Oil Change Intervals - Ford says 10,000 miles

[SearchMaster]

From everything I've read, the oil indicator for the car is:

Oil Life % = ((10000 - miles driven since last change) / 10000) * 100

Sounds dumb given that even the most basic economy cars factor in cold weather starts, RPMs, etc. but nobody that I know of has found differently.

 

[Pulsar]

you can go 10k, but you better be checking levels along the way.

Not necessary. The tolerances on new engines are insane. Microns. (I make them.)

 

[Pulsar]

If the manufacturer says 10k miles then use the oil specified and don't worry. It's not like the old days anymore.

Exactly. In fact, if folks ever talked with the actual chem-e's doing the engineering, they'd find out how little difference there is between oils anymore. I had to sit down during the Ford GT days and was astonished at what he told me.

 

[Jimzz]

Not necessary. The tolerances on new engines are insane. Microns. (I make them.)

Sorry but that is bullshit. You think any auto maker is going to warrant a car that was run low on oil? You think no new cars use oil, esp over 5-10k?

 

[Gillbot]

Not necessary. The tolerances on new engines are insane. Microns. (I make them.)

Engines can still consume oil.

 

[JTsyo]

If you put low miles on the car (I put less than 5000 miles per year on my car) then it might be wise to change it yearly instead of at a mileage interval.

That's mine situation too. I hit the year mark before the 10K mark.

 

[Jimzz]

That's mine situation too. I hit the year mark before the 10K mark.

Yea all 4 vehicles at my house are on a yearly change. Never get close to 5-6k on them I would change at.

But I check the fluid level at least monthly and also the tire pressure as well. So many people bring me their cars and fluids are very low, tire pressure almost in the teens, etc...

 

[heymrdj]

Sorry but that is bullshit. You think any auto maker is going to warrant a car that was run low on oil? You think no new cars use oil, esp over 5-10k?

Engines can still consume oil.

Don't we have a thread on this already?

So just for the non-believers I went out and checked my oil. There's just shy of 7200 miles since the last chance. 2014 Ford Fiesta, Motocraft synth-blend. Guess where the oil is on the dipstick. Cmon guess.



On the full mark. But you know that can happen when you don't buy from a manufacturer that likes to pad their fuel economy by burning oil with the mix. ()

 

[dud]

This discussion has focused on elapsed miles since last oil change. What if the vehicle is not driven very much. In this situation time is the indicator. I just did an oil change on my wife's civic at 3500 miles. Why? Because it had been 12 months since the last change and IMHO it was due.

 

[Jimzz]

Don't we have a thread on this already?

So just for the non-believers I went out and checked my oil. There's just shy of 7200 miles since the last chance. 2014 Ford Fiesta, Motocraft synth-blend. Guess where the oil is on the dipstick. Cmon guess.



On the full mark. But you know that can happen when you don't buy from a manufacturer that likes to pad their fuel economy by burning oil with the mix. ()

yea cause your car is representative of all cars out there. I guess my 20+ years working on cars and running my own shop I was just blind to all those cars with low oil and trying to up sell that major profit service of topping oil off. You caught me, good work detective.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

I drive the heck out of my fiesta st and will probably go about 7500 miles between changes. I changed it at 500 miles and there was some metal debris from engine break in.

 

[Pulsar]

Engines can still consume oil.

Oh, they do still consume oil. Every time the piston goes up and down a thin layer of oil is left on the cylinder wall. Perhaps I wasn't clear enough. Changing before 10,000 miles is not necessary.

 

[Gillbot]

Oh, they do still consume oil. Every time the piston goes up and down a thin layer of oil is left on the cylinder wall. Perhaps I wasn't clear enough. Changing before 10,000 miles is not necessary.

But checking the level before 10,000 is always a good idea.

 

[Adul]

^ Id just follow your manual for OCIs..I bet M1 will find anyone possible to not fix your car if you do have an issue.


OP do an oil analysis at 5-6k and you'll see if you can go longer or not.

Oil analysis is the best thing you can do, but yes 10k should be no sweat with a good quality Synthetic. I been doing that with amsoil in my car for 160k miles without issue.

 

[heymrdj]

yea cause your car is representative of all cars out there. I guess my 20+ years working on cars and running my own shop I was just blind to all those cars with low oil and trying to up sell that major profit service of topping oil off. You caught me, good work detective.

You said it not me. :|


I have never said that you shouldn't have to check the oil, ever. By all means check away, it's part of maintenance, it could be the signal of a major leak or burning problem. It should just never be low if it's a modern car worth a damn, that's all.

 

[reallyscrued]

Nature of turbocharged engines...hard to tell anything.

Do a used oil analysis at 5k miles and see what it says.

Direct Injection plus turbo...I'd be worried that the oil gets sheared and diluted down to a thinner weight and provides less protection.

(IMO, DI + Turbo at 10,000 OCI is freaking batty, 7.5k at most.)

 

[leper84]

I would't use anything but a good synthetic in a turbo engine, regardless of what Ford or anyone else says.

I would also look at what the severe service criteria is for your car and if you come anywhere close to meeting it, go by that. If you live in a high traffic area in a warmer part of the country I don't think 10k oci's are going to be a very great idea.

 

[Pulsar]

I would't use anything but a good synthetic in a turbo engine, regardless of what Ford or anyone else says.

I would also look at what the severe service criteria is for your car and if you come anywhere close to meeting it, go by that. If you live in a high traffic area in a warmer part of the country I don't think 10k oci's are going to be a very great idea.

Because your gut says so?

 

[nerp]

5,000 miles, always.

 

[Denly]

Oh, they do still consume oil. Every time the piston goes up and down a thin layer of oil is left on the cylinder wall. Perhaps I wasn't clear enough. Changing before 10,000 miles is not necessary.

As a cooper S turbo owner, I disagree. The timing chain will be totaled way before 10k if not checking oil lvl.

 

[Meghan54]

Oh, they do still consume oil. Every time the piston goes up and down a thin layer of oil is left on the cylinder wall. Perhaps I wasn't clear enough. Changing before 10,000 miles is not necessary.

As a cooper S turbo owner, I disagree. The timing chain will be totaled way before 10k if not checking oil lvl.

You know, Denly, not trying to be snide or rude or whatever, but I fail to see how a comment made about changing your oil at 10k miles, what Pulsar was talking about, has anything to do with checking oil levels between changes, what you're talking about. Differing concepts, I know, but different.

 

[philipedek]

Isn't that way too long? 2014 Focus ST. Right now I'm on a 6k mile interval but looking in the manual, it says under normal operation, 10k synthetic.

you do not have to 10k miles a synthetic oil, I'd agree, follow your current manual

 

[Howard]

Not necessary. The tolerances on new engines are insane. Microns. (I make them.)

Like the tolerances of the valve spring ODs, right?

Come on, that's such an intentionally vague statement.

 

[JimKiler]

BMW spec'd a 15K interval on 2001 models?

yes, I remember reading a USAToday article citing 10-15K for BMW and that was (2001 approximately) when I started using full synthetic in my 1995 Mazda Protege and I changed oil every 9-10K miles and my engine never had an issue. I do the same on my 2003 Protege 5 as well and no issues with it, currently at 162K miles.

you can go 10k, but you better be checking levels along the way.

Why would i check the levels if my car does it? My first car would light up the oil light if I took corners too fast because i was losing/burning oil.

 

[Pulsar]

Like the tolerances of the valve spring ODs, right?

Come on, that's such an intentionally vague statement.

Do valve spring OD's matter to oil consumption?

Should we call you Mr. Obtuse, or do you have a point?