There is a recall on 5w/30 mobile 1. I believe there is 5 different batch numbers involved. The problem has to do with the additives. So before you puor it in you might one to call the toll free number on the bottle to verify that yours is not involved

 

I believe that it is recommended that we do not use any synthetic oil in out SVT`s. I`ve been using Valvoline 5w-30 in all my cars for years. Not sure why synthetic is not recommended I`m sure someone can explain why ?......

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99 SVT Lightning
BLK. #1476 5/20/99
2 Chamber Flowmasters
Superchip
Sportmasters tonneau

 

Spiro99SVT,

Ford SVT simply did not recommend synthetic oil in their Lightnings because they have not extensively tested it. This was earlier this year. This statement was made by SVT for no other reason, neither endorsing synthetic oil nor condemning it. It's nothing more than a disclaimer.

Since Ford uses synthetic transmission oil in their automatic transmissions and synthetic oil in their rear end assemblies, you be the judge of whether synthetic motor oil would be detrimental to your Lightning engine.

Some Ford dealers offer Mobil 1 "Express Lube" oil change service ...........

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Dunbarton "The Middle Aged Kid" '99 XLT SC SB 4x2 4.6 auto 3.55 ls The occasional Z-71 Eater! Wedgewood & Denim, SuperChipped, Airaid FIPK, Rhino Liner, Mobil 1. Man, I got it all! (New Jersey)

 

Funny, Mustang Cobras came with Mobil 1 from the factory and had a nice sticker on the valve cover stating such. Go figure!

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HotRodSix
'98 STX Flairside 4.2L

 

Um, Cobras don't come from the factory with Mobil 1 in them, and they sure don't have stickers that say so. The only thing on a Cobra (4v) valve cover, is the tag with the two engine assembler's signatures and the build information sticker. Running synthetic oil on a new engine is a really BAD thing to do. Synthetic oils have less crude "impurities" and have detergents in them. On a new motor, these "advantages" of synthetic oils, do not allow the motor to brake in properly. The only american car that I can think of off hand that comes with synthetic from the factory, and has a sticker saying so, is the Corvette. And I've seen my share of almost new Vettes, that smoke considerably

SAL

------------------
Power Surge Performance--- Your SOURCE for SVT Lightning EFI Tuning and Performance!!
http://members.aol.com/NLOCsvt/svt.html

 

I've only seen the engine in one Viper. The oil filler cap said Mobil one one it, I'm assuming it was factory!
Sal...I was thinking about putting the Mobil one in my 99 Lightning, it has 9000 miles on it. I would appreciate your thoughts on it!
THANKS!

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99.5 White Lightning
Superchip
K&N
13.58 @ 100.48



[This message has been edited by A-Lightning (edited 10-30-1999).]

 

Exactly how long is break-in on a truck that is driven meoderatly hard? I put Mobil1 in at 1,000 miles based upon there recommendation. If it starts smokin after 10k miles I'll have a beef! Mobil has some deeeeeeep pockets. Maybe I'll get a third motor?

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'97 F150 Lariat, Flareside, white/sliver, SC, ORP, 5.4 (FQR), Mods: 305/70/16 GY ATS, AR Baja wheels, dual exhaust, Smittybilt Nerf Bars, Edelbrock IAS Shocks, K&N Filter, Carbon Fiber Bug Gaurd and rigged the fog lights too.

 

I have quite a bit of experience with synthetic oil in big block V8s. Here's what my engine builder has found building race boat and NASCAR motors.

They use standard oil for the break in period (usually the dyno time) and for the first change interval (1 race or 200 laps). They then switch to one of 3 brands of synthetic (depends on the customer's preference), Red Line, Dyson Synergin or Royal Purple. Post season tear downs show significantly less wear on the bearings, wrist pins, etc. with this methodology than they were seeing using dino juice. they have also tested Mobil 1 (one of the racers was sponsored by Mobil) and it showed virtually identical wear charactoristics to petroleum based oils. In their opinion Mobil 1 is a top grade normal oil. It doesn't compare to Red Line etc.

Post break in there's absolutely no reason to not run Mobil 1 if you're so inclined. Just realize that you're not getting much more than running a top grade standard oil, at up to 4 times the price.

IMHO run Red Line or just use a top grade petroleum based oil.


