Is a 10,000 mile oil change interval ideal for the 2.3L?

[fusseli]

Thanks! Two things I’d like to solve are an easier to remove skid plate (is tilting the truck easier to get to the drain or would the ValvoMax help with that also) and an oil filter wrench. Man, both of those make this not a 10 minute oil change in tight driveways.

Dark oil is good, it means the detergents dissolved and prevented sludge.

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[yamahaSHO]

Yes and no…Not any brand has the same quality. Yes any other good brand works. and NO , 10k miles or more than 6 months you’ll reduce the lifetime of your engine….
Is what I learn on my previous work at ford assembly in Valencia - Venezuela. each car has a specific manual. But we have free will. Enjoy.

I just ran an oil sample recently on oil that was at the mileage recommendation for changing, but I had it in the engine for a year and a half. Time did not degrade the oil.

 

[ccasanova22]

Well, I got my Blackstone. And the results show that the oil has sheared to a 5W-20, even though I had to add 0.5 quart (which means it's not all fuel dilution, maybe high temperatures did it from towing?) All my drives were highway drives of 35-500+ miles per cold start, and this truck has never been driven in stop-and-go traffic for more than a few miles.

Calling all the oil experts here. Should I be concerned that my oil level went down but still diluted to such a thin weight? Does it seem odd that I have a trace of fuel dilution even though I regularly drove from state to state, stopping only for gas, food, and still managed to burn a 1/2 quart of oil?

I'm not sure how I could have done any better on the report, almost all the driving was 45-55mph country roads and approximately 1,000 miles of towing a trailer.

 

[Wytchdctr]

Trace of fuel in a GDI? I think that is pretty much normal. Not driving on the highway and I'd expect to see more than a trace amount. I have yet to send in a sample but I am seeing no movement with my oil level over a 5k change interval. So if it is adding fuel.. it's burning an equal amount of oil or only adding just a touch for some spice to my engine lubricant. Not as scientific as blackstone, but it is something.

 

[Racket]

Dark oil is good, it means the detergents dissolved and prevented sludge.

Because I dislike changing (and disposing) the oil on my Ranger I go the the dealer and pay for the full synthetic. Second oil change I asked the service guy to capture some for Blackstone and there were no surprises.

Since I'm using the Ford and not el cheapo Fram type filter and full synthetic Ford spec oil I feel it's optimal for the truck. I haven't in +36K miles used but maybe half of the quart of Mobil I carry to top things off. Pretty good for a high compression DI motor with low tension piston rings iñ spite of getting on the throttle when I feel like it.

Now I'm getting ads for the (German?) LiquiMoly engine cleaner with YouTube links of people demonstrating using it - some videos more elaborate than others, and some cars similar to our trucks with DI and turbos.

I'm somewhat ambivalent about the stuff so far but it seems more advanced than running Risilone/kerosene through the crankcase before an oil change.

I figure I'll be getting the transmission fluid changed around 75K so maybe then I'll try an 'engine cleaner' as preventative maintenance at that point too.

 

[Metal Geezer]

FWIW….
I trust the engineers. When the oil life monitor reaches 10% it’s time to start thinking about an oil change.
I’ve returned to using OEM filters. If there were to be an oil related warrantee claim I don’t want to be told it was due to my after-market filter.
I use oil that meets the spec set out in the owners manual.

Your opinion may differ….and that’s ok!

 

[fusseli]

Well, I got my Blackstone. And the results show that the oil has sheared to a 5W-20, even though I had to add 0.5 quart (which means it's not all fuel dilution, maybe high temperatures did it from towing?) All my drives were highway drives of 35-500+ miles per cold start, and this truck has never been driven in stop-and-go traffic for more than a few miles.

Calling all the oil experts here. Should I be concerned that my oil level went down but still diluted to such a thin weight? Does it seem odd that I have a trace of fuel dilution even though I regularly drove from state to state, stopping only for gas, food, and still managed to burn a 1/2 quart of oil?

I'm not sure how I could have done any better on the report, almost all the driving was 45-55mph country roads and approximately 1,000 miles of towing a trailer.

