Anthony Posted September 2, 2015 Share Posted September 2, 2015 (edited) I've been one of those "old-school change your oil every 3k miles" kinda guys for as long as I've been driving. I know engines can go a lot longer between oil changes, but I've still been hesitant to go much more than 4k miles. When I hit ~3.5k miles on my '14 Focus (2.0), I brought it into the dealer for it's first oil change (since the first two were free). They literally looked at me like I was crazy. They told me I didn't need to bring it in yet and that the car would let me know when it needed an oil change. (Granted, I know about oil life monitors but never really put much faith in them.) Well, I had the oil change done anyway (being it was after the break-in period and wanted any impurities out of the engine). The car is coming up on 9.5k miles and I'm getting antsy (haha). I looked up the oil change interval online and it said this: Change engine oil and replace oil filter when indicated on vehicle message center or every 12 months, whichever occurs first I don't think I could last 12 months without changing the oil in my car. Anyway, long story short, was wondering how often the folks around here change their oil? Edited September 2, 2015 by Intrepidatious Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted September 2, 2015 Share Posted September 2, 2015 I go by the reminder which ends up being around 8-10 months. The factory oil is a synthetic blend and can easily last that long in normal conditions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordmantpw Posted September 2, 2015 Share Posted September 2, 2015 The Flex goes about 6k, sometimes up to the suggested 7.5k (it has the oil monitor, but it is strictly based on number of miles driven). My Super Duty is usually every 6-7 months as I put less than 5k on it in that time frame. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bolt in blue Posted September 2, 2015 Share Posted September 2, 2015 I go by the oil life monitor in my Escape. So far, averaging 9.5k miles. I change the oil about once a year using Mobil1 full synthetic, but I am not putting many miles on the Escape these days. Most are either trips hauling stuff or long highway trips. The low use and higher percentage of use as towing will probably bring my next change sooner. My daily driver also has full synthetic in it. Probably going to do a 7.5k interval on it, since the factory spec is for 5-7.5k on conventional. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuzzymoomoo Posted September 3, 2015 Share Posted September 3, 2015 (edited) I generally change the Focus in the 5-7k range. I typically do it on the lower end since I don't have an oil life sensor and the engine. has 174k miles on it. I use full synthetic so I know I could easily go up to 9k but I literally can't afford to take any risks with this think right now. This thing needs to last another 4 years at least. My wife's G5, I'll just wait until the oil life sensor is around 5% remaining, which as much as she drives with her short commute is about every 6-8 months Edited September 3, 2015 by fuzzymoomoo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theoldwizard Posted September 3, 2015 Share Posted September 3, 2015 I've been one of those "old-school change your oil every 3k miles" kinda guys for as long as I've been driving.Thank you ! I own oil stocks and need the dividebds that they pay !! When I hit ~3.5k miles on my '14 Focus (2.0), I brought it into the dealer for it's first oil change (since the first two were free). They literally looked at me like I was crazy.Well, "crazy" is kind of a strong word, but ... few people are willing to spend money on something that is unnecessary. On my '98 4.6L E150, it gets the oil changed every 5,000. That is somewhere between 9 and 18 months. I use non-synthetic oil. On my 2007 3.0L Fusion, it is every 7,500. Full synthetic oil. Both cars get Motorcraft filters. Very reasonably prices at Walmart. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anthony Posted September 3, 2015 Author Share Posted September 3, 2015 Well, it's going on 6k miles, I made an appointment. Oil life monitor be damned! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twintornados Posted September 3, 2015 Share Posted September 3, 2015 (edited) On my Lincoln, I can reset the oil life monitor to a lower setting, so instead of it starting at 100%, I reset it to 80%, in my case, it works out to 5K-6K average for the changes...I use the 5W-20 semi-synth with a Motorcraft filter and all is well....I also change the cabin air filter once in the spring and once in the fall... ADD ON: She is rolling up on 60K so a automatic trans fluid drain -n- fill will be in order.... Edited September 3, 2015 by twintornados Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pioneer Posted September 4, 2015 Share Posted September 4, 2015 2009 Focus. Manual recommends 7k oil changes so that's what I do. Had it done yesterday. Car has 155k on it. Engine runs great. 2011 Escape. We let the car tell us when it needs changing. About every 9k miles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedingtones Posted September 16, 2015 Share Posted September 16, 2015 I change mine every 5,000 miles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deneway Posted October 15, 2015 Share Posted October 15, 2015 My current wheels says 7500, which worried me at first but after 210,000 miles, with virtually no oil consumption between changes, I'm good with that. You might want to do a test and put your mind at rest. http://www.blackstone-labs.com/is a place whose work is independent. Their reports are honest and practical. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev-Mo Posted October 15, 2015 Share Posted October 15, 2015 (edited) My 4th Generation (2008) Explorer - the 'conditions based' system throws up "change oil soon" message consistently between 3200-3800 miles. I have never made it to 4000. It is Colorado after all. Always going uphill or down, crappy congested roads, etc. The system seems to know this. I use Mobil 1 5w-30 and I do it myself. I write the mileage and date on my filter with permanent marker just for a reference point when I come back to change. Let's go Mets! Edited October 15, 2015 by Kev-Mo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bolt in blue Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 I did my Escape last week. It was only about 6000 miles on Mobil 1, but it had been a year so the car asked for an oil change. I probably would have waited a little longer but I put nearly 1000 miles on it last weekend, so I wanted to have clean oil in it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strtrkstooge Posted April 26, 2016 Share Posted April 26, 2016 I have the lifetime oil change club and the dealer sets the changes at 3170 miles. That's good enough for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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