Message Center - Oil Change Interval

[rugratsdad]

Does anyone know what triggers the oil change required message in the message center? Is it strictly mileage based or does it actually monitor the quality and condition of the oil remaining based on driving patterns?

 

[Anime]

wow

Wow..if theres an oil quality monitoring system in the newer Explorers, thatd really be something..I dont think Ferraris even have that...

Its probably based on mileage like youre guessing..tho I guess that would mean you would reset it somehow after changing the oil..I mean I dont think it would know whether or not you actually did change it or not by itself..

It could also be some engine sensors are out of whack or have readings out of the "normal" range and attribute the problem to the oil system. Even something like lower/higher than normal oil pressure might trigger that.

 

['96explorereddiebauer]

It's based on mileage. When you reset the oil change interval, it'll return to 100%, which is 7,500 miles. You can set the percentage if you want to or just leave it at 100%. I set mine at 80% or 6,000 miles. 80% of 7,500 is 6000 miles. Hope this helps. Oh yeah, your owner's manual will teach you how to set your oil change interval.

 

[rugratsdad]

Actually I thought is was based on mileage until I read the following in the owners manual...

"An oil change is recommended whenever indicated by the message
center. Use only recommended engine oils.
The message center will tell you the percent of oil life left during system
check. This percentage is based on your driving history and the time
since your last oil change. In order to ensure accurate oil life left
indications, you should only perform the following procedure after you
have the oil changed."

I wasn't sure if "driving history" meant anything more than mileage. Thanks for the replies.

 

[pacman]

Now you have me wondering...

Billy - how did you set it to different %'s?? I don't see any mention about that in the owner's manual.

As far as being based on mileage, I don't believe it...I do mostly city driving and the last interval for the oil change (from oil change to message center warning - 0% oil life left) was only 2800 miles!! The one before that was 2500! So it isn't based solely on mileage. I am curious what else it is based on...anyone know? I wonder if it might be based on engine running time?

 

[rugratsdad]

Pacman,
My owners manual details how to set the percentage as well. I don't have your email address so I'll post it. This is from the 2000 manual.

"Your personalized oil reset percentage allows you to establish a smaller
oil change interval than the manufacturer’s recommended interval. To
establish your personalized oil reset percentage:
1. Press and hold the OIL CHANGE RESET control and press the RESET
control while the display is still counting down the five seconds to reset.
The display will change to START OIL LIFE AT x..%.
2. Press the OIL CHANGE RESET control until the displayed percentage
is the personalized oil reset percentage you desire. Your choices are
100%, 90%, 80%, 70%, 60%, 50%, 40% and 30%.
3. Press the RESET control to
complete the procedure. Pressing
any control other than RESET or
OIL CHANGE RESET will abort this
procedure and will not establish
your new personalized oil reset
percentage.
When your personalized oil reset
percentage has been established, it
will be used beginning with the
completion of your next OIL CHANGE RESET procedure."

 

['96explorereddiebauer]

According to my '96 owner's manual, here's the stuff you want:

1. Press and hold the OIL CHANGE RESET switch and press the RESET switch while the display is still counting down the 5 seconds to reset. The display will change to "START OIL LIFE AT x..%"

2. Press the OIL CHANGE RESET switch until the displayed percentage is the Personalized Oil Reset Percentage that you desire. Your choices are 100%, 90%, 80%, 70%, 60%, 50%, 40%, 30%.

Hope this helps.

 

['96explorereddiebauer]

Darn it! Tom got it in before me. Oh well.

 

[pacman]

Thanks Tom, guess I better take a closer look at my manual (probably didn't have any pictures in that section so I skipped it)...

Too bad we can't increase the interval - I am using synthetic oil and think I can get an extra 500- 1000 miles between changes...