Oil Change. How often do YOU do it?

[akirby]

On my 2010 Fusion SE, the reminder comes on like clockwork every 7500 miles. For this year, at least, the reminder is 100% mileage driven, and it would seem that 1% is 75 miles.

 

I think it changed with the 2011 models from pure mileage based to IOLM.

[propwash]

It's definitely not mileage based on my 2012. I don't drive that much, --- I have only gone 900 miles since my last oil change, but my IOLM says I have 44% life left. That means the system thinks I have used up 56% of my oil life in less than 1000 miles. A couple years ago I took a 1200 mile trip right after an oil change. My monitor showed 99% when I departed. When I got back home, my IOLM showed 90% remaining. The trip was mostly freeway driving with cruise control on. That is much easier on the engine than the around town stop- and-go driving that I usually do. That makes me think that the system really does analyze your type of driving to calculate your oil life.

[sirtanon]

Makes me wonder what sort of mileage an IOLM would indicate if my 2010 had it, since my daily commute is 110 miles round trip - 105 of which are highway miles. Would be interesting to see.

[zip89105]

Well the IOLM % may be a thing of the past on future Fusions. The 2017 Escape has removed the percentage and only has dash display reminders when it is time for an oil change. Ford still calls it an IOLM instead of an OLM.

 

The 2016 Escape had the % of oil life remaining indicator, but no more.

 

The 2017 Escape gives a SERVICE DUE SOON warning at 15% oil life remaining.

The SERVICE DUE NOW warning at 5%.

The SERVICE PAST DUE warning at 0%.

[drolds1]

Well the IOLM % may be a thing of the past on future Fusions. The 2017 Escape has removed the percentage and only has dash display reminders when it is time for an oil change. Ford still calls it an IOLM instead of an OLM.

 

The 2016 Escape had the % of oil life remaining indicator, but no more.

 

The 2017 Escape gives a SERVICE DUE SOON warning at 15% oil life remaining.

The SERVICE DUE NOW warning at 5%.

The SERVICE PAST DUE warning at 0%.

I guess they want you think of the term "service" as its used in the schedule of maintenance instead of just strictly an oil change and ignoring everything else.

[Frank F]

Well the IOLM % may be a thing of the past on future Fusions. The 2017 Escape has removed the percentage and only has dash display reminders when it is time for an oil change. Ford still calls it an IOLM instead of an OLM.

 

The 2016 Escape had the % of oil life remaining indicator, but no more.

 

The 2017 Escape gives a SERVICE DUE SOON warning at 15% oil life remaining.

The SERVICE DUE NOW warning at 5%.

The SERVICE PAST DUE warning at 0%.

Have to remember, the Escape is the "truck" version of the Focus. My 2015 Focus doesn't display percentage remaining either. Just a "due now."

 

Don't know if we can surmise what changes in the Escape occur in the Fusion. Focus-Escape probably a better relationship.

[zip89105]

The Escape running the same motors as the Fusion is my correlation, despite the Focus underpinnings. The Escape is too heavy to run non-boosted Focus motors.

[akirby]

Focus and Escape share a platform. Edge and Fusion share a platform. These platforms, while related, are completely different.

[mustangphil302]

Monitor hours, not miles. Idling, remote start, stopngo all eat into hours but not miles.

 

Here it is: 7500 miles in 149 hours

Edited May 3, 2017 by mustangphil302

[WWWPerfA_ZN0W]

Mostly highway driving in your case, right?

[akirby]

Mostly highway driving in your case, right?

 

Averaging 50 mph I sure hope so!

[WWWPerfA_ZN0W]

Maybe he's on a midwestern road somewhere driving in circles, IDK, LOL!

[sirtanon]

 

Here it is: 7500 miles in 149 hours

 

Seems pretty close to what I get for 7500 miles in my Fusion - I had to estimate some figures, but I come up around 144-145 hours, although it can really depend heavily on how much rush our traffic I hit, which varies from week to week.

[mustangphil302]

Mostly highway driving in your case, right?

Mostly. 85248 to 87402 and back every week (~850 miles) It usually takes me less, but I let family members use the car for total of three weeks to run around the town. Normally I put 7500 miles in two months with 95% highway.

[Fuser]

Using the Motorcraft blend in my 2012 SE.

Manual states change oil every 7,000 miles. What???

Changed it the first five times per the percentage from INFO on instrument panel display.

Only had 2,000 plus each time. The first three times the oil looked as if it just came out of the bottle. Fourth and fifth a little time darker. This last time it was black.

Just cannot swallow waiting for 7,000 mile between changes.

 

This last time display lit up with change soon and it was around 7,000 miles this time.

The fiancée has put some miles on it the last 10 months. I personally do not drive it much.

 

Still wonder how the oil life percentage is determined by car instrumentation.

 

So far it still seems to be OK with that last late oil change.

 

Any thoughts on automotive oil in general and how often to change oil and claims of 7,000 miles between changes?

 

 

Edit: Post merged with existing topic by moderator.

