Whats Best for my Mercury ???

[ptmx2]

Hello,

There is a wealth of knowledge here so may i post a question.
What is the "Best" engine oil for my 99 Mercury Grand Marquis?

CAR: 99MGM-4.6l-V8-87 octane gasoline-automatic transmission with O/D-Dual Exhaust-Standard electronically controlled emissions, engine setup and performance adjust-no 'Chip' installed- 75,600 miles. Currently using MotorCraft 5W-20 Synthetic Blend for $2.97/quart. Motorcraft filters when I can find them. Purolator when I can't. My change schedule is every 3,000 miles, which takes months. Annual average mileage over last 5 years is 3,750/year.

USE: My route around town is just like that of my 65 year old neighbor; 95% of my round trips are 3. The last time I drove any highway distance was 18 months ago (>Atlanta). I avoid freeways and traffic congestion whenever I can. Last week I took a very long round trip of 20 miles around Loop I-610 in Houston,Tx. With this use pattern, the engine often uses 1qt of oil @ around 2100-2500 miles. I do all my own work in my driveway, or I should say I do all the work I have confidence that I can figure it out and fix it right.

Question: I may be using the best mix of performance/cost right now. But, the oil is sure dark when it is drained. Not thick or greasy, just dark. What do some of you Pros think??

thank you,

ptmx2

 

[jldcol]

Deffinately not a pro but my 1/50th of a dollar is you are approximating a once a year oci with what you are doing. Only spending 20-25$ per year + tax. My own way of intervals is to let the engine "tell" me via oil use when to change. If your vehicle is not leaking but actually consuming that quart in 2100- 2500 miles is that is when you should change it. Fill up sump with oil change when down to fill line on dipstick change oil. A new "tight" engine will go 5, 8 maybe 10k before it uses a quart. Your's about 2-2.5k. This is largely a blowby issue more blowby more contamination of oil and more use of oil. Newer engine less blowby less contamination less strain on oil therefore can use longer. If you want to ignore this ok, but once per oil change with a cheap synthetic should serve you well. With conventional oil i would change at least 2x per year.

 

[HM12460]

motorcraft oil in the proper viscosity with a motorcraft filter in your mercury is an excellent choice. the cost/quality of motorcraft oil is awesome.

 

[bobfather99]

Motorcraft and Purolator filters are just fine, as is the Motorcraft oil. Why not just keep using them???

 

[rg200amp]

You can keep useing the same oils and filters. I personally would change it every year, if it takes 5 years to get to 3700 miles.

Good luck, and WELCOME to the board!!!

 

[ChiTDI]

Originally Posted By: HM12460
motorcraft oil in the proper viscosity with a motorcraft filter in your mercury is an excellent choice. the cost/quality of motorcraft oil is awesome.


+1

 

[Fordiesel69]

Originally Posted By: ChiTDI
Originally Posted By: HM12460
motorcraft oil in the proper viscosity with a motorcraft filter in your mercury is an excellent choice. the cost/quality of motorcraft oil is awesome.


+1

+2

That or pennzoil platinum when on sale. Only two I run.

 

[RedByrd]

As an owner of a Thunderbird with the same motor as yours, there's nothing wrong at all with going all-Motorcraft. Motorcraft oils don't have all the glitz and glamor around them, but there's not a thing wrong with them in my opinion.

IIRC Motorcraft and Purolator Pure-One filters are essentially the same - not the mention they look good under the hood of a Ford-made car!

 

[ptmx2]

thanks to all for the input. looks like Motorcraft SynBlend 5w-20 Oil and MC Filters are just fine. Thanks to 'jldcol' for pointing out the obvious to me; I am changing oil once a year! I missed that fact completely. From now on no matter the mileage, if my current use of the vehicle stays the same, I will be changing every six months using Fomoco's recommended Motorcraft products.

 

[chevrofreak]

Originally Posted By: RedByrd
IIRC Motorcraft and Purolator Pure-One filters are essentially the same


No.