Intelligent Oil Life Monitor

[Tiger-Heli]

Originally Posted by ladytonya

On the dreaded how long between changes topic, I have honestly never know what to do! You read so many different things, anywhere from 3,000 to 10,000 and also depending on driving conditions.

There isn't a single correct answer for this. Older cars recommended 3,000 miles. Newer cars without an IOLM usually recommend either 5,000 or 7,500. Either of those are pretty convenient b/c I rotate the tires at 5K, so it's either aligned with the tire rotation or between them.

[Chaddz3]

Originally Posted by ladytonya
On the dreaded how long between changes topic, I have honestly never know what to do! You read so many different things, anywhere from 3,000 to 10,000 and also depending on driving conditions.

The best answer to this question... That will cause the least amount of hassle is do what the manufacturer of the car reccommends.. Especially when under warranty.. If you deviate away from thier recommendations too much, they can deny a warranty claim on an engine failure if you wait too long between changes.

Outside of that...

Change it when it gets dirty.... When you can't see through it anymore, its dirty enough that it should be changed.. Or if there are signs of contamination in the oil (water, fuel, etc.)

On a brand new engine you want to change the oil right after its been broken in to flush out the junk that gets in the oil from the rings and bearings seating.. anywhere from 500 to 1000 miles usually here..

It also depends on how long you plan to keep the thing.. if your gonna trade it off in 2 years... it wont really matter much if you ever change it or not.. by the time the damage becomes a problem you won't own it anymore.

[TboneZX3]

Dark oil shows that the detergents in the oil are working well--it's not necessarily a sign that the oil needs to be changed. If you really want a better idea of when you should change your oil, have it analyzed by a lab when you change it to see how well the additive package is holding up between changes. Blackstone labs will send you an analysis kit for free if you request one online.

At the very least, follow the recommendation in your manual (below) and change it when the OLM comes on, at 10,000 miles or 1 year, whichever comes first.

[ZimDalf]

Don't trust new tech too much!

I got my oil changed for the first time today, car was just over 16,000km but system didn't tell me to change the oil...

Guy at Ford dealership says "yeah some people are coming in with over 20,000km first oil change, because monitor didn't tell them to come in sooner."

Well I guess anyone who knows anything about cars should know better, but then when I got mine the salesman told me not to worry about changing the oil until the monitor told me to...

Weird.

Why didn't Ford send the owners a letter?

[suss6052]

Originally Posted by ZimDalf

Don't trust new tech too much!

I got my oil changed for the first time today, car was just over 16,000km but system didn't tell me to change the oil...

Guy at Ford dealership says "yeah some people are coming in with over 20,000km first oil change, because monitor didn't tell them to come in sooner."

Well I guess anyone who knows anything about cars should know better, but then when I got mine the salesman told me not to worry about changing the oil until the monitor told me to...

Weird.

Why didn't Ford send the owners a letter?

The dealer either didn't know better or is looking for an excuse to void the power train warranty as the manual clearly states that you are required to change the oil no later than 10,000 miles (16000km) or 1 year which ever occurs first if the IOLM does not light up.

[NCMXRACER127]

Im not the most intense car Guy on here but no one should ever let a new car go 10000 miles on the same oil. If someone is going to let their car go for that long without changing their oil then they need a lesson. I dont care if the motors from the 1900 or built yesterday all motors have a break in period and its way less then 10000.

[ZimDalf]

Originally Posted by NCMXRACER127

Im not the most intense car Guy on here but no one should ever let a new car go 10000 miles on the same oil. If someone is going to let their car go for that long without changing their oil then they need a lesson. I dont care if the motors from the 1900 or built yesterday all motors have a break in period and its way less then 10000.

If that's true and I would guess it is, it should be in the programming.

[NCMXRACER127]

Originally Posted by ZimDalf

If that's true and I would guess it is, it should be in the programming.

I agree, it should be in the programming for the everyday person.

[UnleashedBeast]

Originally Posted by Chaddz3

Change it when it gets dirty.... When you can't see through it anymore, its dirty enough that it should be changed.. Or if there are signs of contamination in the oil (water, fuel, etc.)

TboneZX3 summed this up, but I want to add something to it.

My bypass filtration system doesn't let the oil get dirty. The picture below is almost 3,000 miles on the oil. Most cars would already have the oil in the sump begin to darken. Mine looks so clear, you have to get the angle of light correct to tell how high it is on the dipstick.



With that being said, I will have to rely on UOA's to tell me when it's time to change the oil. I guarantee you, it will not be less than 15,000 miles or 18 months. I'm expecting beyond that. I also guarantee that my engine will wear LESS than any 2012 Focus without a bypass filtration system using Ford's recommended lubricant for 10,000 miles or less.

[cbdallas]

Question about the Vehicle Health Report. Has anyone figured out a way to have this information sent to an e-mail address instead of a mobile phone? I don't really want my phone involved in this process.

How to register your vehicle

Create your SYNC Owner account in three steps:
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Enter your email address and create a password
Select a security question and create a unique answer to keep your account private and secure

2. Add your vehicle
Enter your Vehicle Identification Number (or VIN)

3. Contact information
Enter your name and address
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