Edited June 14, 2017 by drolds1

[nForrest]

Fuser,

 

Check this link out to explain the oil life monitoring

 

https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/understanding-ford-service-indicator-lights-by-brent-minderler

[akirby]

Most modern vehicles with modern fluids and filters can go 5K-10K with no problem under normal operations.

[sirtanon]

Fuser - My 2010 Fusion SE with the 2.5 is going to roll over 233,000 miles on my drive home from work today. Aside from needing a single valve replaced about 6,000 miles ago, the engine has never given me any problems, and still runs great, does not leak any oil or even burn any noticeable amount.

 

... all this, even though I change my oil at 7,500 mile intervals.. and I live in Phoenix, where it gets over 115 degrees frequently during the summer, and blowing dust is common. Use a good oil, and check it regularly ( I check about every 1,000 miles or so - which for me works out to every 2 weeks) to see how it's holding up.

 

I drive over 500 miles per week, mostly highway @ 70-75 MPH, FWIW.

 

I think you're underestimating the quality of today's oils, as well as the engine in your car. These engines are rock solid, wear-wise, and modern motor oils - even conventionals - are far more advanced than they used to be.

 

For what it's worth, here is a Used Oil Analysis I had done on an oil change that I did at 224,000 miles... Note that this particular oil was not in the car for 7,500 miles - It was in the car for 8,991 miles.. almost 9,000. It also shows the two previous oil changes, which were both roughly 7,500 miles each. As you can see, wear numbers are amazingly low.

 

 

 

Now, I will say this - If your driving is in cold, wet weather, is mostly stop-n-go, and/or your engine rarely gets up to proper operating temperature because most of your driving is extremely short trips, then changing your oil earlier is definitely warranted.

[WWWPerfA_ZN0W]

Fuser, you can use this guide to understand NORMAL vs SPECIAL OPERATING CONDITIONS

http://www.fordservicecontent.com/Ford_Content/catalog/owner_guides/10frdmg2e.pdf

 

SOC starting pg 41. I will add that extended highway driving MAY also constitute SOC.

 

Your OC reminder may or may not be a straight % of miles. Easily checked.

 

Definitely run full synthetic if you want to extend the oil change interval, but use reports such as sirtanon has posted to guide you.

[midnightdoom]

So I just got 2010 fusion and am new to this longer oil life stuff compared to my 2007 mustang.

 

After initial oil change I noticed mechanic still put typical 5000km / 3 months (3100 miles) sticker

 

My owner manual says to go 12000km-16000km or 12 months max (7500-10000 miles)..

 

I didn't get the actual maintenance schedule so I found American pdf to compare and in there I see 7500 miles or 6 months

 

So I asked dealer to send me a copy because I also wanted to know other things like filters.. And one they send me, which is just bunch check marks for mechanic I assume, says 8000km (5000 miles)

 

Confusing but ya I feel I should just follow the % on dash..

 

With traditional oil how long should I expect in comparison to synthetic? I would rather take car to my friends shop and have his coworkers work on it. But it's a tirecraft and not Ford.. Is there anything special with these cars that non Ford mechanics may be ignorant to?

 

Oil changes at Ford have gotten really expensive in Canada lately. Now up to $79 where I am so I want to evaluate how to save most money especially when I can get it a lot cheaper where my friend works

[akirby]

Cheapest would be to use Motorcraft synthetic blend every 7500 miles or when the computer says it's time for a change.

[drolds1]

You used the term "traditional" oil, which I take to mean the more common term, conventional. Your Fusion came from the factory with a semi-synthetic blend that meets Ford spec WSS-M2C930-A. Any oil that meets this spec is safe to use in your Fusion. Be aware that oil may be labeled differently in Canada, especially Motorcraft. As long as it meets Ford specs, you're good, even if it's a conventional oil. Depending on how cold it gets in your part of Canada, you might want to stick with the semi-synthetic blend or go to a full synthetic.

 

WRT change intervals, I'd follow akirby's above advice.

Edited August 12, 2017 by drolds1

[2ndNewFordGuy]

So split the difference. 9k miles, or 10-11 months, or, as soon as the oil begins to no longer look nice and clear any more... or, as soon as TWO out the three is true.

[sirtanon]

I just changed the oil in my 2010 this past Sunday. The engine had 237,958 miles on it, and the oil had 7,509 miles on it. The oil was Valvoline MaxLife 10w30 with 1/2 qt of Valvoline NextGen conventional mixed in. As I understand it, MaxLife is a synthetic blend, but couldn't say how much.

 

Came out a very dark 'root beer' color. I gathered a sample ans sent it in to Blackstone for analysis. Would have gone longer on it, but since I had that cylinder head/valve job done back in April, I figured I'd go shorter on my OCI until the analysis comes back 'normal'.

[2ndNewFordGuy]

SO apparently the oil filter on the 1.5ecob is awkward to get at. Oh joy. I was wondering about that, having still yet to get my on a lift and have a look, sooo... good know.

To that point, K&N makes a filter with "wrench off" knob fitting, which Amazon says fits my '17 1.5. What's the consensus on K&N OIL filters in general? (I'm aware of the CAI and air filter 'issues' & Tubo bade damage)

 

Thanks