Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Duratec Performance Is Mobil 1 going to help save my new motor? Also any good break in tips?

Use Dino oil for the first 500 or so miles and then you can run synth. Just make sure to change it at 500 or so. ALL new internal parts will shed some metal while mating in. Best to get rid of it.

I don't know about the SVT Contour, but I have a 2000 Cougar with the Duratec V6, and the exact wording in the manual concerning break-in says, "There are no particular breaking-in rules for your vehicle. During the first 1,600 km (1,000 miles) of driving, vary speeds frequently. This is necessary to give the moving parts a chance to break in. If possible, you should avoid full use of brakes for the first 1,600 km (1,000 miles)." That is all the manual says about the "break-in" period. I think PA 3L SVT said it just about right.

As for synthetic motor oil, there is absolutely nothing in the manual that says anything about not using synthetic oil during the first 6,000 miles. As a matter of fact, the word, "synthetic" doesn't even appear in the 2000 Cougar Owner's Guide. As for the SVT, I don't know. Mobil 1 synthetic is factory fill in Dodge Vipers, Corvettes, all Porsches, and a few others, so there is no reason why you can't use it as early as you want. With older engines where there were wider tolerances, this may have been an issue, but with virtually all modern engines there shouldn't be a problem.

For the SVT they definately DO have a comment (I believe in the SVT manual supplement) something to the effect of "While SVT/Ford makes no recommendation about the use of synthetics, it is recommended that the car break in 4-6K miles before switching to synthetic oil".

I see you live in WI so take it from an MN'r, during winter months Mobil 1 is the only oil to use. When it's -20F, dino oil won't even pour from the bottle but Mobil 1 will. . .

If synthetic oil flows better, why wouldn't it be a better idea to use it in the new motor. You would think that it would naturally have better coverage during break in. And if I do use organic oil should I use a additive like Lucas or Royal Purple?

That's the problem!!! It really does work TOO well and does not let the engine components break in properly.

{rant on}
Sheesh all these people just spouting off without a clue... I don't type just to read my own words. :rolleyes:

The 4-6k miles IS in the manual. It's also a standard break-in time for most sets of moly rings and honing styles used on newer engines (say last 20 years) It also will come in the instructions for most sets of rings you buy (if you have ever built an engine before)

Break your car in however you like. After all it's your money not mine that will fix it... I'm just trying to help... But then again hey... I actually let my car warm up every time before I drive off.
{rant off}

If you want to spend the money on Mobil 1, that's your right. However, there has been nothing to prove that synthetic oil will cause an engine to last longer or have fewer problems.

This is true even in cold weather. Conventional oils flow adequately to prevent harm to the engine in cold weather. If you really want to be nice to your engine in a cold climate, use a block heater.

Basically, if you want benefits that have been shown in laboratories and race cars, then use synthetic. Just keep in mind these benefits have never been proven effective in regular production cars.

Not in mine - mine is worded EXACTLY as the Cougar manual mentioned above.

If synth is so bad for all engines built in the last 20 years, why do Vette's and Porsche's (among others) come with Mobil 1 from the factory?

FWIW, I was in possession of an email from a FORD lubrication Technical Specialist a few years ago (that I lost when I left FoMoCo) stating that synthetic oils are fine from mile 0.

There are so many wildly varying opinions on this issue. Everybody has to read all the info out there, decide what is hooey and what is not (not pointed at anyone in particular in this post), and accept any risk resulting from your actions re: engine oil. Do a search and you'll find quite a few threads out there just like this one: YES! NO! MAYBE! NEVER! ALWAYS! Like I said, many opinions ...

DemonSVT,

I'm not saying it's not in YOUR manual - I'm saying it's not in MY manual. You obviously have an SVT; I don't. I have a Cougar with the standard Duratec V6. Notice that I said I didn't know about the SVT in my post. I even downloaded the Cougar manual from the Mercury Owners site and did a word search for "synthetic." The only reference to "synthetic" in any of the documentation that came with my car applied only to lubricant for axles in trucks. If I had an SVT and it said not to use synthetic oil for the first 4,000 to 6,000 miles, I would follow the recommendation too. All I was trying to get across was that wide-ranging statements often are not necessarily applicable to every situation.

Saying, "DO NOT USE synthetic oil for at least 6,000 miles" obviously doesn't apply to all vehicles since some cars come with Mobil 1 straight from the factory. Obviously, that's why there is so much confusion and debate. I'm sure we can all engage in intelligent discussion about all the issues and opinions so that everyone can come to the conclusion that they feel is best for them.

WHEN I WORKED AT THE GAS STATION THIS GUY BROUGHT HIS CAR IN W/80,XXX MILES ON IT. HE SAID THIS WILL BE HIS SECOND OIL CHANGE EVER. HE CHANGED IT ROUND 5000 THAN JUST KEPT TOPPING IT OFF WHEN THE OIL GOT LOW!!!! YOU SHOULDA SEEN IT COME OUT. LIKE CLUMPY MILK!!! MMM MMM MMM