Change oil message alert ?

[Be69chevy]

Had a message come up on the display to change the oil.....its only been 2500 miles since last oil change.

What is that message based on?

2012 V8 automatic.

 

[jkayca]

It's based on your driving style, driving conditions and miles. 2500 does seem short though. Was the oil life indicator reset after the last oil change?

 

[Flexpedition]

Believe time since last change is factored in as well. Ours seems to go off every 6 months, sometimes with just a couple hundred/few thousand miles since last service.

 

[jimz]

A good reason to write miles and date on sticker when oil is changed. then keep checking it yourself. Place sticker where you can see it while driving might help.

 

[barrydu4]

When I have my oil changed at the Ford dealership, they put a sticker on the interior of my front glass....! This is what I go by.

 

[chuck s]

Don't know about the 2012 models. My 2007 was a strict 5000 miles regardless of how I drove, and the warnings started before that. 2008 models with the identical engine were good for 7500 miles. My 2017 is good for 10,000 miles or 12 months -- depending on driving and I think I'm at 20% oil life right now which will be way before 10,000 and probably closer to 7500. March 21 will be 12 months and is on my calendar unless the car wants it sooner.

-- Chuck

 

[cmiles97]

This falls under "trust but verify". I do like that the systems can keep track of conditions and give you an alert when it calculates an oil change is required and ongoing remaining oil life calculation.

I still check the level and color of the oil on the dipstick.

I changed my oil at 8% oil life last time which was around 8,000 miles from the previous oil change. The oil level was fine and the color darker than when 1st changed but not bad.

On the other hand I have heard of the oil monitor system in other cars going bad and saying it should be changed after 1,000 miles or never requiring a change. I don't know what sensors it uses or programming factors to determine oil life.

On the vehicles I had this system, with me checking it's accuracy, they have been very good.

I'm going with the guy on the F150 forum who had 360,000 miles on his 3.5L ecoboost, the last time i checked, and change my oil every 5k. He also changed spark plugs every 50,000 miles. He used his truck to tow often and had no major issues. This is after seeing some videos and articles from various mechanics and engineers on how turbo direct injection gasoline motors work. Basically clean lubricating oil is essential to the turbos longevity.

 

[jimz]

Learn to reset it yourself.

 

[chuck s]

I'm going with the guy on the F150 forum who had 360,000 miles on his 3.5L ecoboost, the last time i checked, and change my oil every 5k. He also changed spark plugs every 50,000 miles.

Completely non-scientific since there's only one (1) sample and no tests of changing oil every (say) 10,000 miles and the spark plugs every 100K.

Of course the factory engineers do scientific testing but what do they know?

The camping/RV forums are always concerned with finding mice and mouse droppings inside every spring. Some folks prevent them with dryer sheets or mothballs but others use them and still get mouse droppings right next to the mothballs or nests of dryer sheets. I have a stuffed, plush jackalope in my camper and have never, ever had any mice inside. Jackalope is 100% effective.

-- Chuck