Looks totally fine to me. Shearing is normal for motorcraft oil and trace fuel is very common in Ecoboosts.

 

[jsphlynch]

Calling all the oil experts here.

This is an internet forum, so obviously we're all oil experts.

In all seriousness, I think you can trust the folks at Blackstone (since they are actual oil experts and not just randos on the internet) when they say "The viscosity was more like a 5W/20, but that's not a concern." Keep an eye on oil consumption, but I'm guessing you've got nothing to worry about.

 

[Peragrin]

Well, I got my Blackstone. And the results show that the oil has sheared to a 5W-20, even though I had to add 0.5 quart (which means it's not all fuel dilution, maybe high temperatures did it from towing?) All my drives were highway drives of 35-500+ miles per cold start, and this truck has never been driven in stop-and-go traffic for more than a few miles.

Calling all the oil experts here. Should I be concerned that my oil level went down but still diluted to such a thin weight? Does it seem odd that I have a trace of fuel dilution even though I regularly drove from state to state, stopping only for gas, food, and still managed to burn a 1/2 quart of oil?

I'm not sure how I could have done any better on the report, almost all the driving was 45-55mph country roads and approximately 1,000 miles of towing a trailer.

Considering my 2016 Jeep Renegade 4 cyl used 0W 20 weight oil to start with. I wouldn't worry too much about shearing.

I was more worred at 75k miles that it was burning oil just slightly and a 7.5k oil change would drop the levels significantly. at the time I was driving 30,000 miles annually and 4 oil changes a year were a pain.

now in the ranger doing 12k annually I willl watch the oil monitor and check it before my summer road trips.

 

[moorejl57]

I change mine at 5K with full syn because it would take two years for me to reach 10K. Also I have never spent so much on a vehicle before and it's cheap insurance. I just need to stay out of the Home Depot parking lot.

 

[ccasanova22]

So I called Blackstone during my lunch break and they said:

The oil coming out thin is most likely not fuel dilution, but rather the original oil thinning out from use. I mentioned I towed and went through the mountains and they said thinning of the oil from heavy use is normal.

Their concern was more about the wear metals, but since this is a new engine, said to sample again in another 10k and hope the metals go down.

As far as the flashpoint, it is on the edge of detecting fuel dilution so I’m supposed to keep an eye on it (but it’s probably much ado about nothing, as it’s a GDI engine).

All in all, very happy with the rep I spoke to and her detailed breakdown of the oil analysis. I am comfortable that this is normal for break-in and will post if anything goes south on the next oil change.

 

[Doc]

On my 2021 Ranger (no mods) every 5000 miles at Quick Lane .

 

[yamahaSHO]

I recently changed oil at an early mileage interval as I wanted to get some of the break-in junk out and check on how the oil is holding up. The junk in the oil was expected, however, the oil sheared pretty quickly with just 2,3xx miles on it. I certainly would not want to leave it in for 10k miles.

I'll change again at roughly the same mileage and send it for sampling. At that oil change, I will be switching to Motul 300v 5w40 and continue sampling.

No fuel detected in the oil.

 

[2ndrger]

I just skimmed this thread... (very long)

I did not see any mention that the 2022 manual clearly states "...synthetic blend..."

Which from my research(less than armature) , says the blend has higher metal content, and since this recommendation is from Ford engineers, it should be considered.

Anyone else see this entry on page 330.

I have 20k and change every 5k.

 

[fusseli]

I just skimmed this thread... (very long)

I did not see any mention that the 2022 manual clearly states "...synthetic blend..."

Which from my research(less than armature) , says the blend has higher metal content, and since this recommendation is from Ford engineers, it should be considered.

Anyone else see this entry on page 330.

I have 20k and change every 5k.

I have got UOAs on my Ranger since new. I’ve owned ford turbos for twenty years. I strongly believe that anything less than full synthetic is NOT up to the task of protecting a turbo engine long term. It will get you passed 100k but conventional and blend oils will coke and clog oil pickup screens and it will varnish on engine surfaces whereas a full synthetic will NOT because it is more stable especially at high temperatures.

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