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    Vic FAQ

Vic Pitstop...I wanted to devote this page for basic Crown Victoria maintenance -- torque specs, general dates & numbers, car detailing, fluid capacities, when/where to grease, maintenance schedules, tools, tire pressure, error codes, fuses, wiring, and more ad nauseum (not really -- I love it).

Click on any of the links below for more info on Crown Vic Maintenance:

Fluids & Capacities:

• Chassis lubrication & Lubricant specs:

  1. Chassis lubrication (PDF format -- 63 KB): all the proper grease points for the suspension & chassis. Specific for a '93 CV Police Interceptor, but should be the same for all '92 & up CVs & Grand Marquis'.
  2. Lubricant specifications (PDF format -- 47 KB): all the correct, recommended Ford lube, part numbers & specs. Again, '92 & up-centric.

• Fluids (you will notice I prefer pure synthetic)

  1. Automatic Transmission Fluid: factory spec is Mercon ATF. I have heard good things about Mobil 1 ATF from other CV owners...I will be using it for my ATF flush/fill. I'm sure Red Line is pretty good as well as Amsoil. Anyone have any pros or cons on ATF for the AODE or AOD CVs ?
  2. Engine Oil: factory spec is SAE 5W/30 for the 4.6Ls. I have used Mobil 1 synthetic with great results. Never have tried Amsoil, Red Line or any other pure synthetic.

  3. Differential Oil: factory spec is SAE 80W/90 GL-5 gear lube. Mobil 1 75W/90 works great for me. My '93 does not have a limited slip differential -- YET. If I had one, I would probably lean toward the Red Line gear oil -- their 75W/90 already had the limited-slip friction modifier in it.
  4. Coolant Fluid: factory spec is a 50/50 water/antifreeze mix. I have not tried Red Line's Water Wetter yet. I have heard it works great, but if you use it, you need to stick with it. It leaves a slight coating all thru your coolant system & block. To go back to straight 50/50, you need to do a special flush.
  5. Brake Fluid: factory spec is DOT 3 heavy duty brake fluid. Screw that, I'm using DOT 4 and looking for DOT 5 someday...possibly the Earl's racing brand.
  6. Power Steering Fluid: users manual does not say what factory spec is. I recently flushed (easy siphon/refill method) my power steering system with Valvoline SynPower semi-synthetic. The stuff is pretty cheap; why not use the top shelf ?
  7. Chassis Grease: factory spec is SAE NLGI no. 2 chassis grease. I'll be getting some Mobil 1 grease soon...seems to be plenty of grease fittings down there.
• Capacities  
  1. Automatic Transmission Fluid: factory spec is 14.0 quarts for the AODE. The Hayes book says 12.3 quarts.
  2. Engine Oil: 5.0 quarts. I have hit this number every time.
  3. Differential Oil: factory spec is 3.75 pints. I remember using 2 (and a bit) quarts of Mobil 1 75W/90 before it oozed out of the fill plug hole.
  4. Coolant Fluid: factory spec & Hayes is 14.1 quarts.
  5. Brake Fluid: not sure...until they are bled firm.
  6. Power Steering Fluid: factory -- 4.0 pints (with cooler) & 3.5 pints (without).
  7. Chassis Grease: enough to grease up all your hair "50s style".
• Torque, capacities & ranges (PDF format -- 39KB). You will find rotor thickness, belt tension, torque numbers, capacities, etc. on this "overall specs" document.

• Ford Engine Pictures & *cut-aways* (oh, baby!)
  This site has GOT to be my most favorite Ford engine resource on the internet. On JW's site, you will find clear, beautiful pictures of the entire Ford modular engine family: many as pre-prepped cut-away engines, detail painted on stands. Just LOOK at the 16v 4.6L that is listed with the '98 Crown Vic specs !! This site is a must visit even if you are only vaguely interested in your Crown Vic powerplant...also includes quite a few of the other Ford engines like the Zetec, Powerstroke, LandRover, etc...
• Engine (4.6L SOHC 281 ci block; one cam per head)

1. Aluminum Cylinder Heads: If you plan on pulling the heads for any reason (new gaskets, upgrading to SVO heads or porting & polishing), check these three pics of the 4.6L with the heads pulled. This is from Benjamin's 1993 Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor @ 168k miles. Notice the CORRECT & manly red rags. These are absolutely essential !! =)
   
2. Ford's Modular V8's: a nice little article on the modular engines v.s. the older 302 / 5.0L design. Lot's of interesting facts, some specs & torque numbers.

• Transmission (AOD or AODE)
• Driveline (drive shaft, u-joints & differential)

• You will notice that the Base Crown Vics are the lightest; with the right amount of mods & equipment, would be the fastest. Check this approx. formula: 100 lbs = 10 hp, so every 10 lbs you take off you get 1 hp. It's easier and cheaper to reduce weight than modify the engine.

  1992 Base CV - 3748
  1992 LX CV - 3769
  1992 Touring CV - 3850

  1993 Base CV - 3793
  1993 LX CV - 3799

  1994 Base CV - 3786
  1994 LX CV - 3794

  1995 Base - 3762
  1995 LX - 3779

  1996 Base - 3779
  1996 LX - 3792

  1997 Base - 3775
  1997 LX - 3787

  Gained some weight beginning in 1998 =)

  1998 Base - 3917
  1998 LX - 3927
  1998 CV PI - 4036
  
  1999 Base - 3908
  1999 LX - 3941
  1999 CV PI - 4043

  2000 Base - 3937
  2000 LX - 3946
  2000 CV PI - 4039

  On the 2000, from Charlie: "I checked out the vehicle ID sticker on the doorjamb of my P73 and found the curb weight to be different from the 3946 lb. found at Carpoint. The GVWR is 5237 lb: the P73/74 has a weight capacity of 1,100 lb and 200 lb. in the trunk. So 5237 - 1100 = 4137 lb. - 200 lb. = 3937 lb, the real curb weight of the base 2000 CV."