Factory Oil Slightly Low?

[TheGrabberBlueGT2024]

@TheGrabberBlueGT2024 ....there has been so much controversy as to whether Ford uses some king of special "break-in" oil or oil with additives for the factory fill. This speculation has been exacerbated by some owners getting a noticeable ticking noise, like the spark tick on a BBQ starter after their FIRST oil fill leading to speculation that there were "mystery" additives at the factory. I question this as this would mean there was an issue that Ford knew needed addressing and IF there was an issue why not just add the additives to their Motorcraft oil? So I don't believe the "special factory oil/additives issue without some sort of proof. I think Ford uses a semi synthetic blend for their factory fill. I say that because unless you specify FULL synthetic for your free fills (I got three with my new Mustang purchase) or when you book an oil change at a Ford dealership they put in Motorcraft synthetic blend as their "normal" shop oil. I choose to up-grade to FULL synthetic for many reasons. Also, I have always, when installing an oil filter on anything, pre-filled it. I was taught by family engine builders pre-filling the oil filters helps prevent shock to the engine's internals. As well, in the "old days" non pre-filled oil filters were often damaged by being "hit" with a charge of oil from the oil pan after an oil change and could discharge filter media into the oil stream or fail to properly filter the oil. While modern (quality) oil filters are not really susceptible to this sort of damage, I still believe that pre-filling the oil filter is much kinder to the engine's internals and in the case of the Mustang's Coyote engine might ward-off the BBQ tick. I use Motorcraft FULL synthetic oil and Motorcraft oil filters and pre-fill the oil filter every time.

I do the same as well. My dad taught me to always fill up the filter first. And throw some on the o ring. So the blend is what’s currently in my car if I were to fill it up?

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[MAT1955]

@TheGrabberBlueGT2024 .... If you are "topping-up" your oil that is what Ford put in it at the factory (because it is reading low on the dip stick) I would use Motorcraft synthetic blend. For my FIRST oil change (after what arrived from the factory/dealer) I would up-grade to FULL synthetic.

 

[TheGrabberBlueGT2024]

@TheGrabberBlueGT2024 .... If you are "topping-up" your oil that is what Ford put in it at the factory (because it is reading low on the dip stick) I would use Motorcraft synthetic blend. For my FIRST oil change (after what arrived from the factory/dealer) I would up-grade to FULL synthetic.

 

[DarkMatterGrey]

Is it possible I’m just low from factory? If I start documenting daily for the next week and my level isn’t moved what happens next? Maybe the level was like that the entire time.

Yep that’s exactly what should be assessed first and foremost - the lower than expected level.

If there’s no excessive consumption after a week or so, then if you want to feel safer and get a better safety margin, it wouldn’t hurt to add half a qt of Motorcraft SN Plus 5w-30 semi synth, which is what came from the factory. And document with pictures in case your oil consumption is somewhere between excessive and normal. For a new car expect some consumption, which should stabilize over time.

 

[MAT1955]

@TheGrabberBlueGT2024 .....Yep! That's what I have been told is the factory fill! In your case that's what I would use to top-up your present oil (when hot) for your investigation. Use that oil and as @DarkMatterGrey suggests chart your results for a week or so. For your first oil change go to Motorcraft FULL synthetic. Best wishes with this.

 

[TheGrabberBlueGT2024]

Yep that’s exactly what should be assessed first and foremost - the lower than expected level.

If there’s no excessive consumption after a week or so, then if you want to feel safer and get a better safety margin, it wouldn’t hurt to add half a qt of Motorcraft SN Plus 5w-30 semi synth, which is what came from the factory. And document with pictures in case your oil consumption is somewhere between excessive and normal. For a new car expect some consumption, which should stabilize over time.

Will do. Thank you. I was going to switch to amsoil but I guess the motorcraft stuff isn’t bad

 

[DarkMatterGrey]

It’s hard to tell my level, but I recently did a full 10qt change and my oil level is mid point between the high and low marks cold. So yours actually seems reasonable given the 9.5 qt spec.​

 

[MAT1955]

@TheGrabberBlueGT2024 ..... in fact the Motorcraft oil is an excellent. The base stock was, last time I heard, made by Conoco-Phillips to very demanding Ford standards and the VI additive package was from S-Oil which has a 5 star industrial additive rating. The Motorcraft FULL Synthetic is designed for Ford Coyote and other Ford high demand applications and is imo superb. Unless you are full-on racing you are, imo, wasting your money on any supposed up-grades beyond that. Again, my comments apply only to the Motorcraft FULL synthetic. BTW I was told Wix made the oil filters for Ford which would also make them excellent.

 

[DarkMatterGrey]

@TheGrabberBlueGT2024 ..... in fact the Motorcraft oil is an excellent. The base stock was, last time I heard, made by Conoco-Phillips to very demanding Ford standards and the VI additive package was from S-Oil which has a 5 star industrial additive rating. The Motorcraft FULL Synthetic is designed for Ford Coyote and other Ford high demand applications and is imo superb. Unless you are full-on racing you are, imo, wasting your money on any supposed up-grades beyond that. Again, my comments apply only to the Motorcraft FULL synthetic. BTW I was told Wix made the oil filters for Ford which would also make them excellent.

My concern is it’s also made for the ecoboost engines and thus has provisions for that engine that may not apply as much to the stock (unboosted) coyotes. It’s an SN Plus/SP rated oil that reduces the chance of “LSPI”. SN Plus and SP oils also don’t have a 5w-50 variant.

What’s interesting to me is that Whipple calls for the SN rated 5w-50 oil that doesn’t have provisions for boosted engines.

But yes both (semi and full synthetic) variants are high quality oils.

 

[TheGrabberBlueGT2024]

It’s hard to tell my level, but I recently did a full 10qt change and my oil level is mid point between the high and low marks cold. So yours actually seems reasonable given the 9.5 qt spec.​

I think I see it. So maybe I’m in the clear

It’s hard to tell my level, but I recently did a full 10qt change and my oil level is mid point between the high and low marks cold. So yours actually seems reasonable given the 9.5 qt spec.​

 

[TheGrabberBlueGT2024]

@TheGrabberBlueGT2024 ..... in fact the Motorcraft oil is an excellent. The base stock was, last time I heard, made by Conoco-Phillips to very demanding Ford standards and the VI additive package was from S-Oil which has a 5 star industrial additive rating. The Motorcraft FULL Synthetic is designed for Ford Coyote and other Ford high demand applications and is imo superb. Unless you are full-on racing you are, imo, wasting your money on any supposed up-grades beyond that. Again, my comments apply only to the Motorcraft FULL synthetic. BTW I was told Wix made the oil filters for Ford which would also make them excellent.

Yeah wix is great. Maybe I can save and just use the motorcraft stuff instead of Amsoil. Full synthetic of course.

 

[Grabber1]

I think I just lost 20 minutes of my life.

 

[TheGrabberBlueGT2024]

I think I just lost 20 minutes of my life.

Elaborate.

 

[Grabber1]

Elaborate.

6 pages of oil comments in 1 day. I was hoping to learn something new.

 

[TheGrabberBlueGT2024]

6 pages of oil comments in 1 day. I was hoping to learn something new.

More will be in coming. Going get the GT in the morning. Lol

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