Oil Change interval

[182RG]

Oil life indicator or 10K...which ever comes first. Don't waste oil on early changes.

 

[sgparnes]

I was going to bring mine in at 5k, but the monitor said only 56%, so dealer said wait till 7500mi and get a tire rotation at that time. I usually use pure synthetic oil, but maybe I'll go with the syn blend Ford uses. One more trip to Fl next week should do it.

 

[JFUSION]

yeah even the manual says to do it when the OLM tells you to change it. I'll probably go with the 20% setting. Oil is so good nowadays anything under 5k miles is truly a waste of good oil and won't net you any benefit unless the oil is shearing drastically or contaminated with fuel. Old school thoughts are hard to give up , I know.

I'm going with full synthetic on my next change as it really helps in cold winter temps, start up is tough on the engine in extreme cold which we get, so quicker oil flow makes a huge difference and synthetic flows better than any other formula (real synthetic that is). If I was in a warmer climate I problaby wouldnt bother and just use a blend.

 

[chimoman]

Just for a bit of info. I do alot of highway driving and some intermitent in town driving. I think my oil life was around 20 percent on my last oil change.... that was around 10000 to 12000 km in between changes. I know I broke my over 10000 rule. However, you can do what ever makes you comfortable. I don't see anything wrong with the OLM or your own preference. My dealer has said to change it every 8000, but has stated you can probably go 16000 with no worries. Just don't let the vehicle get to the point where the MFT lady starts yelling at you. Cheers. I have 29000km on her now and I have had 4 changes done. One to many I know. But I did the early oil change, some on here recommended it to get rid of metal shaving etc... from the factory.

 

[sdm9465]

I'm somewhere between 14,000 and 15,000 km now and it looks like I'll be over 16,000 km before the oil life reaches 0%. I have no plans to change the oil until it tells me to. Clearly they can't tell you your warrant is void if you follow the oil life monitor and clearly they wouldn't have programmed it with such a long oil life if they expected problems. I certainly am happy to cut down on my trips to the dealer and save a few hours of my precious time for something more useful.

 

[new to ford]

clearly they wouldn't have programmed it with such a long oil life if they expected problems.

Are you implying the auto manufacturers NEVER make mistakes on their maintenance recommendations?

Here is one example, VW early on with the 1.8T engines in 1998 they were not specifying synthetic oil. Once they had many engine oil sludge issues, they made the 1.8T engines starting on 2005 to mandatory use synthetic oil...

If you are leasing, I agree 100% with your logic. But if you are purchasing for the long haul (+200K miles) I would not let the oil change interval go over 10K miles, but that's just my opinion! :

 

[sdm9465]

Are you implying the auto manufacturers NEVER make mistakes on their maintenance recommendations?

Here is one example, VW early on with the 1.8T engines in 1998 they were not specifying synthetic oil. Once they had many engine oil sludge issues, they made the 1.8T engines starting on 2005 to mandatory use synthetic oil...

If you are leasing, I agree 100% with your logic. But if you are purchasing for the long haul (+200K miles) I would not let the oil change interval go over 10K miles, but that's just my opinion! :

No, I'm implying that I trust the automotive engineers to tell me when an oil change is needed much more that I trust the dealer (who clearly benefits from more frequent oil changes) or an anonymous poster on a forum! By the way, my distances above are in kilometers so I won't be much over your 10K miles figure.

 

[new to ford]

No, I'm implying that I trust the automotive engineers to tell me when an oil change is needed much more that I trust the dealer (who clearly benefits from more frequent oil changes) or an anonymous poster on a forum! By the way, my distances above are in kilometers so I won't be much over your 10K miles figure.

Actually, I change my oil every 5K miles, did that with my ''99 passat and sold it off with 200K miles, running smooth!
Hey, to each his own!

 

[blwnsmoke]

My first oil change was done at 6,500 miles, dealer offers first one free. I'll be doing the 2nd at 12,500 miles myself and putting in mobil1 synthetic with mobil 1 oil filter. From that point on, every 10,000 miles with the same oil/filter combo every change.

I've been doing 10k changes on my previous car which was known for oil sludge issues and had almost 160,000 miles with not a single engine issue. The filter quality is key.. I can't believe people buy $2-$3 fram oil filters and think they are a quality filter on a $40k vehicle. Oil is important but what good is a oil change without a quality filter.

I laugh everytime I see a $19.95 oil change with filter (up to 5 quarts) advertised.. what does one think the quality is?

 

[peterk9]

When my wife picked up her new X, I specifically asked the dealer when it has to come back for its first service. Their response was "Not until the car tells you it needs service". Well, the car has 7,400 km on it and the computer say oil life is at 58%.

My question now is when will it tell me? At this rate it looks like 0% would be at 15,000 km. I wonder, what sort of safety factor is built in?

I come from the old school where you change oil religiously at 5,000 km but on this, I'm willing to see when the notification kicks in.

Al

Welcome to the Forum va3mac. :wavey:
You're at 7400km and 58%. I'm at 5592km and 46%. I've had my Ex since March 14th but since June have not been driving that much and quite a few short trips. That is likely why I have a lower % at a lower mileage. The salesman said their service department still recommends 6 months or 8000km.
I'll have mine done in a few weeks when I have my Winter wheels/tires installed.

73,

Peter

 

[aznkidlee]

I'm only at 220 miles but my first service is free and is already pre booked.

This is the dealership I purchased my car from and their service menu http://www.watertownford.com/ford-recommended-maintenance-schedule.aspx . I ask them what type of oil is included in the price and they said Semi Synthetic. If I want to go Full Synthetic then it is $40 extra.

How are the rates at your dealership?

