be changing it twice a year so I am thinking the semi-synth would be best. Should I consider an 0W-20 full synth? Any advantage over the MC oil? I am planning to drive this car until they pack me off to the home so I plan to baby it.
New (to me) car.
- Thread starter Autografe
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If you have two rust free Grand Marquis (or even one), I really hate you. 
Dont forget to change the coolant. its due
Congrats on the new boat! Any 5w20 changed twice a year will do just fine. Motorcraft oil filters due best on these cars in my opinion, but they really are not picky. As far as the trans fluid, i'd stick with any name brand Mercon V (castrol, valvoline, etc). I do a pan dump and filter change every 30-40k. I also do a coolant change every couple years, it's easy to do on these cars. Enjoy!!
Be careful with those 4.6 engines they seem to start having problems at around 400,000 miles..
All kidding aside those grand marquis are the best cars ever built for reliability and strength
All kidding aside those grand marquis are the best cars ever built for reliability and strength
Originally Posted By: Autografe
I just bought a very clean one owner 2007 Mercury Grand Marquis GS. It has 41,000 miles. As it was purchased from an estate the owner is not around to relay what maintenance has been done. I am really considering a total fluid change in the trans. What ATF would you all use if it was yours? Mercon V is specified. It had an oil change before it was sold. According to the sticker is filled with 5W-20 Castrol GTX. I am leaning toward using 5W-20 Motorcraft and an 820S filter. My average yearly mileage is less than 10,000. I will be changing it twice a year so I am thinking the semi-synth would be best. Should I consider an 0W-20 full synth? Any advantage over the MC oil? I am planning to drive this car until they pack me off to the home so I plan to baby it.
Congrats. I kind of secretly want something like that just for those occassions when you want a plushy carefree ride.
ATF - Motorcraft Mercon V is what I used. But AMSOIL has got ridiculously long life, is fully synthetic so is going to be even more robust, and would only cost you ~$70 more. Since the filters don't need changing that often, doing a thorough pan drop, and complete drain and fill with AMSOIL will keep you good for 5 years in severe service, and 10 years in normal. That's about 3 times better than regular Mercon V.
Oil Filter - for 5000 mile OCI, then I would go for the PureOne or Bosch. 99.9% efficient at 20 microns compared to 93% for the FL820S. I've gone to the Bosch from the FL820S and am very happy with the results.
If you decide to go for a one year OCI, then Bosch Distance Plus. Mobil 1 filter is another choice and there is a nice deal at PepBoys for 5 quarts of M1 & M1 filter for $30.
Oil - MC Syn Blend 5w20 is a fine choice. Perfect for your 5000 mile oci. A full syn does have advantages and PP 0w20 is a fine choice. One advantage is that you could probably do a one year OCI.
If you really want to baby the car, then (apart from being vigilant with coolant) you're looking at buying a more exotic 0w20 that flows extremely well at any startup temp, reducing startup wear, and being significantly better at that (on paper at least) than the commonly available xw20's.
These 0w20 would be from Toyota, Honda, Mazda, Sustina.
If you're not a fan of getting cheap oil after rebate, then why not rotate until you find the one you like?
You could start off with the 6 month / 5000 mile conventional and syn blends, and then see if the synthetics improve anything. I would go in this kind of order:
PYB 5w20
MC Blend 5w20
MC Full Syn 5w20
M1 AFE 0w20
PP 0w20
I just bought a very clean one owner 2007 Mercury Grand Marquis GS. It has 41,000 miles. As it was purchased from an estate the owner is not around to relay what maintenance has been done. I am really considering a total fluid change in the trans. What ATF would you all use if it was yours? Mercon V is specified. It had an oil change before it was sold. According to the sticker is filled with 5W-20 Castrol GTX. I am leaning toward using 5W-20 Motorcraft and an 820S filter. My average yearly mileage is less than 10,000. I will be changing it twice a year so I am thinking the semi-synth would be best. Should I consider an 0W-20 full synth? Any advantage over the MC oil? I am planning to drive this car until they pack me off to the home so I plan to baby it.
Congrats. I kind of secretly want something like that just for those occassions when you want a plushy carefree ride.
ATF - Motorcraft Mercon V is what I used. But AMSOIL has got ridiculously long life, is fully synthetic so is going to be even more robust, and would only cost you ~$70 more. Since the filters don't need changing that often, doing a thorough pan drop, and complete drain and fill with AMSOIL will keep you good for 5 years in severe service, and 10 years in normal. That's about 3 times better than regular Mercon V.
Oil Filter - for 5000 mile OCI, then I would go for the PureOne or Bosch. 99.9% efficient at 20 microns compared to 93% for the FL820S. I've gone to the Bosch from the FL820S and am very happy with the results.
If you decide to go for a one year OCI, then Bosch Distance Plus. Mobil 1 filter is another choice and there is a nice deal at PepBoys for 5 quarts of M1 & M1 filter for $30.
Oil - MC Syn Blend 5w20 is a fine choice. Perfect for your 5000 mile oci. A full syn does have advantages and PP 0w20 is a fine choice. One advantage is that you could probably do a one year OCI.
If you really want to baby the car, then (apart from being vigilant with coolant) you're looking at buying a more exotic 0w20 that flows extremely well at any startup temp, reducing startup wear, and being significantly better at that (on paper at least) than the commonly available xw20's.
These 0w20 would be from Toyota, Honda, Mazda, Sustina.
If you're not a fan of getting cheap oil after rebate, then why not rotate until you find the one you like?
