expl0rer Posted June 24, 2012 Share Posted June 24, 2012 Hi I don't post much but read alot on this site and usually I can get my answers to questions . I was at my dealship recently and was told that the oil change lite on my 2012 explorer was just a timer and I should change the oil every 5,000 miles. My last oil change was at 9500 miles and I still had 10% according to my oil monitor. I also have a 2011 F350 diesel and was told that the oil monitor on it was a true monitor. The owners manual on the explorer say that the lite is indeed a monitor I just need to find out it anyone else has had issues like this, and is my dealoer just blowing smoke. Thank You Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted June 24, 2012 Share Posted June 24, 2012 Your dealer is blowing smoke and trying to increase their profits. It doesn't actually monitor the oil itself but it does monitor operating conditions (temperature, rpm, driving time, etc.). Go by the monitor just like it says in the owner's manual. And find a new dealer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YT90SC Posted June 24, 2012 Share Posted June 24, 2012 Oil changes are at best a break even proposition for a dealer. Its the upsell that makes them money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theoldwizard Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 Follow what Ford writes in the owners manual. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
expl0rer Posted June 25, 2012 Author Share Posted June 25, 2012 Thank You it is good to have confirmation of what you think you should do Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rscalzo Posted August 23, 2012 Share Posted August 23, 2012 Intelligent Oil-Life Monitor™ (IOLM) http://owner.ford.com/servlet/ContentServer?cid=1251733926439&pagename=Owner%2FPage%2FArticleDetail&recid=1251387049862&parentheadlineimageid=1234280151966&parentrightrecid=1239636411265 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theoldwizard Posted August 24, 2012 Share Posted August 24, 2012 Follow what Ford writes in the owners manual. +1 ! I will only add, read what it says about extreme usage (lots of short trip or lots of heavy loads, dusty, etc.) and see if you qualify. I have switched to every 5,000 mile regardless of the number of months ! My 14 year old, 4.6L E150 went over 14 months between oil changes because most of the time it sat in the driveway ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stlcardinal9 Posted August 27, 2013 Share Posted August 27, 2013 My dealer gave me 2 free years of maintenance on my Explorer I assume he would tell me every 5k now but after 2 years I should do it every 3k. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimBob55 Posted November 17, 2017 Share Posted November 17, 2017 New to this forum, looking for info on the '17 -'18 Explorer, came across this 'stale' discussion of oil changes. I'm 'Old School', I change my Castrol Non-Synthetic every 3,000 miles. Looking to replace my wife's 2003 Windstar which I just changed the oil at 392,000 miles.... and it's STILL running just fine! Only reason to replace the car is that it IS getting a bit 'Long in the Tooth' and we have started being a bit concerned when on long trips. With synthetic oil I would go somewhere around 6K to 10K between changes, under normal service. Each person has their own opinion...... but the only hard information is.... how long did your engine last before it wore out, and did you use the SAME oil, change it at roughly the SAME intervals the entire time, and what CONDITIONS were you operating in. Like I said.... the old Winnie (3.8 V6) is coming up on 400,000 miles, and no smoke, the only oil useage is a slight weep at the rear main seal. (I stuff a couple of paper towels between the engine and transmission, and it absorbs the weep for 3,000 miles to the next oil change.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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