Ford officially extends oil change interval to 7,500 miles
#1
Stubborn Bear
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Ford officially extends oil change interval to 7,500 miles
From Autoblog: http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/22/f...t-7-500-miles/
Ford has been studying the question of when to suggest oil changes, and they've hit upon 7,500 miles for 2007 and newer cars. Not only are modern oils better, modern engines are also better. You don't have carburetors metering poorly on winter mornings, tolerances are a lot tighter, and operating temperatures are typically a little hotter, helping to cook off the junk that accumulates in the oil. Some manufacturers use a sensor to monitor the health of the oil and light a service lamp when it calculates change is required. Ford contends that its customers prefer a set amount of miles between changes. The automaker also cites the environmental benefits that come from less waste oil, monetary savings, as well as extensive tests as positive aspects of the new recommendation. I'm convinced that the only reason to suggest changing the oil at 3,000 miles in a modern car is to sell more oil. Perhaps an air-cooled Porsche would stress dino juice more, and could sensibly require changes at 3K, but you can stretch to drain intervals that would make your father gasp and clutch his chest by running modern oils in your modern engine. Of course, your driving pattern has a lot to do with it, as well. If you're in town for short hops, you'll require a shorter drain interval than the guy running Mobil 1 for his highway commute and changing the oil at 25 kilomile intervals (raising my hand).
#2
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I don't know how many folks will remember this, but back in the day the 3k interval was non-existant. It was clever marketing on the part of Jiffy Lube that brought that number to the surface.
#3
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So how does this work? I am due soon for the recommended 3,000 Km change. Will we get a letter from Ford or will the service department tell us when we get there? I am sure they want all the $$ they could get out of us...
Anyone?
Anyone?
#5
Legacy TMS Member
I have been using the recommended 5K interval in my 2006. Next time I go in I am going to talk tot hem about the 7500 mile interval. But I am willing to bet the 7500 mile will be just fine for 2005-06. No major changes in the engines from those years to '07.
#6
Mach 1 Member
oil change
I don`t care what Ford or anybody else suggests, I watch my dip stick regularly and 3000 miles or 5000 klms is the limit. Whether I`m city driving or on a road trip the oil color will tell you its time for a change, dark means dirty!
#7
Legacy TMS Member
I have always changed my oil at 3K intervals in everything I own. It always comes out black. I have never changed my oil and said ooh, that still looks good I'll put it back in and get some more out of it. If I bought new oil and went to pour it in and it was black I would not use it. If at 3K it already looks like s*@t why would I use it for more than double that long. And as far as the environmental impact is concerned, the extent of my environmental concern is from my front bumper to my rear bumper, everything else is second to that!
#8
Funny they should mention the air cooled Porsches, 911's are usually 10-12k between changes. I do 5k if its synth or synth/blend. a little sooner in the dog days of summer or if I do a bunch of drag days.
#9
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Guys, guys, guys! Color has ZERO to do with the oil's ability to lubricate or how "dirty" it is. Next time you change your oil spend a couple of bucks and send it out for an analysis. You'll probably be surprised by the results. Why throw money away on something that doesn't make your car any faster?!?!?
#10
If you like your car, stick with the 3k miles, 7500 and 5000 are too long in my opinion. If you ever have looked at oil at those miles on a car it aint very pretty. I have plenty, and even on newer cars, honda, very finely electronic tuned cars, if you wait 5-7500 miles you are shortening the life of there engines. They can say what they want, but they want you to buy there parts too, LOL. Good luck
#11
Mach 1 Member
Guys, guys, guys! Color has ZERO to do with the oil's ability to lubricate or how "dirty" it is. Next time you change your oil spend a couple of bucks and send it out for an analysis. You'll probably be surprised by the results. Why throw money away on something that doesn't make your car any faster?!?!?
#14
Got my oil changed and the morons put in 7qts. So I get home, check the oil (too high) and so I drain out about a quart. With 20 miles, it is much darker than when it went in. The car has only 15,000 miles on it, almost all commuting, so I have a hard time believing there is anything wrong with the engine or that oil I took out. But it was black. BTW - I saved it and used 1/2 of it in the lawn mower.
#16
If you like your car, stick with the 3k miles, 7500 and 5000 are too long in my opinion. If you ever have looked at oil at those miles on a car it aint very pretty. I have plenty, and even on newer cars, honda, very finely electronic tuned cars, if you wait 5-7500 miles you are shortening the life of there engines. They can say what they want, but they want you to buy there parts too, LOL. Good luck
1985 honda accord se-i: 295000 engine still awesome, trans lost 4th gear and spewed oil into the clutch. i wish i just changed the trans, but wasnt that far advanced in my mechanical ability
1990 ford ranger: 182000. ran great, but bought a new truck
1999 vw jetta wolfsburg: 179000, still driven daily by my father and runs awesome
1996 chevy cavalier: 183000 runs great still my current daily driver.
mustang hasnt missed a tick yet, so i will stick with 5000. I think the trick is to use a good filter. purolator pure one or a factory filter is all thats used on any of my vehicles. to each his own but 5000 is easy to remember and works just fine. oh and also outside of the stang (factory motorcraft oil) i use regly castrol gtx
#17
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I have always changed my oil at 3K intervals in everything I own. It always comes out black. I have never changed my oil and said ooh, that still looks good I'll put it back in and get some more out of it. If I bought new oil and went to pour it in and it was black I would not use it. If at 3K it already looks like s*@t why would I use it for more than double that long. And as far as the environmental impact is concerned, the extent of my environmental concern is from my front bumper to my rear bumper, everything else is second to that!
Your oil turns black with in the first 100 miles.
#19
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If you really love your car you'll use synthetic! I change my filter every 5k and my oil every 10k. I used to do oil and filter at 5k until I started having the oil analyzed. Then it became apparent I was wasting money. Oil change intervals are pretty much right up there with religion and politics so I'll stop there! I can tell you I've had good luck thus far with my current cars...
86' BMW 535i Track Car - 248,000
87' BMW 535is - 189,000
89' BMW 535is - 264,000
91' BMW 750iL - 115,000
95' BMW 525iT - 190,000
'98 GMC Suburban Turbo Diesel - 185,000 (5,000 change interval because diesels foul the oil with soot)
As an aside, when you run full synthetic you get zero sludge build-up. I actually run ALL synthetic fluids in my cars and truck.
86' BMW 535i Track Car - 248,000
87' BMW 535is - 189,000
89' BMW 535is - 264,000
91' BMW 750iL - 115,000
95' BMW 525iT - 190,000
'98 GMC Suburban Turbo Diesel - 185,000 (5,000 change interval because diesels foul the oil with soot)
As an aside, when you run full synthetic you get zero sludge build-up. I actually run ALL synthetic fluids in my cars and truck.