You could start off with the 6 month / 5000 mile conventional and syn blends, and then see if the synthetics improve anything. I would go in this kind of order:
PYB 5w20
MC Blend 5w20
MC Full Syn 5w20
M1 AFE 0w20
PP 0w20
Jordan_FX4
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Sounds like you've got a good plan with the MC 5W-20 and FL-820S. That combo is definitely good for 5k, and the semi-synthetic should have a little better cold flow properties for winter.
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Originally Posted By: Chris142
Dont forget to change the coolant. its due
+1, Exactly what I was thinking.
Dont forget to change the coolant. its due
+1, Exactly what I was thinking.
Also, it probably needs shocks all the way around, and when was the last time it was aligned?
Originally Posted By: JimPghPA
Also, it probably needs shocks all the way around, and when was the last time it was aligned?
The 07 MGM should not need shocks at 41K miles..Our 07 Marquis has 40K miles and the shocks are still like new..I have almost 140K miles on my 05 Vic and the shocks are still good according to the Ford dealer.
In a million miles of owning Panthers I never did a alignment unless I put new tires on it..Even after 50K miles it was barely out of alignment even after pounding N.Y.C. nasty streets.
Congrats on your car.
Also, it probably needs shocks all the way around, and when was the last time it was aligned?
The 07 MGM should not need shocks at 41K miles..Our 07 Marquis has 40K miles and the shocks are still like new..I have almost 140K miles on my 05 Vic and the shocks are still good according to the Ford dealer.
In a million miles of owning Panthers I never did a alignment unless I put new tires on it..Even after 50K miles it was barely out of alignment even after pounding N.Y.C. nasty streets.
Congrats on your car.
I probably was wrong with my suggestion on the shocks. When I think Merc Grand Marquis it reminds me of my brothers 1998 Mercury Grand Marquis and the time he took me for a ride in it and I was amazed at the constant sea/saw the front and the back of the vehicle had going on with the bumps in the road. I told him that I only saw one other vehicle in my life with worse shocks, and he should put new shocks on both front and back. I also told him that his car was swaying soooo bad that I would not be surprised if there were no shocks at all on it.
He did put new shocks on it, but he would not tell me anything about how easy the old shocks were to work manually after he removed them.
He did put new shocks on it, but he would not tell me anything about how easy the old shocks were to work manually after he removed them.
Originally Posted By: Autografe
I just bought a very clean one owner 2007 Mercury Grand Marquis GS. It has 41,000 miles. As it was purchased from an estate the owner is not around to relay what maintenance has been done. I am really considering a total fluid change in the trans. What ATF would you all use if it was yours? Mercon V is specified. It had an oil change before it was sold. According to the sticker is filled with 5W-20 Castrol GTX. I am leaning toward using 5W-20 Motorcraft and an 820S filter. My average yearly mileage is less than 10,000. I will be changing it twice a year so I am thinking the semi-synth would be best. Should I consider an 0W-20 full synth? Any advantage over the MC oil? I am planning to drive this car until they pack me off to the home so I plan to baby it.
I think you are teasing us! I'd love to find a car like that at a fair price. Motorcraft fluids and filters do well in Ford's and are reasonably priced. Enjoy your new ride.
I just bought a very clean one owner 2007 Mercury Grand Marquis GS. It has 41,000 miles. As it was purchased from an estate the owner is not around to relay what maintenance has been done. I am really considering a total fluid change in the trans. What ATF would you all use if it was yours? Mercon V is specified. It had an oil change before it was sold. According to the sticker is filled with 5W-20 Castrol GTX. I am leaning toward using 5W-20 Motorcraft and an 820S filter. My average yearly mileage is less than 10,000. I will be changing it twice a year so I am thinking the semi-synth would be best. Should I consider an 0W-20 full synth? Any advantage over the MC oil? I am planning to drive this car until they pack me off to the home so I plan to baby it.
I think you are teasing us! I'd love to find a car like that at a fair price. Motorcraft fluids and filters do well in Ford's and are reasonably priced. Enjoy your new ride.
Originally Posted By: crazyoildude
Be careful with those 4.6 engines they seem to start having problems at around 400,000 miles..
Is that when they all start blowing blue smoke? If so, then about every third Marquis/Crown Vic I see must have in excess of 400K...
Be careful with those 4.6 engines they seem to start having problems at around 400,000 miles..
Is that when they all start blowing blue smoke? If so, then about every third Marquis/Crown Vic I see must have in excess of 400K...
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Originally Posted By: css9450
Originally Posted By: crazyoildude
Be careful with those 4.6 engines they seem to start having problems at around 400,000 miles..
Is that when they all start blowing blue smoke? If so, then about every third Marquis/Crown Vic I see must have in excess of 400K...
I know it was years ago, but what was the span of years that Ford and Mercury used that horrible "Variable Venturi Carburetor"?
I mean you talk about blowing blue smoke, a Ford with that carburetor could be blowing blue smoke with less than 10K on the vehicle.
Originally Posted By: crazyoildude
Be careful with those 4.6 engines they seem to start having problems at around 400,000 miles..
Is that when they all start blowing blue smoke? If so, then about every third Marquis/Crown Vic I see must have in excess of 400K...
I know it was years ago, but what was the span of years that Ford and Mercury used that horrible "Variable Venturi Carburetor"?
I mean you talk about blowing blue smoke, a Ford with that carburetor could be blowing blue smoke with less than 10K on the vehicle.
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