Recommendations for Ford 4.6 32v DOHC that sat for 5 years.

[Frank_T]

Hello all -

I have read hundreds of threads on BITOG over the years but this is my first time posting.

As the title says, I have a Mercury "Marauder" w/ <60k miles, with a 4.6L 32v DOHC engine + Trilogy / Eaton 112 supercharger that, for some unfortunate personal reasons, wasn't driven for 5 years.

I have had a lot of cars, and this one is my very favorite. I resurrected it this summer with : tires, battery, fuel pump + filter, brakes, oil + filter, air ride parts, etc. etc.
A long list, but it cleaned up nicely. I have spun it up to WOT on the highway a few times, really ran it, and it is running well.
It is not a daily driver - I will probably drive it ~ 2,000 mi /yr.

When the fuel pump was replaced, the gas tank was emptied, inspected and cleaned out and I ran a Techron PEA cleaner through the fuel system with the first tank of Shell 93 octane.

Now I am thinking about cleaning out the engine.

I normally used full-syn oil, M1 or PP, 5W30 and kept it pretty clean, but whatever was in there sat for 5 years.
That was drained out and replaced with a bulk syn blend (probably 5W20, to spec) and a new filter by the garage that did the rest of the work.

I finished the first tank or two of fresh gas and I'm planning to dump that oil + filter on what will be a VERY short OCI (less than 400 mi.), almost just a good hot rinse-out, and then start a cleaning plan for whatever else accumulated in there while it sat.

I am thinking :
1. A mild engine flush (like LM) with what's in there now, and then change that oil & filter.
2. Then a short OCI with HPL engine cleaner in some M1 5W30 that's been sitting here + Fram Endurance filter,
3. Changing to whatever oil I decide to use over the winter.

I am considering getting a UOA ; I have never had one done, but this seems like a good time to get one to assist with some decisions going forward.
(I hope to get some help interpreting the results from BITOG.)

I am open to all recommendations, suggestions and advice
Thank you !

Edited to add : I'm not overly concerned about a few extra dollars. This car is worth it to me, and after all these years it doesn't owe me a dime.

 

[Brian123]

Is this a 2003 or 2004 Marauder?
How much Horsepower does this Engine have now?

 

[Frank_T]

Is this a 2003 or 2004 Marauder?
How much Horsepower does this Engine have now?

2003.
I have a dyno sheet around here somewhere from when the blower was tuned that says 400-and-change. Plus whatever conversion factor you use for flywheel / "advertised" hp -

I have some more work I want to get done in stages over the winter, and then have it re-tuned.
I *may* go down a pulley size then, but I am probably better off putting the money into handling / suspension. She is plenty strong enough now

 

[Speedbird001]

Cool car! Sounds like you have a good plan.

Nearing 20 years old I would make sure all fluids are changed (Brake, P/S, coolant, trans, diff). If >10 years old definitely replace the brake hoses. Gas cap. PCV (+ the hoses if you can find them and/or hose out the whole PCV system with induction cleaner. Also set aside a budget for things that will pop-up now that the senior vehicle is back in service (I had a similar experience... It was weird what failed within the following 6 months (ie grenaded fan clutch).

The little things also make the experience of an older car nicer: truck/hood hydraulic lift things. have the yellowing head lights restored or replaced. New headlight bulbs. Big one: springs in the windshield washer arms (That hold them in tension against the windscreen). soak/clean or replace windshield washer fluid nozzles. Revive or replace door seals

 

[Brian123]

2003.
I have a dyno sheet around here somewhere from when the blower was tuned that says 400-and-change. Plus whatever conversion factor you use for flywheel / "advertised" hp -

I have some more work I want to get done in stages over the winter, and then have it re-tuned.
I *may* go down a pulley size then, but I am probably better off putting the money into handling / suspension. She is plenty strong enough now

Is this 400 Horsepower to the wheels? So, this engine probably has 450 Flywheel Horsepower.

 

[Frank_T]

Is this 400 Horsepower to the wheels? So, this engine probably has 450 Flywheel Horsepower.

Somewhere in the 450-ish range, for sure.

I could easily squeeze more out of her with a few simple mods, cold air intake, stuff like that, but I like the stock look of the Trilogy under the hood.
Another couple dozen horses or whatever isn't that important to this car.
She is plenty strong.

 

[ctrcbob]

Who insisted the Supercharger?
You or previous owner?

My 2003 ran great and fast enough for me, stock. No add on supercharger.

What I liked best was it was the only RWD I’ve ever had, that did NOT have axle hop crossing RR Tracks or bumps.

Very hard finding odd size rear tires.

 

[ripcord]

I wouldn't worry about an oil flush. I'd just fill her with whatever oil you settle on and change early if the oil looks like it's getting dark.

 

[hand-filer]

You could consider PP Euro 5w-40. I made the switch to it from Amsoil SS 10W-30 in my Mustang a few years back. It has a Roush 2.3 TVS running 11 pounds of boost. 638 HP on 91 octane. Motor seems to like it.

 

[Frank_T]

Cool car! Sounds like you have a good plan.

Nearing 20 years old I would make sure all fluids are changed (Brake, P/S, coolant, trans, diff). If >10 years old definitely replace the brake hoses. Gas cap. PCV (+ the hoses if you can find them and/or hose out the whole PCV system with induction cleaner. Also set aside a budget for things that will pop-up now that the senior vehicle is back in service (I had a similar experience... It was weird what failed within the following 6 months (ie grenaded fan clutch).

