Oil Change

[CrashDummy]

I have a very noob topic to present to you guys today. I am going to change my oil for the first time this weekend. I have a 1999 with the 2.0L Zetec. What type of oil (10W30?), how much (5 quarts?), and what type of filter will I need? Any tips for someone who is doing this for the first time? As far as the brand goes I was thinking GTX High Mileage. Any reason I shouldn't use that?

[frenchblueC2]

When I had my '95 Zetec, I regularly used 5 quarts of Catrol GTX High Mileage 5w30 with no problems.
Have you already purchased a filter?
I used to get the Motorcraft FL300 and sometimes the Pure One filter (14670 was the code IIRC - Pep Boys carried it in my area).

Tips: remove the passenger front wheel to access the filter.
Everything else is pretty standard after that.

[mcgarvey]

99 Zetec uses a different filter. It's a Motorcraft FL2005. And put in 4.5 quarts 5w30, no more.

Using the FL400 will result in valvetrain noise when cold.

[ohsigmachi]

I would use Valvoline Maxlife Sybthetic Blend if it were my car, it's just a personal choice, but I think Maxlife's additive package is superior to Castrol's and you get some better base oil stocks with the blend.

The FL2005 says its been discontinued in the Motorcraft online catalog and to use the FL400S the "S" means it has a silicone anti-drain-back valve which reduces the startup noise.

How many miles are on the Car and how do you use it? Daily commute with a lot of highway or lots of (or infrequent) short trips around town with minimal highway use?
If you drive alot of highway in a Daily use car I would just use the cheapest oil and filter I could find (like the oil change specials at autozone and CSK stores for 9.99) and just change it every 4K miles. As far as picking a weight for summer I'd use the 5 or 10w30 and for winter I'd use the 5w20. If you want to maximize oil drain intervals and maybe get better mileage get the thinnest full synthetic oil you can afford (like Mobil 1 0w20) and a Mobil 1/K&N/Pure One oil filter.

[CrashDummy]

Thanks Guys but I still have a question. What if I don't use a Motorcraft filter? There are lots of different brands out there (Fram, ect) and they all have a wide range of filters. How do I know which one fits my car?

[tredse1]

FRAM sucks. Do not use fram. fram bad. use anything but fram. paper towel stuffed into hole better than fram.

[CrashDummy]

FRAM sucks. Do not use fram. fram bad. use anything but fram. paper towel stuffed into hole better than fram.

Your advice is noted but my question still stands; the filter can be a Mobil 1/K&N/Pure One/Fram/Motorcraft, whatever but how do I know if it will fit my car? Each one seems to have their own numbering system. I want to be able to walk into an auto store pick up a filter and know if it works with my car, but I have no idea how to do this.

[tredse1]

oh right sorry, most places used to have books hanging from the shelf, if so equiped you look your vehicle up in the book...sometimes a little computer like wal-mart...if this fails or not there anymore you may accually have to lower yourself to the ask-for-help standards...find a nearby employee, they get paid to tell you crap like that! if you find your self asking for help make the person earn their pay, ask them everything you can think of!

[ohsigmachi]

Your hysteria about fram is a bit over stated (definitely buying into the urban legend web-related hype about the "orange can of death)...A fram extra guard filter is more than adequate for 4 thousand mile oil change intervals. It it the best filter on the market? By no means, but it also won't make your car explode, it functions axactly as any other oil filter on the market. Now if you are putting it on an extremely high performance engine, using it in racing type situations, or going for extended oil drain intervals then it is not the optimal choice.

The easiest way to find all the diferent brands part number is to just put you car into then advanceautoparts.com or autozone.com websites and look at the part numbers listed under the oil filter category.

[tredse1]

really i'm not into all the hype crap...kinda in a funny mood and also i used to be a HUGE fan of FRAM, then i worked at autozone for a while a learned about how they are really just crap like most cheap filters, only they arn't cheap!, now i buy motorcraft or stp...at least stp is priced at it's quality level....i guess i kinda feel cheated by frams stupid advertising claims and such, they are just a cheap crap filter that's all....no consiricy

and i agree about the websites, sorry i forgot bout the internet!