FENZO
GT Owner
Here's something I do for oil and coolant changes.... After the drips stop put a shop vac on blow, rag over the fill hole, to persuade the liquids out. Messy but effective.
Changing Fluids
- Thread starter PHXGT
- Start date
Pete -
Most race organizations don't want anything but water in the cooling systems, as if it starts to leak by a failure or accident, it makes tracks very slippery and is hard to clean up.
Beach-GT
GT Owner
In Florida I use 25% motorcraft coolant and distilled water. We don't need the freeze protection, just the lubricant and corrosion protection. My air-evac system is powered by an air compressor and can be used to empty the system. A bit messy but just do it outside.
Waldo
GT Owner
Here are a couple of threads that may help.
http://www.fordgtforum.com/forums/showthread.php/26522-Draining-engine-and-supercharger-coolant
http://www.fordgtforum.com/forums/showthread.php/7873-How-to-change-the-Supercharger-s-Coolant
Best Regards,
I'm coming up on the 4th. year of ownership and have been having the oil and filter changed on a regular basis. Now I want to change all fluids for a fresh start.
The owners manual recommends radiator fluid mixture of 50/50 Motorcraft Premium Gold Engine Coolant (yellow-colored) VC-7-A and distilled water. Is this correct regarding the water, distilled? Also someone mentioned there is supercharger fluid but saw no mention of this in the manual. Is this the intercooler fluid I've seen talked about elsewhere?
The owners manual recommends radiator fluid mixture of 50/50 Motorcraft Premium Gold Engine Coolant (yellow-colored) VC-7-A and distilled water. Is this correct regarding the water, distilled? Also someone mentioned there is supercharger fluid but saw no mention of this in the manual. Is this the intercooler fluid I've seen talked about elsewhere?
bobster_rulez
Member
- Dec 4, 2012
- 7
That belt for the oil pump is a must and watching rich and dennis do it, it was not easy.
If that belt goes so goes the engine unless you are watching the gauges when it goes.
Get the right people for the job, or you will have problems.
Another thing is if the coolant is not changed correctly you will get an air bubble in the system and then overheat and it would be
very very bad!!
If that belt goes so goes the engine unless you are watching the gauges when it goes.
Get the right people for the job, or you will have problems.
Another thing is if the coolant is not changed correctly you will get an air bubble in the system and then overheat and it would be
very very bad!!
Xcentric
GT Owner
Distilled water is correct. You don't want any minerals in the water that might cause corrosion.
Supercharger oil does not require changing, but check the level every 30k miles.
The intercooler uses the same coolant mix as the engine.
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FOR SURE on using distilled water!! I used the Motorcraft coolant.
The engine and supercharger coolant are indeed 2 separate circuits. Take note that you have 2 coolant expansion tanks on driver left side of the car by engine. When you get the front splitter off, you can see drains.
Another suggestion if you are doing this your self, is to get your hands on an "Airlift" to put the coolant back in.
https://www.amazon.com/UView-550000-Airlift-Cooling-Checker/dp/B0002SRH5G
The engine and supercharger coolant are indeed 2 separate circuits. Take note that you have 2 coolant expansion tanks on driver left side of the car by engine. When you get the front splitter off, you can see drains.
Another suggestion if you are doing this your self, is to get your hands on an "Airlift" to put the coolant back in.
https://www.amazon.com/UView-550000-Airlift-Cooling-Checker/dp/B0002SRH5G
PeteK
GT Owner
That makes sense. However, the last time I was on a race track was in an air-cooled Porsche, so that didn't apply to me!
Indy GT
Yea, I got one...too
Stuart,
It is your car and you can certainly choose to have anyone you select to do your maintenance. Yes our GT is relatively easy to work on, but hands on experience is certainly a valuable asset. Especially as indicated above replacement of the oil pump belt. Does the dealership mechanic know to look for rust traces around the pulley/shaft interface indicating possible relative motion between the two? Likely the dealership has never done this service on the one or two GT’s that they service (if that) in a year. You have been on this Forum since October 2006. Certainly you have read many posts about owner experiences with dealer mechanics albeit “Factory Trained on the FGT” with less than desirable results. Have your axle bolts also been changed?
I find it somewhat perplexing why new owners of our car (which you are not) fight so hard to resist the service recommendations of those who have experienced issues on both sides of the maintenance fence. For me the liability of poorly executed service (to be fair which may or may not happen based on the service complexity) is just too great to risk. Since your GT is based in Florida, the GT Guys are your closest source for this 10 year service. Rich and Dennis have made trips to Florida to service groups of owners. Talk to them if another trip is scheduled in the near future. But it is certainly worth a call to them to discuss any of your proposed work.