The little things also make the experience of an older car nicer: truck/hood hydraulic lift things. have the yellowing head lights restored or replaced. New headlight bulbs. Big one: springs in the windshield washer arms (That hold them in tension against the windscreen). soak/clean or replace windshield washer fluid nozzles. Revive or replace door seals

Excellent, thank you !

I am having most of the fluids done asap. All this stuff is at least 15 - 20 years old.

Some of them will get done over the next few months as other work gets done - i.e., the trans fluid will get done when I have the valve body / "j-mod" done, the diff will get done when I put the True-Trac in, etc.

They did the brake fluid when they did the brakes all the way around.

The coolant needs to be done, and the p/s fluid.

I would never have thought to do the gas cap, that's a great idea. And the PCV system too.

I've been doing all the door / trunk / hood gaskets bit by bit with the Honda Shin-Etsu silicone grease, which I learned about from BITOG. They are like brand new !

Gonna probably change the spark plugs this weekend. I'm interested to see what they look like after all this time.

Also getting a little body work done for some unexplained boo-boo on the rear quarter.

 

[Frank_T]

You could consider PP Euro 5w-40. I made the switch to it from Amsoil SS 10W-30 in my Mustang a few years back. It has a Roush 2.3 TVS running 11 pounds of boost. 638 HP on 91 octane. Motor seems to like it.

I have actually been thinking about using M1 Euro 0W40 just because everybody on BITOG is so high on it

Between that and PUP, which I like but is much harder to find for some reason.

 

[Frank_T]

Who insisted the Supercharger?
You or previous owner?

My 2003 ran great and fast enough for me, stock. No add on supercharger.

What I liked best was it was the only RWD I’ve ever had, that did NOT have axle hop crossing RR Tracks or bumps.

Very hard finding odd size rear tires.

PO had the Trilogy s/c installed at a Ford place in Indiana, who did an absolutely flawless job with it. It's as dependable as a stock piece.

I upsized the width of the rear tires to 255 at about stock height. Nittos have always been popular with the Marauder community, but I have used Coopers and Contis.

 

[Brian123]

Somewhere in the 450-ish range, for sure.

I could easily squeeze more out of her with a few simple mods, cold air intake, stuff like that, but I like the stock look of the Trilogy under the hood.
Another couple dozen horses or whatever isn't that important to this car.
She is plenty strong.

450 Horsepower Range is good for this Engine, going any higher might not be wise. I have read that the weak Link in your engine could be the Rods when you go above 450 horsepower. The other issue is the Pistons on this engine, there was a person on another Forum that had issues his engine messing up his Pistons.

Your engine normally put out 300 Horsepower, I would be looking at some of the oil's from HPL. I am guessing that you are still running the Stock Exhaust Manifolds?

 

[wavinwayne]

I have actually been thinking about using M1 Euro 0W40 just because everybody on BITOG is so high on it ...

That's probably what I would run if it was mine.

 

[Frank_T]

450 Horsepower Range is good for this Engine, going any higher might not be wise. I have read that the weak Link in your engine could be the Rods when you go above 450 horsepower. The other issue is the Pistons on this engine, there was a person on another Forum that had issues his engine messing up his Pistons.

Your engine normally put out 300 Horsepower, I would be looking at some of the oil's from HPL. I am guessing that you are still running the Stock Exhaust Manifolds?

Yes. I would like to get long-tube headers but they are at the end of the list.

Knowledgeable Marauder people have said that the stock block / rotating assembly is good to about 550 hp.

Personally, I like some headroom.
I might pick up a few more hp with headers or go down one pulley size, and a retune, but I'm not looking for anything more than that.

 

[DFWoilguy]

Love the panther cars !! Have owned 20+CV police interceptors since 2009 lol

Currently have a 09 and a 04 P71 !! The 09 has 200K miles and over 8000 idle hrs!! When I bought it July 2023 I flushed out old oil and been running 10W-30 Pennzoil platinum with factory motorcraft oil filter!!

 

[Frank_T]

Love the panther cars !! Have owned 20+CV police interceptors since 2009 lol

Currently have a 09 and a 04 P71 !! The 09 has 200K miles and over 8000 idle hrs!! When I bought it July 2023 I flushed out old oil and been running 10W-30 Pennzoil platinum with factory motorcraft oil filter!!

Wow ! A super-fan !
I had two Crown Vics including a CVPI, and a GM. They all went to kids and brothers-in-law, and all had 250k+ miles or more before they were retired.

I bought a Marauder because I liked them all so much, and then bought the current one with the Trilogy s/c when I had the opportunity

 

[Frank_T]

I wouldn't worry about an oil flush. I'd just fill her with whatever oil you settle on and change early if the oil looks like it's getting dark.

I have convinced myself to do a mild flush as a precaution, because a lot of stuff may have come out of suspension and settled in the low spots of the oil system over the course of five years.

It might not be 100% necessary, but I don't think it will do any harm, either, and we'll see what comes out.
There was an unbelievable amount of crud everywhere else

 

[Alex38]

I’d just use M1 0w40 and change it a little early for the first few fills. Wouldn’t bother with anything else unless you have good reason to believe that more is needed.

 

[Frank_T]

I’d just use M1 0w40 and change it a little early for the first few fills. Wouldn’t bother with anything else unless you have good reason to believe that more is needed.

The 5W20 bulk syn blend that the garage put in got very dark, very quickly.
I changed it out recently after 500 miles and put in M1 5W30 with a quart of HPL engine cleaner. We'll see what that looks like after 1k.