Topic: Oil type for 66 mustang and other general maintenance questions

[Jared66]

Hi Everyone,

I just bought my first mustang and I want to change the oil. I have read up on which oil to use and there seems to be a lot of conflicting opinions. I have a 1966 289 V8. I live in Toronto, Canada but I will only be driving the car during the spring and summer months. The weather up here is basically the same as anywhere in upper New York state. If anyone has as other suggestions for general upkeep, maintenance etc. for this car I would really appreciate your insight.

[TheJ]

If your motor has flat tapped lifters you are going to want to use a zinc additive.  I would say a 10w30 should be a good viscosity.  As for storing the car you may want to put oil into each cylinder so the do not rust.  Other than that it's just like any other car regular maintenance is important.

hope this helps

[Jared66]

Thank you!

[TheJ]

not a problem.  Oh and welcome to the forum, you have a very nice mustang.

[jethat]

I run motorcraft 10w-30 semi synthetic ($14 a gallon at walmart) and a motorcraft filter in my 71 mach I. I have flat tappets and so far running zinc free oil hasnt been a problem. That is more of an issue for engines that have solid (adjustable)flat tappet cams. If the engine is old I would buy some auto RX and treat it with that then I'd just change the oil ever 3-5 thousand miles or so..

[65springtime]

I run motorcraft 10w-30 semi synthetic ($14 a gallon at walmart) and a motorcraft filter in my 71 mach I. I have flat tappets and so far running zinc free oil hasnt been a problem. That is more of an issue for engines that have solid (adjustable)flat tappet cams. If the engine is old I would buy some auto RX and treat it with that then I'd just change the oil ever 3-5 thousand miles or so..

Man, the way I drive my Mustang it would take me around three to five years to put on 5K miles. So guess I would not have to chang my oil and filter very offten. 

[65springtime]

I have also heard that if you change over to a synthetic oil you would have a leaking problem. Think this is true?

[Konrad]

Man, the way I drive my Mustang it would take me around three to five years to put on 5K miles. So guess I would not have to chang my oil and filter very offten. 

There is a time limit on oil. Gotta change it every several months anyway. It's also not good for a car to sit that much.

[Joe AZ 2 PA]

Man, the way I drive my Mustang it would take me around three to five years to put on 5K miles. So guess I would not have to chang my oil and filter very offten. 

There is a time limit on oil. Gotta change it every several months anyway. It's also not good for a car to sit that much.

Good catch Konrad. I don't plan to go with synthetic oil in an engine that wasn't designed or built for it. . . . 

[65springtime]

To be honest, I never knew engine oil would go bad sitting for a month or so. I always take it out at least once a month and in the winter I always at least start it and let it run for a while.

[Konrad]

I believe oil is good for 3-4 months. maybe up to 5-6 but it needs to be changed after that. Starting it and letting it run is better than not doing that, but ultimately, any machinery that just sits there a lot and doesn't run much, does start to break down and start to have issues. Fuel that sits can gum up fuel systems, moisture in the crankcase can start corrosion, batteries that don't stay charged, break down, dust can settle in electrical. An engine when it's shut off will have various cylinders all at different points some will have valves open, some closed. The ones that are open will get some air going in and out meaning possibly moisture and corrosion in those cylinders but not others. Seals and gaskets dry out, fuel tanks corrode if they aren't kept full. Fuel turns to turpentine if you don't use fuel stabilizer. Anti-freeze turns acidic after a couple years and eats up the cooling system. The list goes on and I'm sure you take care of some of those things anyway, but in general, it's not great for machines to sit and do nothing most of the time. They were made to run.

[Konrad]

As for mineral vs synthetic... I don't know for sure, but I run regular oil. the advantages to synthetic are that they resist high temperatures better and their lubricating properties work for longer. The way I see it though, all oil turns black. They say you don't need to change it just because it's black, but I dunno... the black is mostly tiny particles of carbon created by combustion. Personally, I'd rather flush that out regularily than have it sit there and flow through my engine just because the oil still lubricates. I'd prefer to change oil often. Oil really isn't that expensive and every time I change it I feel I've taken dirt out of my engine, regardless of whether the oil really have to be changed.

If you are barely going to drive the car, I'd use regular oil and maybe find a good additive that keeps the oil on the seats and bearings better between startups. 50% of engine wear happens at cold starts I've heard. Apparently there is an additive that Carol Shelby uses that actually soaks into the metal somehow so it stays there. I don't know what it's called though, sorry.

[jake66]

This might be a silly question but how do you know what tappets are fitted in a engine

[Jeff1967]

We all know regular oil has been used for generations and is a proven lubricant, In my 67' I am sticking with regular dino oil. There are rumors synthetic oils may cause leaks, My engine does not leak a drop, why risk it? As for storage a lot of good tips have been posted, My car is a fair weather driver only therefore gas stabilizer is always a must in a full tank during winter. When starting your car in the off season it is best to choose a day where you can drive the car until completely warmed up, blowing all moisture out of the exhaust system. You do not want water sitting in your mufflers and pipes which will eventually rust them out. Also having moisture sitting in the system can cause adverse effects in other areas of the vehicle. As mentioned in another post cars are designed to be driven, but for me in the climate which I live winter is not conducive sometimes for a 4X4 yet alone a classic car so mine sits until the sun shines.

Jeff