5000 mile oil changes?

[Trusty]

Every Ford I've ever owned with the Oil Life indicator ticks off 1% every 100 miles. Seems more methodical than science'y. Good oil is gooder. Hard driving is harder.

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[REDWM]

I had my first oil change about 1 year after buying the truck. The oil change indicator said change oil soon and it was at 5% oil life. That was at 6376 miles so I took it to the dealer since I had enough points on Ford Pass that it didn't cost me anything instead of changing it myself like I do on all my other vehicles.

 

[Roscoe P]

Ok.... here's my spill. Oil get's contaminated. It doesn't wear out.
That's why you change it. Personably, you're taking advise from a
car company that's in the business to sell more cars. I've always been old school when it comes to oil changing, it's cheap compared to the price of a new vehicles.
I have mine changed a 5k now but I still preferer 3k actually . I know new engine designs are different compared to how thing used to be, but oil filters haven't changed much, in the old school design.

 

[Joeiconic]

So Ford is pretty much recommending a 5000 mile oil change and is clear that 10k is the max “Do it now!” Interval.

 

[Joeiconic]

Ok.... here's my spill. Oil get's contaminated. It doesn't wear out.
That's why you change it. Personably, you're taking advise from a
car company that's in the business to sell more cars. I've always been old school when it comes to oil changing, it's cheap compared to the price of a new vehicles.
I have mine changed a 5k now but I still preferer 3k actually . I know new engine designs are different compared to how thing used to be, but oil filters haven't changed much, in the old school design.

Im in the 5000 mile oil change camp, but I don’t think Ford has anything to gain, either from the perspective of new sales or warranty work costs, by recommending a maintenance schedule that results in engines failing prematurely.

 

[Tim H.]

Is your service managers opinion swayed by financial gains, either to himself in commissions, or in profits to the service department?

i think thats one of the sticking points when it comes to "recommendations"...who's the benefit, and for what?

theres no question if i changed my oil every day my engine would benefit from it vs if i never changed it at all.

No, their warranty

Is your service managers opinion swayed by financial gains, either to himself in commissions, or in profits to the service department?

i think thats one of the sticking points when it comes to "recommendations"...who's the benefit, and for what?

theres no question if i changed my oil every day my engine would benefit from it vs if i never changed it at all.

Good luck on warranty claims for engine related issues if you go beyond the recommended miles.

 

[Strokerduster]

I only recall one vehicle brought in with an issue related to oil change interval. A lady brought her Edge (with 33k on it)in on a wrecker with a knocking sound in the motor. Nothing showing on the dipstick and using a bore scope, it looked like black jello inside. Dropped the pan and the crank and bearings were dead. Asked owner about oil changes and she said " The salesman told her it didn't have to be changed". Last I saw, it was on a wrecker headed back to the dealer, where it was purchased. Would have loved to hear that exchange.

 

[r1ch999999]

I only recall one vehicle brought in with an issue related to oil change interval. A lady brought her Edge (with 33k on it)in on a wrecker with a knocking sound in the motor. Nothing showing on the dipstick and using a bore scope, it looked like black jello inside. Dropped the pan and the crank and bearings were dead. Asked owner about oil changes and she said " The salesman told her it didn't have to be changed". Last I saw, it was on a wrecker headed back to the dealer, where it was purchased. Would have loved to hear that exchange.

Reminds me of this family friend who hated GM, his engine blew after two years. Turns out he never changed the oil, and this was in the 80s. He swore by Toyota/Honda because the dealer told him if he didn't change the oil every 3k he'd void the warranty. Guy was an idiot, and I think at that conversation my dad stopped talking to the dude. I argued with him about it, can you imagine a 13yo telling you that you're an idiot for not changing the oil on your car and then blaming the manufacturer?

 

[D Fresh]

So, the owners manual lists towing, dirt roads, off road, and excessive idling or low speed driving as "special conditions."

All of which except towing and excessive idling call for 5k oil changes. Those two DO however call for the spark plugs to be replaced @ 60k instead of 100k though.

My truck isn't primarily in any one of those categories. However it's entire existence will be in one or the other of those categories.

I drive dirt roads often, use remote start multiple times daily to idle it warm, hit some mild trails semi-regularly, spend some time in stop and go traffic, tow every now and then, and generally drive the shit out my truck.

I'll follow the "special operating conditions" schedule. Which I do in all of my vehicles, not my wife's grocery getter though. And that says 5k changes.

TL: DR

RTMF, be honest about your driving habits. Maintain accordingly.

Also I don't trust the life meter to account for "special operating conditions" when all it does is measure time and mileage.

 

[landiscarrier]

Uh....

And it's still going! haha!

 

[D Fresh]

Once again, as so many have said so many times it's becoming beyond repetitive, you're free to do whatever the hell you want with your own truck. I don't care! Nobody should care what anyone else does with their own truck!

As far as the warranty vs. maintenance is concerned though, all I'm saying is all you have to do to stay within the bounds of the warranty is at least stay within the bounds of the prescribed maintenance schedule (when it comes to maintenance) outlined in the documentation that comes with the truck. That's all I'm saying now.

Do what you want, but if you want to keep your warranty, at least follow what is prescribed in the documentation provided with your vehicle.

Jeez, why is this so hard...........

Did I tell anybody what to do?

I didn't feel like I did.

I simply made a general reply to all the "but Ford says 10k miles" people. They may say that, but there's a huge asterisk there.

A huge asterisk which hasn't been addressed in 9 pages of this thread.

I don't maintain anything I own just to "get it through warranty. In fact I don't know anybody who operates that way and would venture to call that a foolish way to live. Perhaps that has something to do with the throw away society we find ourselves in.

Why is this so hard?


I don't know.


Why is it so hard to have a civil discussion?

 

[Strokerduster]

And it's still going! haha!

or....

 

[Tim H.]

no shit. the owners manual is the document that will stand the test of time and any arguments on your warranty...not the service managers opinion

You questioned the motives of service department folks. They’re following the manual recommendation. He never said “5000 miles or death to you!”. Give him a break!

 

[HenryMac]

please....wheres this 5000mile recommendation.....

 

[HenryMac]

that great HM, but thats not the original topic, nor is it severe use which i also know has lower numbers neither of those were indicated...so if you wanna change the narrative then be my guest.
the page i posted, is the manual....a service manager recommending 5000....is based on what ? his opinion? his old school ways? his love of commissions??? he's clearly not following the manual.

As the manual states, as I linked to above.... "That is why it important to rely upon your dealership to properly diagnose and repair your vehicle."

Personally... I think that's bullshit. But that's what the "manual" says. SO a service manager recommending 5000....is based on his experience. Which the manual specifies.

Sadly that service manager may not know his ass from a hole in the ground.

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