Marauder Mod #1: The "maintainance mod"

[Merc4Hire]

Decided to do everything possible maintainance wise to my newly aquired MM. Since I don't know what was done and when, I decided to redo everything on the car.

Am I missing anything? It's at 51k miles if that helps. I got about $300 worth of stuff but I paid about $160 for all of it. Shop/employee discount KICKS ASS!!!:D

The List:
6qts Amsoil (best oil EVER!!!:beer:)
Napa pro select oil filter
fuel filter
5qts Valvoline M5 trans fluid (only dumping the pan)
Trans service kit
double platinum spark plugs
coil pack boots/springs
PCV

I'll probably change the diff fluid to Redline next...as soon as I get some spare $$. Then I'm switching to ceramic brake pads front/rear(cuz I feel like it), resurfacing the rotors, and painting the calipers red, & rotors high temp black(no more rust). Once I know it doesn't need a thing maintainance wise, I can focus on what it needs in regards to performance.:banana::banana:

And so it begins...:burnout:

[RF Overlord]

Air filter?

Not knocking NAPA-brand filters (the Gold is excellent), but I would re-consider your choice of a Pro Select. You may find start-up noise on these motors when using other than a Motorcraft FL820S or a NAPA Gold 1372.

Add a drain plug to the transmission pan while it's off.

[SC Cheesehead]

Do a search on ceramic brake pads, you may opt to stay with OEM replacements.

[Merc4Hire]

Air filter?

Not knocking NAPA-brand filters (the Gold is excellent), but I would re-consider your choice of a Pro Select. You may find start-up noise on these motors when using other than a Motorcraft FL820S or a NAPA Gold 1372.

Add a drain plug to the transmission pan while it's off.

Don't need the air filter, it's got a K&N FIPK and it looks almost new.

As for the oil filters, our shop has used them on every car we've ever worked on without ever having an issue. We do work for a limo company who has quite a few MGM's and town cars and I've never heard any noise at all. It was free anyway so I can deal.

The trans drain plug is a good idea...I may have to do that. Is it necessary though? Wouldn't you usually change the filter when you change the fluid anyway, or no?



As for the ceramics...I'll have to look into this. Never heard much. I know on all my old cars when I switched to ceramic they stopped much better than metallic or semi-metallic. These cars are that different?

[RF Overlord]

The trans drain plug is a good idea...I may have to do that. Is it necessary though? Wouldn't you usually change the filter when you change the fluid anyway, or no?Actually, no. The factory service manual says that the filter only needs changing if the transmission is being repaired for some fault, not for routine fluid changes. If it's never been done in your car before, I would recommend doing it now, but you probably wouldn't need to do it again.

Even if you only service the transmission every 30,000 miles and change the filter every time, having the drain plug makes the job a LOT less messy. I do a drain-and-fill every other oil change (10,000 miles) on The Blackbird and having the drain plug makes it as easy as doing a motor oil change. I replaced the filter at 15,000 (now has 55,000) and I'll do it again at 60,000.

[Vortech347]

Motorcraft filters FTW!!!!!!!

[Merc4Hire]

Actually, no. The factory service manual says that the filter only needs changing if the transmission is being repaired for some fault, not for routine fluid changes. If it's never been done in your car before, I would recommend doing it now, but you probably wouldn't need to do it again.

Even if you only service the transmission every 30,000 miles and change the filter every time, having the drain plug makes the job a LOT less messy. I do a drain-and-fill every other oil change (10,000 miles) on The Blackbird and having the drain plug makes it as easy as doing a motor oil change. I replaced the filter at 15,000 (now has 55,000) and I'll do it again at 60,000.

Damn good point! I forgot about that. Every trans I've ever serviced with a plug was 100x cleaner a job. I think that's a plan.

[Pat]

Your about ready for a serpentine belt change too. Don't change the brake pads without having the rotors turned at that mileage level, these heavy cars can warp the rotors.

Isn't there a coolant fluid change in there somewhere? Be sure to "burp" the system.

[252life]

You should check and clean the "trap door" drain by the wiper motor, mine was completely clogged up at 44000 miles. And it caused water to leak in to the wiper control module and motor.

[Merc4Hire]

Thanks guys! I'll have to check it all out. The belt I might let ride for a while though, I looked and no cracks or anything as of yet. Maybe it's been done...who knows?

If you can think of anything else keep the ideas coming!:beer:

[ctrlraven]

I use Amsoil also with a Motorcraft filter.

[Blackened300a]

You should check and clean the "trap door" drain by the wiper motor, mine was completely clogged up at 44000 miles. And it caused water to leak in to the wiper control module and motor.

When I did my cam cover install, I found the trap door and it was jam packed with leaves. Thats only with 60K miles. With 100K, expect small animals!

[musclemerc]

Heres another vote for the Motorcraft oil filter. I was told @ the time of purchase that if my MM came in for service without a Motorcraft filter my warranty would be void.:eek: And when i bought my 08 f-150 another dealer from a different state told me the same.

[TiTo35]

When I did my cam cover install, I found the trap door and it was jam packed with leaves. Thats only with 60K miles. With 100K, expect small animals!

Point to me to this trap door...its going to be "warm" this weekend...and I will do a little work on the car.

[Blackened300a]

Point to me to this trap door...its goes to be "warm" this weekend...and I will do a little work on the car.

If you remove the cowl, you'll see a plastic tray which the wiper motor is bolted underneth. Just remove the 6 bolt's holding the tray and unplug the wiper motor. The entire assembly will come out and you will see a rubber flap underneth by the wiper motor. A lot of leaves and nut's collect in there and prevent's the water from draining which has been said to cause electrical issue's with the wiper's.
There may be a way to do it without removing it from the car, but it only take's 10 minutes to remove the assembly and do a complete cleaning of the area.

