Afraid To Drive 2018 Mustang GT

[green97probe]

I bought my 2018 GT (built 03/18) brand new off the lot in August of 2018 with 3 miles on it. I bought it for it to be a nice weather toy since our winters are brutal on vehicles. It has all of 7,978 miles on it because I'm afraid to drive it after all of the things that I've read regarding issues like cylinder scoring and roller follower failure.

I change the oil and filter every spring, and I've been running Pennzoil Ultra Platinum 5W-30 with a Motorcraft filter ever since Ford changed to 5W-30 during the 2021 model year. I've never driven it hard.

Prior to the 5.0, I had a 2007 GT along with a 2010 GT. I never worried about the 4.6, but the third gen 5.0 has me on edge.

I'm looking for advice from anyone who has actually put miles on a 2018-2023 GT.

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[PSI]

The vast majority of 5.0s will have none of the terrible problems you’re worrying about. Drive your car and have fun.

 

[Pistol_91]

Drive it or Sell it.
I also bought mine brand new off the lot with 7 miles on it. 2 weeks later I was modding it. 5 years later it is boosted with 30k miles on it. No issues here. Either stop reading the horror stories and enjoy your car or sell it and buy something else you won't worry about. If I had a car I was scared of breaking. I'd sell it immediately.

 

[K4fxd]

If you look at history the coyote is the most reliable engine Ford has made.

Here is a link to how Ford tested it before releasing it in the 2011 GT

https://www.motortrend.com/parts/m5lp-1003-2011-ford-mustang-gt-50-coyote-engine/

 

[LOL WUT]

LOL WUT

 

[Silver Bullitt]

I’d unload that thing before it blows apart. Being I’m such a kind hearted guy, I’ll take it off your hands and find a good home for it. Who do I make the check payable for $20,000 to?

Seriously, send that girl!!! She’s aching to be rode hard.

 

[Paddles]

Those 4.6 really were hard to kill.

The gen 3 coyote is a stout engine in stock form though.
Keep your oil fresh and full and go enjoy the car. Set some money aside so if it breaks you can fix it.

If it's an automatic, get the transmission fluid level checked.

 

[jputnam]

Like Miles said in Ford vs. Ferrari you have a sports car and have to drive it like a sports car or it will act up. Otherwise, what is the point?

I know this is true on my Ecoboost. Yes, all the V8 guys can hate, but if I granny the thing the engine fights back and runs like crap the next day. I dog it just enough every drive to give the turbo a good spin and purge all the crap out.

 

[shogun32]

I dog it just enough every drive to give the turbo a good spin and purge all the crap out.

just keep the I4 on the boil. no less than 2800 rpm (unless plodding steady-state on interstate) to 5000 and large throttle is a happy banger. But if you don't have a tune, that will help tremendously. The Ford factory tune is abominable.

 

[engineermike]

These cars are running 8’s and even 7’s on internally stock motors. Yes there are factory defects but that’s true about everything.

 

[Cobra Jet]

Don’t “read into” any car forum, otherwise all cars are POS’s…

Just drive it, if it breaks fix it…

 

[ice445]

I mean it seems like a lot of these cars have an issue here or there (third gear lockout or a10 issues for example), so maybe you'll get one. Maybe you won't. Either way, stressing about it has no effect on the outcome. If something breaks, it's just money. If the car hasn't given you an actual reason to be apprehensive, then don't be.

If you're really paranoid about the cam thing, you can run a borescope through the valve cover port for the clean side of the pcv and have a look.

 

[CobaltFilly]

If you look at history the coyote is the most reliable engine Ford has made.

Here is a link to how Ford tested it before releasing it in the 2011 GT

https://www.motortrend.com/parts/m5lp-1003-2011-ford-mustang-gt-50-coyote-engine/

Right, I do believe you forgot about the Ford Duratec 3.7L (post water pump externalization).

 

[MidwayJ]

I'm looking for advice from anyone who has actually put miles on a 2018-2023 GT.

I have 72k on my 2019 A10 GT. It's been on many road trips with spirited driving at Tail of the Dragon, TX Hill Country, and the Ozarks. The engine has been reliable and doesn't use any oil between changes. The only issue I've had was gear failure in the rear differential. Fortunately it was at 59k and covered by the powertrain warranty.

 

[MAGS1]

Drive it, don’t worry about it. As pretty much everyone else has said, the coyote is about as reliable a motor as there is. Drive mine every day, I don’t fear the road salt in winter. Other than low transmission fluid from factory, I haven’t had any issues with mine and it’s going on 3 years now (new from factory).

I’ll outbid Silver Bullitt, happy to stroke a check for $20,001 to take it off your hands

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