How to Do Your Own Mustang Oil Change

Changing your car’s oil is imperative to the life and longevity of the engine. This especially goes for Mustangs. Because, let’s be honest, nobody buys their Mustang to putt-putt around. With all of that high-performance and high-RPM driving, many contaminants can work their way in the oil along with the oil breaking down over time. When this happens, the oil doesn’t lubricate your engine as well causing excessive wear and other potential major engine issues.

Mustang Oil Change

You should change your oil on average every 3,000-5,000 miles. With many of the high-tech synthetic oils out there, some may even last to 10,000 miles. But an average rule of thumb would be 5,000 for most newer Mustangs.

For this particular How-To Guide, we’ll be performing our oil change on a 2015 Mustang GT, but the process will be similar for most 2015-2023 Mustang GT oil changes.

If you have a 2024 Mustang, check out our article on changing the oil in an S650 Mustang.

Tools Required:

• Lift or Jack and Jack Stands
• Ramps
• Drain Pan
• 1/4" Ratchet
• 7mm Socket
• 3/8" Socket
• 15mm Socket
• 15mm Wrench

Time: 20-30 minutes

Difficulty: Easy

How To Change Your Mustang’s Oil

Step 1: Cool Down Your Mustang’s Oil

Before you start, you don’t want the oil too hot as if you just got off the highway otherwise you could burn yourself. At the same time, you don’t want the oil too cool because it will be thicker and not flow out as easy. Ideally, you want the oil warm for easy draining.

Step 2: Raise Your Mustang

Get the front end up in the air enough to fit the drain pan underneath the oil pan on your Mustang. You can do this by using a lift, ramps or a jack and jack stands. In this guide, we’ll be using a lift.

Step 3: Loosen Oil Pan Drain Plug

Once you have the car secure, grab your socket wrench and begin loosening the oil pan drain plug. After the initial twist, you should be able to loosen the plug by hand.

Step 4: Remove the Drain Plug

As you loosen the drain plug, apply upward force to keep oil from coming out of the pan before you’re ready. Once you have all the threads out, quickly pull the plug from the pan so your used oil can drain out of the car.

Step 5: Inspect the Drain Plug

After the drain plug is removed, take a look at the plug to make sure the seal around the head of the bolt is not damaged or missing. If it is, the plug should be replaced. In our case, everything looks good, so we’re ready to screw the plug back into the oil pan.

Be sure to first thread the drain plug back in by hand. You do not want to cross-thread your oil pan! Then, snug it up with a wrench.

Step 6: Remove Oil Filter Access Panel

Now we’ll move on to the oil filter. For 2015-2017 Mustangs, there is an access panel that needs to be removed so you can access the oil filter.

Step 7: Remove Old Oil Filter

Depending on who changed your oil last, you may need an oil filter wrench to get your filter off. In our case, we were able to get it off by hand.

Pro Tip: To prevent oil from going everywhere, take a large Ziploc bag and place it around the filter. That way, the bag will catch the oil as you remove the filter. Once removed, drain the filter in the drain pan. Remember to clean up any spilled oil before moving on.

Step 8: Oil the New Filter

Grab your new filter and oil, and put a bit of oil on the o-ring of the new filter.

Step 9: Install New Oil Filter

Next, you’re ready to put the new oil filter back on the car. First, you’ll want to make sure that the o-ring from your old oil filter still isn’t on the car, otherwise your new filter will not seal properly. Tighten the oil filter by hand. Remember, you don’t want it too tight otherwise you may not be able to get it off next time.

Step 10: Reinstall Oil Filter Access Panel

For 2015-2017 Mustang Owners, you can now reinstall the oil filter access panel.

Step 11: Remove Oil Cap

You are now ready to fill the engine with your new oil. Remove the oil cap in your engine bay.

Step 12: Add New Oil

To keep from making a mess, grab a funnel and begin pouring the oil inside your engine. Remember to be as exact as possible when it comes to adhering to the proper oil capacities in your Owner’s Manual.

Step 13: Reinstall Oil Cap

Once you’re finished filling your engine with oil, grab a rag and remove the funnel. Clean up any mess and reinstall the oil cap.

Step 14: Check Oil Level

Even though you followed the directions and filled your engine with the proper oil capacity, be sure to check the oil level using the dipstick to be sure. Once checked, you can reinstall the dipstick back into the engine.

Step 15: Reset Oil Change Light

For 2015+ Mustangs, you’ll now want to reset your oil change light. This is done from the gauge cluster inside the car. First, turn the car on, but don’t start it.

Navigate to the main menu in the center screen of your gauge cluster. Then scroll down to Settings, then Vehicle, then Oil Life Reset. Hold the “OK” button to reset to 100%.

Step 16: Check For Leaks

Then, you’ll want to start the car for a minute or two, get under it and make sure there are no leaks.

Step 17: Re-check Oil Level

Lastly, shut the car off and check the oil one more time. From there, your oil change is complete!

Upgrade The Rest of Your Mustang’s Engine

Before your next oil change, be sure to check out upgrades for your Mustang oil system. Check out our Mustang oil recommendations article to learn about oil viscosity and the difference between conventional and synthetic oil. To give your Mustang even greater performance, shop our wide selection of Mustang engine parts. We have everything you need to upgrade your Mustang’s engine, whether you own a Classic model, an S650, or anything in-between.