Hey, guys,
Nice to find this forum. I am considering buying a used mustang for my wife, who likes the style of mustang but cares little on the performance.
Therefore, cost-wise and maintenance-friendly, I want to choose a OHV 3.8L V6-powered mustang for her. Any comments on this engine, durable? easy to work on? Anything I should look into when inspecting a used v6 mustang?
I have two v6 mustangs, i love them pretty decent amount of space to work on it. Easy to maintain. I would just ask the normal used car questions: number of owners, inspection by a mechanic, car fax, mileage.
Welcome to the forum..... Just make sure whoever owned it took decent care of it. They, like all sports cars, have the potential to be beat on by their previous owners. The duty rating for the motors are 200,000 miles generally speaking. The 94-98's had head gaskets problems, but were covered under warranty. The '01+ are good motors with no major issues, and had higher HP ratings. She will love it......
Hey, guys,
Nice to find this forum. I am considering buying a used mustang for my wife, who likes the style of mustang but cares little on the performance.
Therefore, cost-wise and maintenance-friendly, I want to choose a OHV 3.8L V6-powered mustang for her. Any comments on this engine, durable? easy to work on? Anything I should look into when inspecting a used v6 mustang?
Thanks for any inputs!
yeah, maintenance costs are minimal, and the engine is duty rated for 200,000 miles assuming you use the maintenance schedule and always use semi-synth at a minimum.
Unlike a lot of modern cars, you can turn the rotors, and don't have to purchase an entire new system when your brakes wear out, all the parts are made here and don't cost nearly as much as imports, -the engine is understressed and the chassis was designed for the 3.8L so there is little in the way of wear. The engine bay has plenty of room, as the 3.8L is a lot smaller dimensionally than the OHC engines.
In initial quality for just about every year the 3.8L beat the Civic in all reliability and durability measures. It was the most reliable car ford made after the 5.0L was discontinued - 5 problems for every 100,000 cars.
Just look for service records, and have the car thoroughly checked out.
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Woe to him who builds his palace by unrighteousness,his upper rooms by injustice,making his countrymen work for nothing...Does it make you a king to have more and more cedar?Did not your father have food and drink?He did what was right and just,so all went well with him. He defended the cause of the poor and needy,and so all went well...But your eyes and your heart are set only on dishonest gain,on shedding innocent blood and on oppression and extortion. Jer 22:13, 15-17
A lot of valuable information. Glad to know the 3.8L V6 is a solid power plant. I am also considering a used mustang GT with 4.6 V8. Can any GT owner tell me the real world mpg. If the mpg penaty between GT and a V6 is minimal, I intend to invest several more grands to get a GT so I can some fun on the car.
A lot of valuable information. Glad to know the 3.8L V6 is a solid power plant. I am also considering a used mustang GT with 4.6 V8. Can any GT owner tell me the real world mpg. If the mpg penaty between GT and a V6 is minimal, I intend to invest several more grands to get a GT so I can some fun on the car.
EPA? there's 2mpg difference, but I and others regularly get 30+ mpg. I get 36, and a few others on another six specific board are getting 32-34+.
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Woe to him who builds his palace by unrighteousness,his upper rooms by injustice,making his countrymen work for nothing...Does it make you a king to have more and more cedar?Did not your father have food and drink?He did what was right and just,so all went well with him. He defended the cause of the poor and needy,and so all went well...But your eyes and your heart are set only on dishonest gain,on shedding innocent blood and on oppression and extortion. Jer 22:13, 15-17
That's for a V6, not V8 GT, right, sorry for the stupid question.
However, does anybody know the 0-60 for a 2004/2004 V6 powered mustang.
For a 5-speed 7.1-7.3 is average.
__________________
Woe to him who builds his palace by unrighteousness,his upper rooms by injustice,making his countrymen work for nothing...Does it make you a king to have more and more cedar?Did not your father have food and drink?He did what was right and just,so all went well with him. He defended the cause of the poor and needy,and so all went well...But your eyes and your heart are set only on dishonest gain,on shedding innocent blood and on oppression and extortion. Jer 22:13, 15-17
EPA? there's 2mpg difference, but I and others regularly get 30+ mpg. I get 36, and a few others on another six specific board are getting 32-34+.
You get 36 to the gallon!!! holy crap! the best I have ever got was 28.9, but I usually average on the highway between 27 and 27.5. I know a few of the mods you have but I have never seen the full list.
Care to Share?
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2002 v6 manual, SSM P&P Heads, Comp Cam from SSM, and some other stuff full list in profile.
214 RWHP, 215 RWTQ
"The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they're ignorant; it's just that they know so much that isn't so" -Ronald Reagan
You get 36 to the gallon!!! holy crap! the best I have ever got was 28.9, but I usually average on the highway between 27 and 27.5. I know a few of the mods you have but I have never seen the full list.
Care to Share?
Basically all my engine mods are for efficiency
1) 42% underdriver
2) CAI
Plus I almost never carry a spare, unless I'm going somewhere I think I may not get out of.
and I run tires at maximum sidewall indicated, and run semi or full syntehtics.
If you do all that & control the car by your cruise control instead of your foot, you'll see you mileage go up quite a bit at 55-60 mph (which is teh speed limit for two lanes) running 80 mph on the interstate knocks it down a lot.
If my mileage goes down, I know it's the air filter . ..
__________________
Woe to him who builds his palace by unrighteousness,his upper rooms by injustice,making his countrymen work for nothing...Does it make you a king to have more and more cedar?Did not your father have food and drink?He did what was right and just,so all went well with him. He defended the cause of the poor and needy,and so all went well...But your eyes and your heart are set only on dishonest gain,on shedding innocent blood and on oppression and extortion. Jer 22:13, 15-17
Woe to him who builds his palace by unrighteousness,his upper rooms by injustice,making his countrymen work for nothing...Does it make you a king to have more and more cedar?Did not your father have food and drink?He did what was right and just,so all went well with him. He defended the cause of the poor and needy,and so all went well...But your eyes and your heart are set only on dishonest gain,on shedding innocent blood and on oppression and extortion. Jer 22:13, 15-17
Any thoughts on 2003 V6 mustang 
