Nothing makes an engine happier than clean oil for that first springfiring. There tends to be caution with synthetic engine oil, but youcouldn't do your engine a greater favor. Run Mobil 1 10W-30 or 10W-40 inyour classic Mustang. Lower the viscosity to 5W-20 for your late-model.Motorcraft filters are original equipment in Fords and for good reason:They work.
We love to pamper our Mustangs. With great regularity, we roll them intothe shade, wax and detail the exterior, wipe down the interior, checkthe fluids, and keep tire pressure in check. These are all importantelements for keeping our Mustangs in good shape.
When they're put awayfor the winter, it's easy to forget they're out in the garage taking along nap. As much as we think it's good for our Mustangs to sit, it'sprobably the worst thing we can do. When they sit all winter, the agingprocess accelerates. The longer they sit, the worse it becomes.
Before starting the engine, remove the distributor and run the oil pumpto get the engine's oiling system primed, especially if the car has beensitting for a long time. This gets oil to the bearings and cylinderwalls before you spin the engine.
Your Mustang's powertrain likes to be hot, with all of its parts and fluidsin motion. The more you drive it, the happier it becomes. A good rundown the interstate at 60 mph is the perfect environment. The enginegets good and hot, oil circulates, piston rings dance happily along thecylinder walls, seals stay flexible, valves and guides glide smoothly,transmission seals and clutches function nicely, and brake drums androtors stay rust free.
So what should you do when your Mustang has beensleeping all winter? Before you even start it this spring, be sure tochange the oil and filter. When you change the oil, fill the pan withMobil 1 synthetic 10W-30 oil. If you have a low-mileage original that'snever been apart, stick with conventional engine oil, preferably Castrol10W-30 or 10W-40. This isn't a product endorsement in either case, andthese companies do not advertise with us. They are recommendedlubricants based on years of experience with both brands, approaching 1million miles of use with Mobil 1 in all kinds of Fords. Castrol isanother outstanding engine oil that has done a good job for us withgreat consistency. We've also experienced success with Motorcraft oilfilters on Fords, both old and new. When you experience success, whychange?
For that first spring startup, you want the engine's internalsready before spinning the starter. It's a good idea to pour a tablespoonof engine oil into each cylinder before starting. Then crank the enginewith the starter with all spark plugs removed to coat the cylinderwalls. This is probably a good time to consider a tune-up, with newplugs and an ignition kit. If you aren't concerned with originality,consider installing a PerTronix Ignitor II electronic ignition retrofitkit inside your Autolite or Motorcraft distributor. It is the single,greatest modification you can make that no one sees, and will improveperformance and make cold starting a lot easier.
These are main and rod bearings that have been scored by the absence oflubrication on startup. Because bearing contact surfaces are aluminum,they score easily. Give them a fighting chance with fresh oil and a goodoiling-system priming before you start the engine.
What Happens When You Don't...
We stress proper spring prep because thestuff you don't see can hurt your engine. Scored bearings can resultfrom just starting an engine without proper preparation after sittingidle over the winter. These bearings are scored (damaged) from beingfired dry. When an engine sits for months without running, oileventually leaves the bearings and cylinder walls. This is why we stressan oil and filter change, pouring a tablespoon of oil into each cylinderand priming the oiling system.