 

[peterk9]

I'm only at 220 miles but my first service is free and is already pre booked.

This is the dealership I purchased my car from and their service menu http://www.watertownford.com/ford-recommended-maintenance-schedule.aspx . I ask them what type of oil is included in the price and they said Semi Synthetic. If I want to go Full Synthetic then it is $40 extra.

How are the rates at your dealership?

I believe my dealer is $39.95 for oil, lube, filter and tire rotation. I think it includes a 40 point inspection but I'm sort of guessing here. I'm going in this coming week to have Winter wheels/tires installed and have asked for the oil change as well. Only have 6000km (3700 mi) on the vehicle. I can update later. They also have a package called The Works Fuel Economy Package for $59.99 but I don't know what that includes.

 

[dugduggooddugdug]

I will be trading out of my 2009 GMC Acadia SLT1 in a couple weeks and jumping in my new 2012 Ford Explorer XLT....The Acadia has an oil life monitor as well. The 2009's like mine typically would go about 12-15,000 miles between "recommended" oil changes based on the suggestion of the monitor. A lnumber of the 2009's have had issues with oil sludging and timing chains either stretching or failing due to what looks like oil breakdown and/or the sludging issue. GMC's fix is to replace the timing chain on the failures (if the vehicle is still under 100,000 miles; it is covered on the 100,000 mile powertrain warranty. If not under warranty, it is a $3,000 repair and requires the engine to be dropped) If it hasn't failed, the TSB is to reprogram the oil life monitor so it will suggest an earlier interval..Mine has an oil leak that in some cases is a precursor to the timing chain failure. My point to all this is that I have typically changed my oil in the Acadia usually between 5,000 and 7,500 miles religiously and will plan on doing the same once I get the Explorer.

 

[fifthranger]

I laugh everytime I see a $19.95 oil change with filter (up to 5 quarts) advertised.. what does one think the quality is?

Why? If I changed my own oil, I would go to Wal-Mart to buy the 5 quart jug + 1 extra quart and a non-Fram filter, and on sale I would pay about $18 - $19 (not on sale about $21). I was at Autozone today and the new Green Valvoline 5 quart + filter was on sale for $16.99. I usually pay around $32 (with a 6 or 7 dollar off coupon) for a regular oil change at Lube Stop, NTB, Penzoil, or Valvoline. What gets me is all the nay-sayers about the oil used -- Penzoil sucks, etc. Oil is a lot different than it used to be (supposedly), and everyone can agree that oil changes are necessary for the engine to last. Noone can really argue that changing oil to frequently is a problem -- except for possibly draining one's wallet. I belong to several different forums, am old enough (mid-30's) to remember my dad changing oil at 3,000 miles religiously, plus now watching my friends and family and their habits. I've learned a couple things, and one is that it really isn't the oil used, but other factors (that were even mentioned above) like beating on cars and frequency of change (and probably quality of filter also). As most would say, "When was the last time anyone saw an engine destroyed by frequent changes"? There will be exceptions like the VW sludge issues, etc., but most mechanics will say that people either over-change or underchange their oil. I used to lease my vehicles and still changed the oil every 3,000 miles, or very shortly thereafter. I then found forums, like this, that drastically changed my thinking. I now do the 4000 - 4500 mile change, but my wife and I also do a lot of highway miles. We also both travel 20 miles one way to work, so our vehicles rarely do the stop-and-go, short trips. Currently, I drive an 08' Ranger 3.0L V6 with 56,000 miles, and my wife drives an 07' Ford Edge 3.5L V6 with 62,000 miles. Neither of us have experienced any issues. Also, my dad had a unique oil change system. 1st, he would purchase oil by the case, and whatever was on sale. I remember our garage having Valvoline, Shell, Quaker State, and discount auto store Murray oil. He used a "more name brand" in the newer vehicles. At the time he had a 79' Ltd that he kept until 1995, and it only had 80-90K on it. He also owned an 85' Mercury Marquis that was totaled in 93 (was in very good condition with approx. 55,000 miles on it), a 1993 Taurus, and a 88' Escort GT hatchback. All the vehicles were used under various conditions but mostly stop-n-go. He maintained the vehicles, but he darn near always purchased a Fram filter. The only times he bought a Motorcraft were if they were out of Fram or on sale. He must have gotten lucky since not one split on him. Last, it is a crap-shoot since people change oil or use a certain type of filter based on experience. What if the next time someone changed their oil, something happened with the Motorcraft one? I hope my vehicles last into the 150,000 miles + category, but I feel I have a better chance of the vehicle getting totaled,the doors falling off due to rust, age, the electronics/computers taking a crap, etc. than the engine not lasting. This is proved by the oil change places, such as Valvoline, by offering a 200,000 mile guarantee.

 

[drober30]

I believe:

Leasing - By the book, so when ever the vehicles tells you but before 10k

Own - Every 5k or 6k or 7,500 if running Mobile 1

 

[K1200rsport]

I change every 5000 miles

 

[JFUSION]

Im currently over 8300 kms and still at 52 percent oil life, this thing moves pretty slowly.

 

[peterk9]

Im currently over 8300 kms and still at 52 percent oil life, this thing moves pretty slowly.

I'm guessing most of your driving is highway or you take longer drives than I do. Mine read 48% at around 5500kms. Since fully retiring in June, I do quite a few short trips around town so the program is taking that into account.

 

[harlenm]

I have just over 6000 miles, and around 45⅝ remaining. I think ill change it soon and switch to full synthetic.

 

[Bill #5 Explorer]

I am changing oil at about the 7-7,500 mile mark. That's at about 25% remaining oil life. Full synthetic. I've had 4 oil changes in the past 25,000 miles.