But again it is your car and your call….
It is your car and you can certainly choose to have anyone you select to do your maintenance. Yes our GT is relatively easy to work on, but hands on experience is certainly a valuable asset. Especially as indicated above replacement of the oil pump belt. Does the dealership mechanic know to look for rust traces around the pulley/shaft interface indicating possible relative motion between the two? Likely the dealership has never done this service on the one or two GT’s that they service (if that) in a year. You have been on this Forum since October 2006. Certainly you have read many posts about owner experiences with dealer mechanics albeit “Factory Trained on the FGT” with less than desirable results. Have your axle bolts also been changed?
I find it somewhat perplexing why new owners of our car (which you are not) fight so hard to resist the service recommendations of those who have experienced issues on both sides of the maintenance fence. For me the liability of poorly executed service (to be fair which may or may not happen based on the service complexity) is just too great to risk. Since your GT is based in Florida, the GT Guys are your closest source for this 10 year service. Rich and Dennis have made trips to Florida to service groups of owners. Talk to them if another trip is scheduled in the near future. But it is certainly worth a call to them to discuss any of your proposed work.
But again it is your car and your call….
w.a.nelson
GT Owner
Is it necessary/desirable to warm up the engine before draining the oil?
I can't remember what I've done in the past, and don't have a lot of experience with synthetics, so I don't know if they need this or not. In the old days of 30, 40, 50 weight Pennzoil, warming always helped the drainage.
Also, never too fond of running the engine while on jack stands. Certainly done it many times - just a thing with me.
I can't remember what I've done in the past, and don't have a lot of experience with synthetics, so I don't know if they need this or not. In the old days of 30, 40, 50 weight Pennzoil, warming always helped the drainage.
Also, never too fond of running the engine while on jack stands. Certainly done it many times - just a thing with me.
Howard
GT Owner
Here's what I do: Yes, warm the engine, shut it down and THEN put it jack stands. No rush. The engine oil will stay warm for hours.
Howard
Howard
I am about 6 months from my 10 year anniversary with the GT. Was thinking that it would be a good time to change all the fluids. Other than transmission fluid and oil, are there rules of thumb for coolant, brake fluid and steering fluid? Am I missing anything. Should any of these be fine and not ned to be replaced after almost 10 years and 11,000 miles?
Thanks for your help.
David
Thanks for your help.
David
bonehead
GT Owner
Xcentric
GT Owner
All fluids every three years.
Seriously, now. Think about the cost of replacing, for example, all brake components in contact with fluid (and I won't list them all) because the fluid absorbed moisture over time (as all do) and caused corrosion in cylinder and piston seals so you had to replace all the hardware, because you passed on cheap fluid flushes. Expand this example to all systems with fluids.
To answer your question, no, none of them are fine.
Seriously, now. Think about the cost of replacing, for example, all brake components in contact with fluid (and I won't list them all) because the fluid absorbed moisture over time (as all do) and caused corrosion in cylinder and piston seals so you had to replace all the hardware, because you passed on cheap fluid flushes. Expand this example to all systems with fluids.
To answer your question, no, none of them are fine.
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Vincent998
GT Owner
Change intervals are all listed in the manuals. I change engine oil and filter, brake and clutch fluid every year, coolant and transmission oil every three years as per Ford instructions.
HOOKED ON GT
GT Owner
HOOKED ON GT
GT Owner
GT is finally new again.
This was the hit list that was completed as per your imputs
Engine Oil
Brake Oil
Coolant Fluid
Clutch Fluid
Power Steering Fluid
Oil Pump Belt.
Recalls on the airbags all done.
Had them do the aftermarket half shaft bolts I bought as well.
Told them about "door ajar" light, but couldn't find any issues but did see then on the OBD scan
There is a future passenger airbag recall coming up again I was told.
Now I need new rubber.
Stuart A
This was the hit list that was completed as per your imputs
Engine Oil
Brake Oil
Coolant Fluid
Clutch Fluid
Power Steering Fluid
Oil Pump Belt.
Recalls on the airbags all done.
Had them do the aftermarket half shaft bolts I bought as well.
Told them about "door ajar" light, but couldn't find any issues but did see then on the OBD scan
There is a future passenger airbag recall coming up again I was told.
Now I need new rubber.
Stuart A