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Oil Change problem!

96MystiqueGS

Veteran CEG'er
Joined
Jan 26, 2006
Messages
632
Location
Wilkes-Barre, PA
I just got done changing the oil in my new 98 Mystique (V6) for the first time. I have changed the oil on my old 96 Mystique (V6) lots of times and have never run into the trouble I ran into with this car. I loosened the oil filter and went to take it out between the exhaust and frame and it would not fit. I was able to get about 2" of the filter out but the rest was wedged in there. I had to push on the motor to allow enough room for the filter to pass through. Any ideas on why this is or what can be done to correct it?
 
May sound dumb...did you get the right filter? Just asking.

This is not as dumb as it sounds. I have bought wrong filters before (once or twice :eek: ) and only found out just before installing ("this looks too big or too small"). Many a times, you can skip one line when moving across the book and then find out it is the wrong one just before installing.

Maybe the previous owner or mechanic just used what they had. Check the old filter part number. However, as Brapple suggested, check the motor mounts.
 
The filter I removed and the filter I installed were both correct. The one I removed was a Champ 820 and I installed a Fram PH2. Never had trouble before. I'll have to check the motor mounts tomorrow after work. Any idea what to look for? If I remember correctly, some one had once told me trouble with motor mounts can cause engine vibrations, any truth to this? Because I do have some vibration at idle and low speed.
 
"Fram PH2."
Most on this site suggest never to use this oil filter. Purolator is about the same price and better.

I think Champ820 is one of the correct oil filters for the V6 (have not used them before).

"I'll have to check the motor mounts tomorrow after work. Any idea what to look for?"
There should be rubber inserts (isolators). If they are missing or broken, there's your problem.

"If I remember correctly, some one had once told me trouble with motor mounts can cause engine vibrations, any truth to this?"
Correct.

At a stop, does it vibrate a lot when in D, 2 or 1?. Put it in Park or Neutral and it gets better? Tell tale motor/tranny mounts issue.

Edit. From www.autozone.com
ANCHOR Insert only 2886LLT $17.99
icon_store_not.gif
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Attached to crossmember

Picture from AdvanceAutoparts
http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductList.aspx?parttype=27&mfrcode=ANH&ptset=A
 
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Purolator is the filter I use as well. Good luck with your oil change I hope it works out for you. Did you figure out what was the problem?
 
I read through that entire study of oil filters that 'Bob the Oil Guy' wrote up, or whoever that was... Only use Motorcraft filters. Filters are cheap, I don't change them with every oil change, and the Ford filters are excellent in quality & function.
 
At a stop, does it vibrate a lot when in D, 2 or 1?. Put it in Park or Neutral and it gets better? Tell tale motor/tranny mounts issue.

and if you are suffering from this, do you know how long/how much it costs to replace them?
 
I think front and rear inserts are $18 each. Driver fender mount is $44. Passenger side $103 or so. Probably 1 to 1.5 hours for each of the mounts (at $90 per hour?).
 
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I did not get a chance to look at the mounts today, but I'm going to have the car looked at tomorrow definately. Yes, the car does vibrate in D, 2, 1 and it is much better in N and P.
 
I read through that entire study of oil filters that 'Bob the Oil Guy' wrote up, or whoever that was... Only use Motorcraft filters. Filters are cheap, I don't change them with every oil change, and the Ford filters are excellent in quality & function.

WHAT? you just drain the oil and then throw more in without replacing the filter? Filters are cheap.. even the Motorcraft ones - dont be that damned cheap, just screw on a new one every time you change the oil.
 
Just got under the car while it was on ramps and the mounts seem to be ok. Firm and not deteriorating as far as I can see and feel. Although, on the front mount I do have a question...
frontmount2.jpg

Where the red line is, should that be connected to the part that wraps around the metal of the mount? It seems to be connected on the one side, but not this side. This picture is of a spare front mount I have sitting around.
 
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