It’s always smart to do keep your classic car in tip top shape. Here’s a handy checklist of classic mustang maintenance and fluid levels you should check before hitting the road.
Classic mustang maintenance guide
There’s a number of basic checks you should do before taking your classic Mustang out – especially if it has been sitting in the garage during the winter break. Kind of a ‘preflight checklist’, if you will!
It goes without saying that all oil checks should be performed with the vehicle at rest on a stable, level surface.
Transmission fluid
Driving without sufficient transmission fluid could severely damage your transmission.
- Check the transmission oil level when the engine running, but still cold.
- The dipstick is located at the back of the engine block, on the passenger side.
- Use only ATF-F oil for your classic mustang transmission.
Battery
A well-charged battery is very important. If you use your car for short trips, chances are your battery doesn’t get enough time to recharge properly. Personally, I like to disconnect my battery (using an interruption in the circuit, so I don’t have to physically remove the battery every time) and use a drip feeder on my battery so it’s always topped off. If I’m planning a trip the next day, I make sure to connect my battery to the drip feeder the night before, so it can get a nice night’s charge in.
Motor oil
A lack of motor oil can severely damage your engine.
- Check the motor oil level with the engine turned off, and cold.
- The dipstick is located at the front of the engine block, on the passenger side.
- The type of oil to use is a much discussed topic on mustang forums. I use the oil the engine was built for and which is recommended by the original user manual, which is 20W40 organic (not synthetic) oil.
Power steering oil
As with the other oils, a lack of oil can cause damage.
- Check the power steering oil level with the engine warm, and turned off.
- Use ATF-F oil (the same oil as your transmission).
- The dipstick is located at the front of your engine bay on the drivers side.
Coolant
Improper coolant levels lead to overheating, which can damage your engine.
- Check with engine OFF and COLD. NEVER check when the engine is (even a little) hot since this can result in serious burns and injury!
- The coolant level should be about 1/4 inch below the top.
- You can use water or antifreeze, but i recommend any modern type of engine coolant.
Brake fluid
- The brake fluid reservoir is usually located at the back of the engine bay on the driver’s side.
- The proper level is ‘almost full up’
- Use regular DOT3 brake fluid
Tire pressure
- Check your tire pressure regularly. Please refer to this post for my classic mustang tire pressure recommendations