[Bradley G]

I understand your eagerness to protect the investment, but you should have no ($)problem treating your Marauder well($) now that you are here.
Research, you can benefit($) from the wealth($).
Did I mention ($) ?:P

[TiTo35]

If you remove the cowl, you'll see a plastic tray which the wiper motor is bolted underneth. Just remove the 6 bolt's holding the tray and unplug the wiper motor. The entire assembly will come out and you will see a rubber flap underneth by the wiper motor. A lot of leaves and nut's collect in there and prevent's the water from draining which has been said to cause electrical issue's with the wiper's.
There may be a way to do it without removing it from the car, but it only take's 10 minutes to remove the assembly and do a complete cleaning of the area.

Thanks!! :up:

[RF Overlord]

I was told @ the time of purchase that if my MM came in for service without a Motorcraft filter my warranty would be void. And when i bought my 08 f-150 another dealer from a different state told me the same.That is absolutely false.

The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act clearly states that if a manufacturer predicates warranty coverage on the use of a specific product, they must provide that product free of charge. Ford has no such requirement.

[Merc4Hire]

That is absolutely false.

The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act clearly states that if a manufacturer predicates warranty coverage on the use of a specific product, they must provide that product free of charge. Ford has no such requirement.

Exactly. I wish a dealer had told me that load of crap. I'd come in with a generic filter and sue when they tried to deny me a warranty. Whoever told you that was a total DOUCHEBAG and should be fired.:flamer:

[Merc4Hire]

Finished everything up tonight, she runs 10x better now! The plugs were pretty shot surprisingly, aren't they supposed to be good to like 100k or something, or did I hear wrong?

Decided I'd drill out the trans pan for a drain plug next time, didn't have much time tonight to do it and I just wanted to get the car out of the shop.

So far so good though, only potential issue I see anywhere on the car is a small power steering leak where the lines meet the rack. Is this a typical thing or just mine? Kind of surprising at 51k miles...

[1stMerc]

When you paint the calipers resist the temptation to paint the front face of the rotor hats, but instead clean the mating surface of the wheels and hat face of rust. Then apply a thin coat of anti-sieze to facilatate easy removal in the future.

[Paul T. Casey]

The thing that strikes me most is why not just do the tranny flush? Other things I do are when cleaning have my socket set handy to assure everything is still tight, replace fuel filter, and make sure the area in front of the rear wheels are clean. A lot of dirt seems to collect there.

[J D]

The thing that strikes me most is why not just do the tranny flush? Other things I do are when cleaning have my socket set handy to assure everything is still tight, replace fuel filter, and make sure the area in front of the rear wheels are clean. A lot of dirt seems to collect there.
IIRC having the transmission flushed was just something the dealers use to get more cash from their customers and that it potentially does more harm than good.

Can someone find that thread? Oh and has no one mentioned the EvenFlo Mod? Cooling as it should have been but a little mechanically intensive, gotta pull the intakes.

[Merc4Hire]

IIRC having the transmission flushed was just something the dealers use to get more cash from their customers and that it potentially does more harm than good.

Can someone find that thread? Oh and has no one mentioned the EvenFlo Mod? Cooling as it should have been but a little mechanically intensive, gotta pull the intakes.

Agreed. My boss, who's been a mechanic for about 35 years said the exact same thing. I forget his exact terms but draining the converter isn't always a good thing, which is why they no longer have plugs like old ones did. He said changing the pan fluid is fine.

He said the exact same thing, the "flushing" is a scam made to suck as much money out of a sucker as possible. And seeing as I've seen him do things 1st hand that 99% of mechanics out there would have said to be impossible...I trust his judgement.:beer:


And as for painting the rotors, way ahead of you!

[Merc4Hire]

Oh and has no one mentioned the EvenFlo Mod? Cooling as it should have been but a little mechanically intensive, gotta pull the intakes.

I'm intrigued...what's that?:confused:

[offroadkarter]

I'm intrigued...what's that?:confused:


Its to help cool the last 2 cylinders, although i thought ford revised this problem in mid 03. The blue dot on the head would verify that its a revised head with additional cooling.


:confused:

[ImpalaSlayer]

Its to help cool the last 2 cylinders, although i thought ford revised this problem in mid 03. The blue dot on the head would verify that its a revised head with additional cooling.


:confused:

now you got me curious

[RF Overlord]

IIRC having the transmission flushed was just something the dealers use to get more cash from their customers and that it potentially does more harm than good.I respectfully disagree. Flushing the transmission is the only way to get ALL of the fluid exchanged.

Having said that, I do agree that IF a transmission has been not abused and IF it has been properly serviced from day one, then flushing is not necessary.

By way of example, I have a drain plug on my transmission pan and I do a simple drain-and-fill every other oil change (10,000 miles). I can't see any reason why I will ever need a full flush. If, however, I had purchased my car used, and did not know the maintenance history, I think a flush would be a good idea once, then regular drain-and-fills thereafter would suffice.

[Paul T. Casey]

Having said that, I do agree that IF a transmission has been not abused and IF it has been properly serviced from day one, then flushing is not necessary.

I tend to use mine a little rough, hence the routinr flushes for me.

[bigbadwolff66]

The blue paint/dot on the cylinder head does NOT mean the engine has the revised cooling in the heads. THose final head designs were not released until Jan 2005. For information on the head cooling mod for a Marauder go to

www.evenflowcooling.com (http://www.evenflowcooling.com)