Rebelord
New Member
- Joined
- July 8, 2008
- Messages
- 6
- Reaction score
- 0
- City, State
- Az
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 2003 Eddie Bauer
Sup all? Well, new guy to the forum. Have vast experience with cars/trucks and forums to boot.
Picked up a 2003 Eddie Baur 4x2 4.6l 79k, with all options except 4x4 and reverse sensers. Not bad of a deal, 10800otd after all said and done.
Did some routine maintence, because I have a hard time trusting dealerships for some things. So..this is what I did.
New Wix oil filter, German Castrol oil 0w-30(actually closer to a 40), new plugs, new Wix fuel filter. Plus ran some seafoam through the 1/8 tank for the injectors and about 1/2 can in oil for ~8miles to clean some stuff up.
Drained the oil after the seafoam, and was quite pleased to see it wasnt all gummy and chunky. Changed out what looked to be the original Motorcraft Plat. plugs..ugh. Put in trusty ole NGK tr-55s. Fuel filter was fun..first the finding where it was, then removing the heat sheild. For the 4.6l one of the bolts is behind the Y-pipe. So you have to do it with a wrench or ratcheting wrench. Then it has 2 inlets not one, which even I messed up cause all part numbers I found said that the single in was for it. Oh my, now I know 2 in for the 4.6l Xs.
Now, I figure some of you might be wondering about my choices of products. First, Wix filters are probally the best for your dollar. There are K&N and Mobil 1 filter that are good, which those two are exactly the same, so save yourself some money from buying the K&N and get the Mobil 1. Bosch oil filters are also pretty good. All this info is on/from bobistheoilguy site and other ppl that have done research on these products on other forums such as ls1tech.com.
Second, my oil choice. Stock oil called for is 5w-20. Another Meh.. Why? We can buy the German Castrol in the states. It is by far the best oil that you can buy here. Far, far better than Mobil 1. Which is synthec blend nowadays. They resorted back to a low quality base which is complete crap. Not worth the money. I'll run Wal-mart Supertech Syn before Mobil 1. Plus, the added fact that it is closer to a 40 holds up better in the extreme heat I drive in southern Arizona. German Castrol, well if you want to read up on it, go to bobistheoilguy site. Way more there than I can explain here. Simply put, its on par with Amsoil. RP? Eh..good too, but 7.99?? When GC is 6.49 sometimes cheaper if you can find the right sale.
Third, Sparkplugs. Stock, Motorcraft/Autolite..sure why not? But from my experience, no plug will last 100k miles. 50k miles? Maybe, if under perfect normal running conditions. Which is pretty much non existant. So I run NGK TR55s, tried and true working plugs. There a good standart plug, and for 1.99 sometimes .89 on sale. Proper planning can last you 20k miles. Plugs on these vehicals are easy enough to pull that pulling one or two every oil change to check em out isnt hard. Plus gives you a heads up on how your running. There a good plug, long standing track record and dont break the bank buying them.
Oh yea..almost forgot. Cleaned the MAF to with some CRC Maf sensor cleaner. Now all I have to do is change the foward O2 sensors. 79k miles..probally originals and getting near end of life.
Ski
PM for any questions.
Picked up a 2003 Eddie Baur 4x2 4.6l 79k, with all options except 4x4 and reverse sensers. Not bad of a deal, 10800otd after all said and done.
Did some routine maintence, because I have a hard time trusting dealerships for some things. So..this is what I did.
New Wix oil filter, German Castrol oil 0w-30(actually closer to a 40), new plugs, new Wix fuel filter. Plus ran some seafoam through the 1/8 tank for the injectors and about 1/2 can in oil for ~8miles to clean some stuff up.
Drained the oil after the seafoam, and was quite pleased to see it wasnt all gummy and chunky. Changed out what looked to be the original Motorcraft Plat. plugs..ugh. Put in trusty ole NGK tr-55s. Fuel filter was fun..first the finding where it was, then removing the heat sheild. For the 4.6l one of the bolts is behind the Y-pipe. So you have to do it with a wrench or ratcheting wrench. Then it has 2 inlets not one, which even I messed up cause all part numbers I found said that the single in was for it. Oh my, now I know 2 in for the 4.6l Xs.
Now, I figure some of you might be wondering about my choices of products. First, Wix filters are probally the best for your dollar. There are K&N and Mobil 1 filter that are good, which those two are exactly the same, so save yourself some money from buying the K&N and get the Mobil 1. Bosch oil filters are also pretty good. All this info is on/from bobistheoilguy site and other ppl that have done research on these products on other forums such as ls1tech.com.
Second, my oil choice. Stock oil called for is 5w-20. Another Meh.. Why? We can buy the German Castrol in the states. It is by far the best oil that you can buy here. Far, far better than Mobil 1. Which is synthec blend nowadays. They resorted back to a low quality base which is complete crap. Not worth the money. I'll run Wal-mart Supertech Syn before Mobil 1. Plus, the added fact that it is closer to a 40 holds up better in the extreme heat I drive in southern Arizona. German Castrol, well if you want to read up on it, go to bobistheoilguy site. Way more there than I can explain here. Simply put, its on par with Amsoil. RP? Eh..good too, but 7.99?? When GC is 6.49 sometimes cheaper if you can find the right sale.
Third, Sparkplugs. Stock, Motorcraft/Autolite..sure why not? But from my experience, no plug will last 100k miles. 50k miles? Maybe, if under perfect normal running conditions. Which is pretty much non existant. So I run NGK TR55s, tried and true working plugs. There a good standart plug, and for 1.99 sometimes .89 on sale. Proper planning can last you 20k miles. Plugs on these vehicals are easy enough to pull that pulling one or two every oil change to check em out isnt hard. Plus gives you a heads up on how your running. There a good plug, long standing track record and dont break the bank buying them.
Oh yea..almost forgot. Cleaned the MAF to with some CRC Maf sensor cleaner. Now all I have to do is change the foward O2 sensors. 79k miles..probally originals and getting near end of life.
Ski
PM for any questions.