23 Mach 1, 1st oil change question, very low miles

[Mach10Maverick]

I purchased my 23 Mach 1 last fall with just under 250 miles. Drove it home, now have 505 miles, and is now parked for the long Minnesota winter. Build date on this car was late 2023 I believe. Should I be changing the oil with such low miles - by spring the oil will be 1.5 years old? I am old school, been around the block "several" times and back in the day there was always the initial break in period with special factory "break in" oil that was normally not changed for a manufacturer recommended period. Once I have this oil changed I intend to go full synthetic with whatever weight Ford recommends.

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[robvas]

Many people change the oil before 500/1000 miles (or both) to try to help get any break in particles out of the engine

I'd make sure you take it on a good high RPM run varying the load and then change it, especially if you have babied it for the 500 miles you have put on it so far.

 

[zenwhipper]

I'm in the same boat, er car. But this is what I found.

 

[robvas]

I'm in the same boat, er car. But this is what I found.

If you're going by the OLM it will tell you to change the oil at 1 year no matter what. (not that you actually need to if you haven't driven the car much...)

 

[Torched10]

Agreeibimportant to set the rings by driving at higher rpm a few times.use yourpaddles to get rpms up at lower speeds
I do my oil once a year

 

[Skye]

Being both an oil-related and break-in thread, I expect a wide variety and extensive amount of responses.

I'd favor putting some more miles on the car, following a break-in routine. How many, I can't say. A few drives? A few hundred miles? IDK. I think that's going to come down to the comfort level or mindset in each of us.

Attached is a link of the things I did before first oil change.

https://www.mustang6g.com/forums/threads/engine-break-in-suggestions.206730/#post-4133631

I purchased my car in the Summer of 2022 and reached break-in mileage like a few days before the first Winter storm. The factory oil sat, the car stowed, for months. I then drove it another 100 or so miles, 160 kms, before changing.

The initial oil analysis was in-line with others and what they posted. Given the variables, it was normal for a first oil change: weaker than expected viscosity, high copper, high silicone.

https://www.mustang6g.com/forums/threads/first-oil-change-and-analysis.132878/

Being a new car, I checked fluids and performed other visual inspections (under hood, under car, tread wear, etc.) after every drive. I wanted to confirm nothing was leaking, coming loose, etc. After a month or so, I got into a routine where I do that now once a month.

YMMV.

 

[sk47]

Hello; Oil questions. So many opinions which vary. First opinion is the oil is already past due at 18 + months. Second opinion is being parked for a few months adds to the "stress" on the oil. 505 miles in 18 months means the car has sat a lot. I have worked on cars which sit too long enough to firmly believe sitting is among the more destructive things we can do to a car.

I am old school having been taught to change break-in oil at or near 500 miles on a new car. I understand tens of thousands, if not millions, of new cars no longer get this done and live. Even so, another reason to change the oil right away in my view.

NOTE- I do not exactly understand the phenomena but have read a number of posts/threads stating that their Coyote ran quiet before the first oil change and had new noises after that first oil change. You may be in a unique position to provide a real test of this. You can listen closely or record the engine noises before and after the first oil change.

NOTE #2- I recently bought a ROKU streaming device and found the series Engine Masters. In Season 1 episode 1 they recommend AMS Oil Z rod SAE motor oil because it has lots of zinc with added rust preventative. It is suggested the rust preventative might be helpful for cars which sit a lot. I do not know and likely we should take into account AMS OIL is the sponsor of the early series.

NOTE #3- When I buy a used vehicle I change pretty much all the fluids unless somehow, I know the previous owner or have some reason to believe good service has been done. The OP's GT likely was bought new and almost parked for a year so maybe this step could be skipped. Thing is I have seen owners do some very weird things over the decades.

NOTE #4- Among the other problems from sitting a lot is the seals can dry out. Use to be especially bad for AC seals. One reason i try to drive a vehicle at least once a week. I also run the AC at least once a month.

Enough from me. Good luck OP and enjoy the car.

 

[17VUDU]

I purchased my 23 Mach 1 last fall with just under 250 miles. Drove it home, now have 505 miles, and is now parked for the long Minnesota winter. Build date on this car was late 2023 I believe. Should I be changing the oil with such low miles - by spring the oil will be 1.5 years old? I am old school, been around the block "several" times and back in the day there was always the initial break in period with special factory "break in" oil that was normally not changed for a manufacturer recommended period. Once I have this oil changed I intend to go full synthetic with whatever weight Ford recommends.

I don’t have any oil change advice but I see your from Nisswa. We have some good friends who live on Roy Lake, beautiful area.

 

[MiamiGT350]

I'd add some more miles, but make an effort to reach higher RPMs and properly break-in the engine. You've got a coyote which is a great engine. Once you're up to 170F, no harm in sending it.

The more additives an oil contains, the more hygroscopic (attract water) it will be. Things will get sludgy in your engine if you aren't reaching proper temperatures to burn off any water in the oil. In your drive sessions, make sure you're reaching at least 212F. Here's a great video

My oil recommendations are Amsoil Signature or Pennzoil Ultra Platinum... both are great.

If you change your oil and notice a tick, it's because they add friction modifier to the oil at the factory. Most owners just add a half to full bottle of LiquiMoly Ceretac to quiet things down.

 

[JetGray_Mach1]

I changed mine at 3K miles for first oil change then every 6K miles. In your case I wouldn't run oil that is over a year old since oil gets contaminated when sitting over time. Just change the oil at least once a year no matter the mileage. I mean the Manual mentions it, follow the manual.

 

[GrabberBargeCaptain]

Modern oils don't deteriorate just sitting in your crankcase but if you are one of those guys that starts the engine up in your driveway for 5 minutes to "circulate the oil" or whatever then you should change it yearly for sure.

 

[Umi Car]

Well I track my car 5 times a season along with monthly autocross and a few road rallies, totaling around ~2500 miles a year. I change mine MULTIPLE times a season due to the track time now but I’ve always done oil every 6 months on my low mileage cars no matter what. It’s cheap insurance that makes me feel at peace.

 

[Unbridled5.0]

Years ago, I Blackstone tested oil that was 2.5yrs old from my 04 Mach 1, it was perfect. I always drive the car up to temp when I take it out though. I think that's all it takes anymore with today's oils. Age, for the most part, doesn't matter.

In this scenario, nobody here (OP included) has any idea how this car has been operated throughout its entire life. All we know is that it's barely been operated at all since being manufactured.

OP, if you have real concerns about your oil, you could just change it. It can't hurt to replace it with what's already in there. Ford doesn't use any break-in oil. It's just motorcraft synthetic blend 5w30. Didn't someone here get Blackstone test results mentioning that a while back when trying to figure out "the tick"?

 

[Mach10Maverick]

Thank you all for the replies, all of this was good information. My plan now is to drive it a few months, run it a bit hard a few times, then change it out.

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