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Mark Whatman
mwhatman@worldnet.att.net

• 99.5 White Lightning (stock)
• 99 Buell S3 Thunderbolt (not stock!)
• 98 F-150 Lariat (Flowmaster)
• 96 26' Velocity Offshore Race Boat (far from stock!!!)

 

Sal.....How many is your share (of smoking Vettes)? If Memory serves correct here, Mobil 1 has been the standard for Corvettes since the late 80's. I own two, an 87 and a 99 C5 and have always ran synthetic with no problems (the 87 now has 90,000+ miles) I know many Vette owners and belong to the C5 Registry and in 12+ years have only heard of a very few that have burned any oil and most were high milage cars that needed valve guide seals. Of coure there is always the exception, one of the guys on the C5R has a new C5 that burns a quart every three hundred miles (It is now being bought back by GM). And of course almost all of The Generals in the 70's and early 80's always leaked (the ones I owned anyway).

I also have run Mobil 1 in my 95 Lightning since it's first oil change 35,000 miles ago. After buying the 99 I again asked my dealer about warranty issues using Mobil 1 and was told it wouldn't be a problem and was told the same thing Dunbarton wrote in an earlier post.

Bottom line...should you change to a synthetic??? It's up to the individual. I have had very good luck with all the auto's I have purchased new and used synthetic. Also lots of the Vette guys rave about Red Line products....why do I choose Moble 1??? I have to admit knowing somebody that sells the product and lets me have it wholesale plays a large part in my use, but it has been a great product for me.

Sal......sent check yesterday for your filter...thanks......later.......

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TybeeC5
99 Red Lightning #1134
95 Blk Lightning #0737
99 Red C5
87 Red C4

 

Sal here. I've always run synthetic oil, and I swear by it. I use Mobil one. I have built plenty of motors, both for street and race applications, and upon teardown, it's a night and day difference in over condition of the motor between crude and synthetic oils. The only time I ever use crude oil, is on a fresh motor. I usually run it for 500 miles on a brand new motor, then dump it, put more crude in, then dump that betwen 1500-2000 miles and then add the Mobil one. As far as the 99 goes, I have been debating the Mobil one because of all the oil related nightmares that the Modular motors have. But I have spoken with several people who run Mobil one in their mod motors, and have no problems. I only have 500 miles on the new motor in my 99, so it'll be a while before I do the change anyway. As for those smokin Vettes Tybee, when I used to have my shop, I had close to a half dozen Vette owners (91-96 cars) that had problems with major oil consumption, some had less than 1000 miles on them. You'd know the Vettes better than I would, I was just pokin' a little fun anyway

SAL

------------------
Power Surge Performance--- Your SOURCE for SVT Lightning EFI Tuning and Performance!!
http://members.aol.com/NLOCsvt/svt.html

 

I used to run Amsoil (had put Red Line here) in my 91 mustang it seems to be one of the best porducts out there (very expnsive though). Never had any problems with it. When the manufacturers (Amsoil) print out the product information pamphlet it is very hard to tell what is hype & what is real,since eevry manufacturer puts claims with more horsepower, better wear & tearetc... But having been around the mustang racing scene i have seen so many people using it i might try it soon. Sorry guys I meant using Amsoil not Red Line

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Driver of a FF Lightning
Black 99
Very Dark (read illegal) Tint
looks great on the Black Bolt
Bone Stock
Phoenix, Az



[This message has been edited by Yoda (edited 10-31-1999).]

 

Lightning Tuner,

Along with Corvette and Viper, Porsche and BMW come from the factory with Mobil 1. Are their engines that much different from US production?

If the latter 2 don't know engines, God help us.

All petroleum oils have additives in them for viscosity enhancement and detergent capabilities, some more than others.

The only reasons I don't use Redline or Amsoil is the cost and Ford doesn't want to hear about once a year oil changes with them for warranty purposes.

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Dunbarton "The Middle Aged Kid" '99 XLT SC SB 4x2 4.6 auto 3.55 ls The occasional Z-71 Eater! Wedgewood & Denim, SuperChipped, Airaid FIPK, Rhino Liner, Mobil 1. Man, I got it all! (New Jersey)

 

First, we need more specific information about the "Mobil 1" recall. Nothing on their site mentioned it.

