When is it time for an oil change?

[armoredsaint]

My oil life monitor says 37% left, I'm at 5,500 miles and my Expedition is about 2 months old.

The dealer said to ignore the oil life monitor and get it changed every 5k with tire rotation and it will cost about 12k points with an oil blend, which I have 42k points currently.

Thoughts?

 

[99WhiteC5Coupe]

My oil life monitor says 37% left, I'm at 5,500 miles and my Expedition is about 2 months old.

The dealer said to ignore the oil life monitor and get it changed every 5k with tire rotation and it will cost about 12k points with an oil blend, which I have 42k points currently.

Thoughts?

First oil change - I would have it done now.

 

[duneslider]

Curious as to how this oil monitor decides the change interval? It isn't mileage based, or at least not totally. Mine expedition sees 2 types of use mostly, towing the trailer or short trips to the school or supermarket and so far, the oil change indicator seems to hit below 5k every time. This last one was just a bit over 4k miles.

 

[OrangeWhipX3]

Curious as to how this oil monitor decides the change interval? It isn't mileage based, or at least not totally. Mine expedition sees 2 types of use mostly, towing the trailer or short trips to the school or supermarket and so far, the oil change indicator seems to hit below 5k every time. This last one was just a bit over 4k miles.

It's an amalgamation of things. Temperature, how hard you work the vehicle, percentage of tow/haul time

 

[Deadman]

It's an amalgamation of things. Temperature, how hard you work the vehicle, percentage of tow/haul time

I wonder of they factor in when the dealers need a little more income, so you get an earlier oil change???? Easy to program that in just like every other factor they incorporated.

 

[TobyU]

On a anew vehicle,I would also change it early regardless of what monitor or manual says.
I would change in by 1500 miles 2000 MAX.
Then go by monitor or every 5-6K with standard oil. You can go longer wit full synthetic...or stay at lower intervals and have a cleaner engine.
Cleanner doesn't really mean it will last longer or have fewer but it WILL be cleaner inside.

 

[Deadman]

I dumped mine around 2,000 miles initially just to get the metal out and give it a clean start.

 

[armoredsaint]

I dumped mine around 2,000 miles initially just to get the metal out and give it a clean start.

isn't that old school, i think today's engines are obviously better built with better tolerances/

but i will admit i changed the oil in my BMW at 1k whe new, the Expedition I wasn't as worried about, but I have an appt today and it said it's about 12k points for "The Works aka Blended oil"

 

[Deadman]

isn't that old school, i think today's engines are obviously better built with better tolerances/

but i will admit i changed the oil in my BMW at 1k whe new, the Expedition I wasn't as worried about, but I have an appt today and it said it's about 12k points for "The Works aka Blended oil"

Its still an engine with moving internal parts right?????????? Or has technology surpassed that too? Things haven't advanced as much as some believe. Maintenance is still required on things even tho the manufacturers have changed their story so their vehicle "appears cheaper to maintain" over time. Its all games to sell move vehicles. Sure engines burn cleaner, but they also burn a ton hotter, so that makes more wear alone. Its complicated now with all the snake oil myths an BS that floats around, its hard to know what to believe anymore.

 

[duneslider]

Its still an engine with moving internal parts right?????????? Or has technology surpassed that too? Things haven't advanced as much as some believe. Maintenance is still required on things even tho the manufacturers have changed their story so their vehicle "appears cheaper to maintain" over time. Its all games to sell move vehicles. Sure engines burn cleaner, but they also burn a ton hotter, so that makes more wear alone. Its complicated now with all the snake oil myths an BS that floats around, its hard to know what to believe anymore.

Unless I see some good evidence otherwise, new engines haven't been run much prior to assembly with all new parts with fresh milled edges, there is will always be a higher percentage of metal particulates wearing off the crisp edges during the break in time. All that should get captured by the oil filter but I still think most manufacturers call for an early interval on the first change.

Also, the oil in these goes through the turbos right? I would think that heat is going to put more wear and tear on the oil than anything else. I have always felt engines with forced induction need more frequent oil changes.

 

[TobyU]

Both above posts are spot on.
Just like Briggs and Stratton small engines saying never needs oil changes- just check and top off. Marketing bull an helping planned obsolescence and short replacement intervals.

I new one has less metal and grit etc than a rebuilt one but still surfaces are getting polished and wearing in and seating in.
Not that it will shorten the life of the engine to go what they say 7500-10k or more vs dumping first oil at 2000 but the first oil WILL get dirtier and have more contaminants in it than future oil changers will.

 

[Deadman]

The filter only filters so small. Some very small pieces still circulate....

 

[sjwhiteley]

While I would be on the fence regarding early oil changes (I’ll be changing mine at 3k) instead of the 5 to 7k, if you are capable of spending 50 to 70k on a vehicle, the few bucks extra a year on earlier oil changes isn’t going to make a scrap of difference, cost wise.

ive seen oil analysis on oil that has run significant miles, and while technically, it still has life left, the ‘old school’ mentality about a mechanical system rotating around at 6000rpm with reciprocating components rubbing against one another, stressed by mini explosions, tends to make me think that an early oil change isn’t going to hurt.

 

[armoredsaint]

So the dealer I went to is new, the place is nicer than my BMW dealer with a wall of tv, ms surface to use and a cafe type waiting area.

 

[st381183]

Remember oil and filters are cheap, engines and turbos and transmissions are expensive. Fresh fluids aren’t a guarantee of zero failures but it certainly can’t hurt.

 

[Artie]

So the dealer I went to is new, the place is nicer than my BMW dealer with a wall of tv, ms surface to use and a cafe type waiting area.

This is a Ford dealer? Sounds like they have been reading the multiple complaints voiced in this forum haha

 

[armoredsaint]

This is a Ford dealer? Sounds like they have been reading the multiple complaints voiced in this forum haha

it was quite modern looking, all white, steel and glass

 

[Deadman]

While I would be on the fence regarding early oil changes (I’ll be changing mine at 3k) instead of the 5 to 7k, if you are capable of spending 50 to 70k on a vehicle, the few bucks extra a year on earlier oil changes isn’t going to make a scrap of difference, cost wise.

ive seen oil analysis on oil that has run significant miles, and while technically, it still has life left, the ‘old school’ mentality about a mechanical system rotating around at 6000rpm with reciprocating components rubbing against one another, stressed by mini explosions, tends to make me think that an early oil change isn’t going to hurt.

They're mostly mortgaged.....

 

[Dclr]

I may be in the minority around here but I’m sticking w/ the scheduled maintenance oil changes as per the manual. If my 2019 engine craps out as a result of following their specified maintenance intervals, Ford can gladly pay for a replacement. I've never had an engine in any vehicle I've ever owned seize or had internals fail and I've neglected some of them to hell and back when I was younger. For transparency purposes, I have no plans on keeping it more than 5-7 years, and yes, I do have an ESP.

 

[Artie]

I may be in the minority around here but I’m sticking w/ the scheduled maintenance oil changes as per the manual. If my 2019 engine craps out as a result of following their specified maintenance intervals, Ford can gladly pay for a replacement. I've never had an engine in any vehicle I've ever owned seize or had internals fail and I've neglected some of them to hell and back when I was younger. For transparency purposes, I have no plans on keeping it more than 5-7 years, and yes, I do have an ESP.

I’m doing the same. We got the maintenance plan and they come get it every 7500 miles. Once that and the warranty are up we’ll decide at that point to keep it or bail. That will be at the 8 year point unless we hit the mileage which wouldn’t be too much earlier if we did.