Oil Change interval

[peterk9]

Two weeks ago had the oil changed in my 2.0L explorer a day later checked the oil was a qt. low. Called the ford dealer ,Their responce was bring it by and we'll top it off. Looked at the bill and it said they put 5 qt .s do'nt they hold 5.7 qts. with filter . Y ou would think a ford dealer would know how much to put in .

Welcome to the Forum randy mikel. :wavey:
You would think that a dealer's service department should know. I don't know what the capacity is for the 2.0 L engine. I don't have a brochure for that one and the website doesn't show that figure either. It should be listed in your Owner's Guide. The 3.5 V6 holds 6 quarts or 5.7 Litres.

FYI, when I replaced the OEM tires on my 2011, I went to a tire shop and when I got home I noticed that the tires on the passenger side were on backwards. (Directional tires).
So that pretty well sums up what service personel are 'supposed' to know.

Peter

 

[fifthranger]

I don't know why engines can't be manufactured to have either 5 quarts or 6 quarts, but 5.5 or 5.7 is annoying. If I did my own oil changes, then I'd have to partially open a quart.

 

[alakers]

I don't know why engines can't be manufactured to have either 5 quarts or 6 quarts, but 5.5 or 5.7 is annoying. If I did my own oil changes, then I'd have to partially open a quart.

maybe they know something we don't ....

 

[peterk9]

I don't know why engines can't be manufactured to have either 5 quarts or 6 quarts, but 5.5 or 5.7 is annoying. If I did my own oil changes, then I'd have to partially open a quart.

As posted before, the 3.5L V6 is 6 quarts. The equivalent here is 5.7 litres. When I had my oil change done they only put in 5 litres and looking at the dipstick and what the manual shows, the oil level is in the acceptable range on the dipstick. As long as it is within this range the manual says DO NOT ADD OIL.
There are always going to be variables in engine sizes and of course filters. Then you have the whole Imperial vs Metric situation.

Peter

 

[fifthranger]

maybe they know something we don't

I doubt that it is as simple as this.

As posted before, the 3.5L V6 is 6 quarts. The equivalent here is 5.7 litres

I read your post correctly, but remember you are in Canada. I, also understand that this is an Explorer/Ranger forum. My old 88' Escort hatchback took 4.5 quarts, and my wife's 07' Ford Edge requires 5.5 quarts. Again, do you know how annoyed I would be with open bottles lying around in my garage?

 

[peterk9]

I doubt that it is as simple as this.

I read your post correctly, but remember you are in Canada. I, also understand that this is an Explorer/Ranger forum. My old 88' Escort hatchback took 4.5 quarts, and my wife's 07' Ford Edge requires 5.5 quarts. Again, do you know how annoyed I would be with open bottles lying around in my garage?

It seems that it may not be necessary to open and use a partial bottle. As I posted, my Explorer takes 5.7 litres but the dealer only put in 5. When checking the dipstick, the level is in the upper part of what the manual calls 'the acceptable range'. As long as it is in that range the manual says not to add more oil. I guess this is to prevent partial bottles sitting around.

Peter

 

[Wilkinda65]

Break-in oil Change.... How many miles??

So how many miles did you go before you changed the oil for the first time?

 

[MikeFreas]

I'm going by the oil life meter on mine. We currently have over 6k on the clock with 34% oil life left.

The quality of the oil these days allows extended periods of time between changes so the every 3k rule doesn't apply. In my turbo car I still changed it every 3k but I was hard on it.

 

[Bill #5 Explorer]

On all my new vehicles, I always do the first oil change at about the 1,000 mile mark.

With the Limited I did this, and also changed to the full synthetic oil at the same time. I am now doing oil changes at the 7,000 mile mark. Just a little early (could go 10,000 based on the oil life readout). recently switched to Mobil 1's 0W30. Have almost 35,000 miles in one year.

 

[Trembler]

When to do the first oil change

So how many miles did you go before you changed the oil for the first time?

Many vehicle motors are run from the factory and often beat on during delivery if your dealer had to go and get a car from another location and didn't flat bed it.
That's ok though, don't worry.

Proper break in requires seating of piston rings (another long story). On the ex I did 1000 miles and then went to the factory changes at 5000 mile interval. I can believe that, modern chemical advances being what they are, the oil and additives would last for an extended interval but I don't trust the filters. If the filter fills with debri or gets clogged even a little, the bypass valve will open allowing all the crap to recirculate through the motor.

The only way to really know how the oil, filter, and engine are holding up is to have oil analyzed and I haven't heard of my dealer doing that so I don't trust it.

 

[Wilkinda65]

I went to 2200 miles on the Boss 302 before the first oil change. I was gonna wait till 3000 on the Explorer.

 

[kp02-150]

On all my new vehicles, I always do the first oil change at about the 1,000 mile mark.

Did my "new" aviator at close to the same mark. Had 700 miles to make it back home, so shortly thereafter for me. It's quick, cheap and easy, so why wait.

At 3000 and change now, and probably will do it again soon before stretching it out.

 

[182RG]

1st change at 7500 on the factory fill. 10K or when the oil life indicates on Mobil 1 full synthetic moving forward. Early changes are a WASTE....

 

[jreask]

1st change at 7500 on the factory fill. 10K or when the oil life indicates on Mobil 1 full synthetic moving forward. Early changes are a WASTE....

I began changing the oil in my 2001 4Runner after the first 1000 miles and since switching to full synthetic, I now use 5000 mile intervals. I have the oil analyzed at Blackstone labs about once per year. The analysis has always come back with very good numbers. This vehicle has 255,000 miles. Of course, it's a Toyota.

I changed my 2012 EX at about 1000 miles. Perhaps a waste, but I guess I am old school and like the peace of mind of that first "cleansing" change. I switched to Mobil1 with a Motorcraft filter like the factory original. Ford can't complain about the filter choice. I now will use 5000 mile intervals. I won't analyze the oil until one year elapses. At that point the engine is still under warranty but the analysis will alert me to any possible internal problems. My two cents.

 

[Bill #5 Explorer]

Many vehicle motors are run from the factory

Not true. Very few are now. I'm speaking for all manufacturers.

 

[Bill #5 Explorer]

Early changes are a WASTE....

You would not say this if you had first hand knowledge of Used Oil Analysis reports.

 

[peterk9]

You would not say this if you had first hand knowledge of Used Oil Analysis reports.

I did first the change at the 6 month interval at which time I had 3665 miles (5899 km) on it. I do more short trips than long ones now that I'm retired. I will follow the 6 month or 5000 mile (8000 km) program that I've used in the past. I believe the Oil Life Monitor was showing around 35% at the time.

Peter

 

[VinceL]

You would not say this if you had first hand knowledge of Used Oil Analysis reports.

Do you recommend anyone in particular? I see a couple of online ones, like Blackstone.

It would be interesting to see what is going on with my engine/oil.

 

[Bill #5 Explorer]

Do you recommend anyone in particular? I see a couple of online ones, like Blackstone.

It would be interesting to see what is going on with my engine/oil.

Yes, I've been usng Blackstone for years. I only do this with my Porsches. Not the Explorers. I buy the UOA kits in bulk. About 6 kits at a time. Costs about $20 each. They send you, for free, the sample kits. I use these kits for both engines oils and trans/gear oils.

 

[182RG]

You would not say this if you had first hand knowledge of Used Oil Analysis reports.

Uh...I do have UOA knowledge. I've used Blackstone for years on piston airplanes I've owned, and I use it on my diesel VW Jetta. 10K and beyond with a good full synthetic and quality filter is more than acceptable on a modern vehicle. Educate yourself, already......