Recommended Maintenance

[jakesteel1]

Hi :)

I just got an '03 Marauder with 10,350 miles on it. Whenever I get a used car, I like to swap out all the fluids.

Heres what I had in mind, can you guys provide some guidance please. Is this overkill?

1) Changing the transmission fluid to Royal Purple. Should I add a friction additive?

2) Changing the rear differential fluid to (insert name here). Should I add a friction additive?

3) Changing the coolant to (insert name here).

4) Changing the spark plugs to (insert name here). Most of the posts seemed to recommend factory plugs. Is this a dealer recommended service or can a layperson do it?

[tbone]

10,350 miles on a Marauder is USED???? Holy ****.....mine has 110,000 miles and is barely broken in! You are in for a treat!

Congrats! The experts can fill you in on the best fluids........

[jakesteel1]

10,350 miles on a Marauder is USED???? Holy ****.....mine has 110,000 miles and is barely broken in! You are in for a treat!

Congrats! The experts can fill you in on the best fluids........

Thats exactly why I gotta get started on the maintenance now, so I too can make it to 100k. :banana2:

[fastblackmerc]

Hi :)

I just got an '03 Marauder with 10,350 miles on it. Whenever I get a used car, I like to swap out all the fluids.

Heres what I had in mind, can you guys provide some guidance please. Is this overkill?

1) Changing the transmission fluid to Royal Purple. Should I add a friction additive?

2) Changing the rear differential fluid to (insert name here). Should I add a friction additive?

3) Changing the coolant to (insert name here).

4) Changing the spark plugs to (insert name here). Most of the posts seemed to recommend factory plugs. Is this a dealer recommended service or can a layperson do it?

The friction modifier additive is ONLY for the rear end and ONLY if you use a non-synthetic fluid. I used Redline 75w140 for the rear in my MM.

ONLY use Mercon V for the tranny.

Flush the cooling system and use a good quality coolant.

You can use the factory plugs or alot of people run Autolite or NGK's. Platinum plugs would be not necessary.

Change oil and use a good quality oil filter ie. Motorcraft, K&N, NAPA GOLD, WIX, etc. It should have an anti-drain back valve. I run Mobile 1 full synthetic. You can also use semi-synthetic. Recommended weight is 5w20.

[jakesteel1]

Ok, here goes.

1) Transmission fluid.

Will use Mercon V. Is the Castrol Mercon V ok? No friction additive.

2) Rear differential.

Redline (synthetic) 75w140 sounds good to me. No additive needed.

3) Coolant.

Any specific brands and/or types come to mind?

4) Spark plugs.

Will probably go with the factory plugs (depending on cost). Should I pay the stealership to swap the plugs?

5) Engine Oil

Will go with a full synthetic. Do all of these filters: Motorcraft, K&N, NAPA GOLD, WIX; have the anti-drain back valve?

[RF Overlord]

Ok, here goes.

1) Transmission fluid.

Will use Mercon V. Is the Castrol Mercon V ok? No friction additive. Yes. Valvoline MV is good as well

2) Rear differential.

Redline (synthetic) 75w140 sounds good to me. No additive needed.

3) Coolant.

Any specific brands and/or types come to mind? If the current coolant is gold-coloured, then it's Zerex G-05. If it's green, then any good ethylene glycol coolant will do. DO NOT use Dex-Cool.

4) Spark plugs.

Will probably go with the factory plugs (depending on cost). Should I pay the stealership to swap the plugs? NO. It's a very easy job if you have a long extension for your ratchet. Be sure to use a torque wrench to install the new ones. Aluminium heads are easy to strip if you aren't careful. 7-15 ft/lbs is all that's needed, and be sure the motor is COLD.

5) Engine Oil

Will go with a full synthetic. Do all of these filters: Motorcraft, K&N, NAPA GOLD, WIX; have the anti-drain back valve? Yes. I think what fastblackmerc meant to say was that it should have a silicone ADBV, which those listed do...........

[fastblackmerc]

Ok, here goes.

1) Transmission fluid.

Will use Mercon V. Is the Castrol Mercon V ok? No friction additive.

2) Rear differential.

Redline (synthetic) 75w140 sounds good to me. No additive needed.

3) Coolant.

Any specific brands and/or types come to mind?

4) Spark plugs.

Will probably go with the factory plugs (depending on cost). Should I pay the stealership to swap the plugs?

5) Engine Oil

Will go with a full synthetic. Do all of these filters: Motorcraft, K&N, NAPA GOLD, WIX; have the anti-drain back valve?

Any name-brand fluid and filters will work.

There are plenty of posts on changing plugs.

If you not comfortable working with tools then get someone else to do the work.


Engine cold
Take off coil covers
Remove coils
Clean out any debris in the plug wells
Remove plugs
Check gap on new plugs (0.052 to 0.056)
Use small amount of anti-sieze on plug threads
Install plugs by hand
Tighten to proper torque
Replace coils using dab of dielectric grease inside the coil boot
Small dab of silicone sealer on the coil cover where the wiring harness goes


That's it.

[babbage]

Change your fuel filter, air filter, clean MAF with electrical contact cleaner. I'd do a PAN DROP on the transmission so you can change trans filter and clean the magnet. Also you may want to run AMSOIL 75w-110 in the rear end. (No FM needed)

Nice score on your used MM with 10K. That's rare. Good luck with her.

[fastblackmerc]

Change your fuel filter, air filter, clean MAF with electrical contact cleaner. I'd do a PAN DROP on the transmission so you can change trans filter and clean the magnet. Also you may want to run AMSOIL 75w-110 in the rear end. (No FM needed)

Nice score on your used MM with 10K. That's rare. Good luck with her.

I'd use MAF cleaner instead of electrical contact cleaner.

[FordNut]

With 10k, the only thing on the list I would do is change oil and oil filter. Factory spark plugs will last to 100k, trans and differential fluid are good to 50k.

[Pat]

I am unsure if you personally are going to change the tranny fluid or have the dealership do it.

If you do it then you will have to drop the pan and find your lollipop. Do a search, key word, "lollipop".

I'm serious, but it's been a long time that someone finds a low mileage car that prolly hasn't had the tranny fluid changed. It's due at the 60K mile point IIRC.

If the dealer does the fluid change they may not drop the pan but use the exchange method where a machine is hooked up to the "goes inta" and "goes outta" lines and with the engine running the old fluid is pumped out while new fluid is pumped in.

You won't find your lollipop that way, but the torque converter fluid gets changed.

The pan drop method doesn't change out the fluid thats in the torque converter and it's a substantial amount.

Post up on your efforts.

Regards,

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/files/3/1/0/2/closeupoflollipop.jpg

[babbage]

I'd use MAF cleaner instead of electrical contact cleaner.

same thing.