I just hit 5K miles on my 13 V6 but I still have 53% oil life left on my car. Looks like dealer recommeneds every 5K. I've searched other threads on this, but want to see what happens if you wait when your closer to 0% oil life. Or do most folks change it every 5K just about regardless of what oil life is left?


Thanks!

 

The oil change interval on your car is supposed to be 10k miles, didn't you read the cars scheduled intervals in the manual?

 

The MAX is 10k. Did YOU read it?

 

I sold Fords for over a year.

Not to mention his oil change meter is spot on for 10k miles.

 

What does any of that have to do with anything? I know 100x what the salesmen at my dealership do and you told the OP the interval is 10k flat, which is wrong, and suggested he didnt read the manual. If youd read it, youd know thats max with light duty use. Back off the condescending attitude and youll get less back.

 

My first post was not meant to be condescending. I apologize to the OP if it came off that way.

My replies to you were condescending since I was just going with the your attitude. Sorry for continuing your attitude wheelman.

Are you arguing just to argue since you thought my post was condescending?

The main point is that with today's quality of engines and engine oil, the semi synthetic that Ford uses from the factory 10,000 miles is the norm. Of course there are exceptions as started in the manual. His oil life indicator will adjust based on conditions.

 

Mercedes has been 10k for ages.... Welcome to the modern world.

 

OK so would it be safe for me to go 10K or would I also need to pay attention to the oil life %? I know a lot of factors come into play, weather, road conditions, etc

 

If I was you would change it. Thats plenty of time for break in oil if that what you still have. Just me .02 cents. I would spend the money and be on the safe side.

 

Gotcha. Also probably good since it's the first oil change and there's probably new metals and what not in there that need to be flushed perhaps.

 

^^^ +1

 

IMO, the oil change indicator/life thing is useless and only serves a purpose for 2 groups of people.

Group 1: People that don't keep up with maintenance, it reminds them to see how many miles its been since they changed it.

Group 2: People that have no clue about cars and will run to the dealership and have their oil changed just because that light told them to, regardless of whether it needs to be changed or not. Another way for dealerships to make money off of unnecessary procedures.

Best I can tell, all the thing is is a timer of sorts. It comes on when a certain mileage or time frame have been reached, which is useless unless you fall into one of the groups above.

For example on my 500, got in it the other day and its saying oil change required. However, its only got about 1000 miles on it since it was changed, however its right at 6 months since I changed it so the light came on. I suppose it would have come on if I had driven it 7500 miles as well.

I know it doesn't need to be changed, but it says its required. If I was in group one of the people above, it would have just reminded me to see how many miles it had been since I changed it.

If I was in group 2 of the people above, I would have taken it to the dealership and wasted $100 or more having the oil changed.

I changed it myself last time, its got about 1000 miles on it since then. I'm not going to buy $70 worth of oil, and drain out oil that only has 1K miles on it just because its been 6 months and a message tells me to.

 

I don't know all of the parameters, but it is supposed to take into account your driving habits.

Maybe you just drive the car too hard Lee!

 

But I don't believe that, I'd say if you reset that thing, and didn't drive it, it would come back on in 6 months. I've had mine going on 2 years, it just hit 5K miles, and it has come on every 6 months like clockwork.

 

I could totally see that! And wouldn't put it past them. That's just how it's "supposed" to work

 

Ford recommends replacing the oil every 6 months if you don't drive that much since oil also cleans the inside of the engine, as well as lubricating it.

When you start up an engine it creates some moisture inside it and that can turn to rust ... the oil cleans that up but it also gets saturated with it over time, so here comes the 6-month-need-an-oil-change routine.

My car is about 3.5 months old, I'm just under 5k miles and I;m not driving it again until Friday when I get to drive in the morning to take the GF to work, then right to the shop to have the oil/filter changed. Switching over to Amsoil 10W40 XL ... an oil that's supposed to be good for 1 yr or 10k miles. I plan on changing it out after about 7500 miles, doing a used-oil-analysis, and adjusting my change interval after that.

By the way, with almost 5k miles on the clock my car is telling me that the oil is ok and has 50-something % life left, so pretty much the same as the OP's car.

 

From recommended 5W-20 to 10W-40 for what reason?

And I told myself I'd stay out of oil change discussions from now on

 

What's your reasoning for 10W40?? you have a track pack car that requires 5W50. The engine's computer has the variable valve timing solenoids calibrated for 5W50 oil, and going to 10W40 is technically too thin and will alter when the VVT comes in and out. I would stick with the proper weight oil. As of right now there are two suppliers that sell the 5W50, Motorcraft Full Synthetic (obviously) and Castrol Edge.

 

I think it is safe to go to 10k. I changed mine at 5k for peace of mind. I think my oil life reading was 50ish %.

 

Here we go again