Higher mileage cars

pete3323 · Post by **pete3323** » Mon Mar 05, 2012 9:35 pm

Just wondering...my cobra has 135K on her. She runs great and i would like to keep it that way. What type of oil should i use at this mileage level. I am thinking of switching to synthetic. Also, with gas prices soaring would there be any harm in running the 87 octane? I've always used 91 (California) but every little bit helps these days. Thanks.

k98dave · Post by **k98dave** » Mon Mar 05, 2012 9:53 pm

What kind of oil have you been using and how often did you change it?
Is your engine using any oil now?
I have always used synthetic oil and have had cars go over 150k with no oil related issues. I change oil & filters every 5k miles

You could start using Synthetic but you could start seeing leaks develop typically around valve covers, oil pan gasket, and rear main seal (sort of common with 5.0 Fords)

As for gas these engines have 9 to 1 compression so I use 89 here with no problems. I have used our 93 but don;t see any real difference.

Post by **1993cobra** » Tue Mar 06, 2012 5:52 am

ive never used anything but 87 octane , for everyday driving its fine, now if you were gonna be racing it , i would use aa higher octane . and i use synthetic in everything from my lawnmower to my to my truck with 170k on it no problems and usually go around 7k between changes. When i first started using it , i had a 90 chevy truck , i switched from conventional and noticed about 1.5 mpg increase using 5w30 in it.

tliss · Post by **tliss** » Tue Mar 06, 2012 9:30 am

I've got my popcorn ready for this one. My car has somewhere between 130-150K on the ticker...previous owner swapped a gauge cluster so the CarFax is a real cluster!

I've changed the oil twice...once when I got it and once over the weekend. I put about 2000 miles on it between changes (and a lot of sitting) and it looks like it consumed about 1.25 quarts. Nothing on the driveway but I do see some minor residue in places under the car, including the pan.

I went ahead and used some high mileage dino to start and will eventually switch to Mobil 1 like my other vehicles.

Anyway, I'll be watching this one!

Tom

Post by **1993cobra** » Tue Mar 06, 2012 9:38 am

tliss wrote:I've got my popcorn ready for this one. My car has somewhere between 130-150K on the ticker...previous owner swapped a gauge cluster so the CarFax is a real cluster!

Tom

pull the cluster , remove the odometer and set it , to what it should be, easy

pete3323 · Post by **pete3323** » Tue Mar 06, 2012 10:17 am

Mine had the rear main seal leak. Had that replaced. Dosen't seem to use any oil and the rest of the motor is dry. Glad to hear i can use the 87 octane. Even that is $4.25 a gallon around here! I am using 10-40 castrol right now.

Romo93 · Post by **Romo93** » Tue Mar 06, 2012 12:20 pm

1993cobra wrote:ive never used anything but 87 octane , for everyday driving its fine, now if you were gonna be racing it , i would use aa higher octane . and i use synthetic in everything from my lawnmower to my to my truck with 170k on it no problems and usually go around 7k between changes. When i first started using it , i had a 90 chevy truck , i switched from conventional and noticed about 1.5 mpg increase using 5w30 in it.

Hmm, would be nice to use 87 and save a few bucks. I've always used 93. How many others are using 87?

I also run mobil 1 synthetic..

RollTide93 · Post by **RollTide93** » Tue Mar 06, 2012 12:31 pm

I don't even have 93 where I live, I always run 91 but 87 won't hurt it for everyday use like what they said

aaronlstiles · Post by **aaronlstiles** » Tue Mar 06, 2012 12:54 pm

I run cheap stuff in my 98 5.0 explorer, and I know it pings like crazy, I would hate to run that in my 93. Maybe 91, but not 87

Romo93 · Post by **Romo93** » Tue Mar 06, 2012 2:49 pm

aaronlstiles wrote:I run cheap stuff in my 98 5.0 explorer, and I know it pings like crazy, I would hate to run that in my 93. Maybe 91, but not 87

I agree with you Aaron. I would be affraid to use 87 everyday. Might be a little more expensive but gives me peace of mind. Mine is not a daily driver though! 93 would cost a fortune on a daily driver!!

puttputt · Post by **puttputt** » Tue Mar 06, 2012 5:09 pm

I use 87 in mine with no issues but I also don't drive it hard either.

jstanley55 · Post by **jstanley55** » Tue Mar 06, 2012 5:13 pm

I always use 91. Costs less than $2.00 more to fill the tank so in my mind why not use it. And I always use synthetic oil regardless of miles.

Post by **1993cobra** » Tue Mar 06, 2012 6:06 pm

aaronlstiles wrote:I run cheap stuff in my 98 5.0 explorer, and I know it pings like crazy, I would hate to run that in my 93. Maybe 91, but not 87

set the timing to factory specs, and keep your foot out of it, and it wont ping

pete3323 · Post by **pete3323** » Tue Mar 06, 2012 7:24 pm

What i have always thought was it is ok to use the lower octane as long as there is NO pinging.

Mike S. · Post by **Mike S.** » Wed Mar 07, 2012 1:21 am

I use 87 in my '92 5.0 coupe during the winter months, never pings. It does in the hot months, so I switch to mid grade. I drive it like an old man, and it's bone stock with 10º of timing.

-MJS