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In this article, LMR shows you how to change the engine oil in your 2005-2014 S197 Mustang. The engine oil in your Mustang is an important maintenance part that needs to be changed on a regular basis. Keeping your engine oil clean is vital to prolonging your engine’s life expectancy and allowing for peak performance. Routine oil and filter changes should be performed every 3,000-5,000 miles to keep your Mustang running as it should for years to come.
Everything you see in this oil change can be found through LMR.com, including parts, tech articles, and warranty information. In the shop, we will be working on LMR Employee Jay Walling's 2012 GT500. This car is nearing 200,000 miles, so keeping the oil fresh is one of his top priorities. These same general steps can be used on all 2005-2014 Mustangs with a V8. Overall this one should take you roughly half an hour to an hour to complete.
Tools Needed
- Lift or a jack and a set of jack stands
- 3/8" drive ratchet
- Assorted sockets
- Assorted wrenches
- Drain pan
- Funnel
- Oil filter wrench
- General cleaning supplies
Depending on the year and make of Mustang you are working on, the filter and drain locations and fluid capacities can vary. Check out our Mustang Fluid Capacity Articles for more information. Let’s head over and show you how simple this one is to complete.
05-14 Mustang Engine Oil Change Steps
- Support the vehicle via your lift or jacks and jack stands.
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- Moving under the car, locate the drain plug on the oil pan. In some applications, there can be an underbody air deflector that may need to be removed to gain access to the drain and the filter. If equipped, remove these at this time.
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- Place your drain pan under the plug and remove this with the correct wrench or socket for your application.
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- Allow the oil to drain and take this time to inspect your drain plug and thoroughly clean it using some brake clean.
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- Once the oil has slowed to a drip, thread the drain plug back in place and tighten this down. Make sure not to over-tighten this one because you can strip or damage the oil pan.
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- Locate the oil filter and slide your drain pan under this location. Reach up and loosen the oil filter by hand. Depending on how tight the last installer put it on, an oil filter wrench may be needed.
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- Allow the oil to drain from this area. Clean up any spillage you may have and make sure the old filter gasket is not left on the block or oil cooler housing.
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- Open up some fresh oil and your filter. Fill up the filter a little bit to pre-soak the filter media and apply a thin film of fresh oil to the o-ring surface.
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- Thread the filter in place by hand and do not over tighten this.
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- Perform a visual inspection and this will complete the under car steps.
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- Moving back to the engine bay, loosen and remove the oil fill cap.
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- Using a clean funnel, pour in each of your quarts of oil up to the recommended capacity for your application. Depending on your model, these specs will be different. Make sure to check out our fluid capacity articles for more info.
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- Pull and clean off the dipstick, insert this back in the tube and remove this once again. Make sure that the oil level is within the crosshatched area on the dipstick. Add any fluid at this time if need be.
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- Reinstall your fill cap, start the engine and check over for leaks. Recheck your oil one last time and top off if need be. Test drive the car, and you are all done!
We hope that this article has helped you and you have a better understanding of how to change your oil in your S197 Mustang.
As always, make sure to keep it here with the Real Mustang Enthusiasts at LMR.com.
