10,000 mile oil changes, really?

[bpost]

About 20% of my miles are electric as I have a Powerboost. But the engine stops and starts much more. I changed the oil at 700mi and plan to do it again after an additional 7500, which is about 6000 gas miles.

20%? Do you use eco mode exclusively?

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[blkZ28spt]

it's not 1978 anymore. engines are fine to go 10k miles especially since the manufacturer recommends it.

No, it's not 1978 any more, engines ask a lot more of their oil now than they did then.

 

[ColoradoHunter]

Everyone states the extreme of 10K. That is for the owner that does almost all their miles on the highway, no or little stop and go, no off road conditions and no driving in extreme heat or cold. Even then it states between 7500 and 10,000. For anyone else it's 5000-7500 miles between changes. I would bet most people who own a F-150 fall into 5-7.5K group. Ford isn't making you drive 10K between changes. Me, I do a lot of off road and dusty condition driving. I'll be changing mine tomorrow at 2000 miles for the first change and every 5000 after that. My last two Ecoboosts were on the same schedule and got 99k and 140k trouble free miles.

EDIT: forgot to mention towing falling into the 5-7.5K group.

 

[Atlee]

I've always had my oil changed at 5k miles, but I do a lot of towing, about 40%.

 

[130 Ghost_Riders]

I’ve been using full synthetic after break in on my 2013. 10,000 miles between oil changes after that. 116000 trouble free miles later I’m waiting for my 2021!

I do about the same with my ‘08 and I’ve got 180k miles

 

[don.mullins]

I've always had my oil changed at 5k miles, but I do a lot of towing, about 40%.

I would expect that the Oil Life calculations would reflect your heavier workload. I know you change it on strict mileage, but what is the truck recommending?

 

[Lippy]

I just did it again last night. Even though it probably wasn't completely necessary I did a break-in change at 700 mi and then changed it again yesterday at 7,500 mi. This included 20%, or 1,500 mi, electric. Going forward I will do it every 7,500 mi and use Mobil 1 Extended Performance (meets the proper Ford spec) and the Ford oil filters. I could go longer but it's cheap insurance.

 

[Atlee]

I would expect that the Oil Life calculations would reflect your heavier workload. I know you change it on strict mileage, but what is the truck recommending?

Don't know. Actually, once I slipped up and didn't have it changed at 5k miles. I believe the change oil warning came on at 7.5k miles, or there about. In any case, I still prefer 5k due to usage and the fact the dealer used Motorcraft Synthetic Blend oil, and not full synthetic.

 

[saluki1969]

My first oil change for my PB was at 900 miles. New Motorcraft 500s oil filter and Mobil 1 Extended performance full synthetic oil. I will change again at 2000 miles using a new filter and Mobil 1 Extended Performance full synthetic oil. Over kill, but my preference. Will then change every 2500 miles with same recipe. I do a lot of short trips, 6 to 8 miles 2 or 3 times a day and only about 5,000 miles per year. My measure to flush out contaminates that may accumulate due to short drives and few miles driven. I do it my self and he cost is not substantial.

 

[SCTYDOG]

Are y'all doing full synthetic??

Synthetic is the only way I would let my vehicle get close to that number.

 

[MJ Heat]

216k trouble free miles on my 2015 3.5 ecoboost so far. I follow the oil life monitor & use full synthetic.

 

[Gros Ventre]

AS I see things there are two issues. First the initial couple or three oil changes to get any residual machining dust out. Then the issue is when does the oil become saturated with "ash" (the tribologists term for the wear products it holds in suspension). So long as the oil is capable of holding more ash in suspension it does not need to be changed, So what is that in miles? Try oil sampling analysis.

 

[Snakebitten]

I admit to being confused between when you are referring to Engine oil changes and Transmission fluid (which you also refer to as oil in your thread) changes.

Ford's recommended change intervals are too long for both, in my opinion. But I don't think I will be changing my transmission fluid/filter nearly as often as I think you have discussed.

 

[Gros Ventre]

Hey there... transmission fluid is hydraulic oil, but oil nonetheless, get over it. As to when you change it out? Depends on how long you decide to keep your truck... When I bought my Powerboost I was replacing a 1992 GMC Suburban with its original engine and still getting 3-4,000 miles per quart. Being able to keep it going that long helped my wife & I get three sons thru college... Good lubrication makes a real difference, dontcha know... The issue I'm working is how do you maximize service life, not what do you have to do to get to a trade-in.

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