Oil Suggestion for 2003 SVT Cobra

[Bundy78]

Hello everyone. I am a new user and I am looking to see if I am using the correct type of oil.

I currently use Mobil 1 5W-20 motor oil. The only information in the owner's manual is "Motorcraft SAE 5W-20 Super Premium Motor Oil". The car is strictly for pleasure and driven less than 3000 miles per year. I change the oil every 1000 miles just based on the time which is generally every 6 months. It gets a mix of city and highway driving. The car has 25,000 miles and has no problems.

It is slightly modified. It has a stock Eaton roots type supercharger producing 8 psi. I have since increased the boost to 12 psi. This supercharger produces an unbelievable amount of heat so I'm sure that the engine is under quite a bit of stress between the boost pressure and heat. The car is tuned to run on 93 octane gasoline. I would think that the biggest issues are the heat and the amount of time the car sits, especially in the winter months.

Cost of the oil doesn't concern me - I just want to use what's best.

Thanks.

 

[Realtech214]

A once a year OCI with 5w20 Full Synthetic will be more than that engine could ever want. Nothing wrong with MC or M1

Or even supertech!

 

[Oregoonian]

Originally Posted By: Realtech214
A once a year OCI with 5w20 Full Synthetic will be more than that engine could ever want. Nothing wrong with MC or Mobil 1

Or even supertech!
Originally Posted By: Realtech214
A once a year OCI with 5w20 Full Synthetic will be more than that engine could ever want. Nothing wrong with MC or Mobil 1


+1.....of the two mentioned, my choice would be Mobil 1 5w20 or even better 0w20. I would move the OCI to 5000 or 18 months, whichever comes first

 

[JDW]

Welcome nice to see a SVT Pony owner.

M1 good stuff have run in for years in my built 4.6. Trying Redline this year for better wear additives.

 

[A_Harman]

Oil can't read a calendar.
Mobil 1 can easily do 5000 miles.

 

[SatinSilver]

I'm surprised you're changing the oil so soon. Especially, since you listed your occupation as an "engineer".

 

[901Memphis]

Modified I would probably want to move up to a decent 5w30 like PP or Mobil 1.

 

[bdcardinal]

Pick your favorite flavor of 5W30 and your car will be happy. I would just change it once a year. You are out of warranty so you can use the 5W30 no problem, 5W20 was pretty much only for CAFE. FWIW the later SVT Mustangs, BOSS302 and Track Pack cars use 5W50. The 5.4 and 5.8 in the GT500s use the same clearances that your Terminator uses and they all call for 5W50.

 

[fdcg27]

Since you've taken this Mustang beyond its intended operating envelope, a 5w30 might be in order.
It might not be, though, depending on how you use the car.
If you rarely dip into it, then a 5W-20 is probably fine.
There is no advantage in doing 1K drains.
This will not reduce wear and doesn't even allow the add pack of the new oil to become effective.
Use any syn oil and go to a 5w30 if you'd like.
I probably would.
There are some multi-year used oil analysis here from seldom driven cars that look pretty good.
Use any synthetic you want in whatever grade you want for at least a couple of years or 4-5K, whichever comes first.
Nice car, incidentally.
How about some pics?

 

[147_Grain]

To avoid being snake bitten by a Cobra (supercharger)

I'd run a 0w30 synthetic and change the fluid once per year.

 

[Bundy78]

Thanks everyone for the advice. I was under the impression that oil degraded over time, but it seems as though it takes longer than I thought.

 

[901Memphis]

The low mileage time frame for oil to start getting high TAN appears to be about 3-4 years from all the used oil analysis I've looked at. Go by mileage and set a hard cut off at 3 years unless you have reason to go shorter. I would shoot for 3-5k depending on how you drive it and how long it takes. Consider Mobil 1 0W40 which is a lighter 40 weight and also a long drain oil which works well in many applications.

It's hard to compare to factory spec knowing you have more boost. A 5w20 at high temperatures could result in loss of oil pressure. Do these cars have real oil temperature and pressure gauges for oil?

Knowing your hot idle and load oil pressure can tell you a lot about what you should run. Also oil temperatures help.

 

[Bundy78]

Thanks. Here a a couple of pics as requested -

[img:center][/img] [img:center][/img] [img:center]

 

[901Memphis]

Oh yeah, next time don't forget the shifter pic. I remember the car and driver review of this model against an rx8 and G35 couple where the svt finished last. I was outraged.

http://www.caranddriver.com/comparisons/2003-ford-svt-mustang-cobra-page-2

 

[DragRace]

Originally Posted By: Bundy78
Hello everyone. I am a new user and I am looking to see if I am using the correct type of oil.

I currently use Mobil 1 5W-20 motor oil. The only information in the owner's manual is "Motorcraft SAE 5W-20 Super Premium Motor Oil". The car is strictly for pleasure and driven less than 3000 miles per year. I change the oil every 1000 miles just based on the time which is generally every 6 months. It gets a mix of city and highway driving. The car has 25,000 miles and has no problems.

It is slightly modified. It has a stock Eaton roots type supercharger producing 8 psi. I have since increased the boost to 12 psi. This supercharger produces an unbelievable amount of heat so I'm sure that the engine is under quite a bit of stress between the boost pressure and heat. The car is tuned to run on 93 octane gasoline. I would think that the biggest issues are the heat and the amount of time the car sits, especially in the winter months.

Cost of the oil doesn't concern me - I just want to use what's best.

Thanks.


Keep using the Mobil synthetic 5w20 if you dont have any sort of issues. I'm assuming you got the car tuned/dynoed after increasing the boost? Boost is fun,blowing head gaskets isnt fun,so making sure the air/fuel ratio is good is the key here for how long the car will run with no issues.I know,I've got a boosted car myself

 

[Alex38]

Originally Posted By: 901Memphis
Modified I would probably want to move up to a decent 5w30 like PP or Mobil 1.


If it were my car, this is what I'd do. I'd start with Pennzoil Platinum 5w30, as its on the thin side for a 30 wt. I'd also stretch the drain interval a bit, at least to 1 year.

 

[DragRace]

Originally Posted By: 901Memphis
Modified I would probably want to move up to a decent 5w30 like PP or Mobil 1.


He raised the boost,so in a situation like this the air/fuel ratio is more important then what weight of oil is being used here.

 

[AndrewD]

Mobil 1

 

[Mach1Owner]

A modified termi? i'd be using 30 or 40.

 

[MuzzleFlash40]

It will be just fine on 5w20, you can us 5w30 if you want. My buddies 03 has a ported supercharger, and other mods to the tune of 518 horse and 545 torque at the wheels and it runs 5w20 just fine. A good tune is more important than anything else. Nice Terminator!!!