Second, this is an eternal subject on most internet auto bulletin boards. Mobil 1 is especially beneficial when it is very hot and very cold. Most manufacturers are recommending 5/30 which has proven to extend valve life in modern engines. The engineers I have spoken with say the break-in cautions against synthetics on late model engines are another example of urban legends. Porsche uses Mobil 1 from mile 0 and BMW is going to another brand of synthetic. What you don't want to do is leave the oil in the engine for more than 12 months with normal use, becuase of the contaminents that build up over time in any oil. Remeber, most engine wear occurs during start-up,especially when it is cold, and that is when Mobil 1 or equivalent synthetics really shine.

 

---This is a post of mine from another topic but still a valid question/comment---

I talked with a Mobil 1 engineer today concerning the recommended miles to introduce Mobil 1 into a brand-new engine. He said that the engines are broken-in at the factory and that you can use Mobil 1 from day one.
He went on to say that there is a "break-in" oil (oil that allows some increased wear) that OEM uses to seat the rings at the factory. This oil is then drained and refilled with "premium" oil before the engine is put into the truck.

Can anyone confirm or deny this practice. In essence what he was saying is that at the manufacturer's engine plant, these motors are ran before being shipped to the production line.

---IS THERE ANYONE OUT THERE THAT WORKS OR HAS WORKED AT A BIG THREE ENGINE PLANT RECENTLY---

I guess this would make since. The OEM would not want the "break-in" oil inside the engine for 5,000 miles - the recommended change interval.

What about you engine builders out there. Do you guys use a special "break-in" oil on your new motors and then switch to normal or premium oil?

 

I happened to work for Mobil. I use the 5-30 weight in My 99 Lightning. I have around 11000
miles on it. I ran Mobil 1 in my 93 Lightning. It never burnt oil. Had almost 83000 miles on it
when I sold it. I run Mobil 1 in My two turbo Merkur Xr4ti. With the turbo you just know the oil
is put to test. I have never changed the turbo bearing lube oil line. This line is about an 1/8 in
diameter. Coking is a problem with some oils. But not Mobil 1. I Ran Mobil 1 in both my
volkswagens,an 87 16 valve Scirroco and a 85 8 valve Golf GTI. Both with over 100,000 miles
on the odometer. My 95 SHO with 120,000 on it does use a bit of oil and always has. I spoke
with Ford when I first noticed this problem years ago and they said the use ,at that time was
within spec. Mobil 1 may be a bit expensive to add every 1500 miles (a qrt.) but what the hell.
This SHO seems to have a problem sucking oil out of the block and burning it. When I pulled
the bundle of snakes intake to change wires and plugs it (the intake) was coated with oil. I
washed it out and drove it another 50,000. so far. Runs like it always has. Pulls hard to red
line.
I have noticed a bit of oil on the tranny case at oil changes. Also a few times I noticed a bit on
the 93 Lightning tranny. I think the swell characteristics of Mobil 1 or synthetics in particular
are not as good as dinosaur and the gaskets seep a bit.
I haven't heard anything about a Mobil 1 recall umtill I read this string. I'll see what I can find
out. I work in Exploration and Production. Not Marketing and Refining.
I have always wondered if the synthetic was addded to the SHO too soon and hence the
breakin wasn't proper. On the other hand I have and am pleased with the performance of this
car to date.
One of my Merkurs has 185000 miles on the original block and I have pulled the head just
recently to install a new gasket. NO..visible scoring or scars on the cylinder walls. It runs
strong and has almost No oil loss. Granted I do dump all the oil at change periods rather than
change the filter and add a quart to these turbo cars. It's a Heat thing that drives me to do it.
Maybe it's excessive but thats what I do.The white Merkur has 125000. Roller Rockers and
SVO upgrades. Superchip etc. It uses No oil.

Granted I do work for Mobil. I would use Royal Purple if I worked for and owned stock in them.
Mobil is a top grade synthetic. Don't care what the man said about it being a hi-grade crude
product. You and I both know it is synthetic and he should.

And No I do Not receive a discount on Mobil products. I buy mine at Wall Mart.


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Red 99 Lightning (Totaled)
Black 99 Lightning
White 88 SVO Merkur Xr4ti
Sand Gold 88 Xr4ti
Silver 95 SHO