2025 Hybrid. How do you decide when to change the oil?

[KenE]

I was enjoying your post until you said several HOURS… I know you’re not in a hurry to do “anything”…..but I bet you could change that to MINUTES and the automotive world would still be OK. . Just kidding, of course.

Lol. Indeed, several hours draining is stretching it, but also allows the engine to cool significantly before adding ambient temp oil . Old school thinking I know... truth be known gives me time to piddle with other tasks at my leisurely, retired pace between draining & filling. Lots of birthdays has a few rewards. Ha!

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[rtphokie]

No more than 10k or 1 year, no less than 5k or 6 months. 3k or 3 months hasn't been necessary for 25+ years.

If you drive mostly highway miles, closer to 10k is fine. If you drive more stop-and-go city miles or shorter trips where the oil is less likely to reach optimal temperature, changing it more frequently is cheap insurance on your investment, especially if you plan to drive the wheels off. For me I plan on going 7-8k

My 25 Hybrid XLT just passed 5k this weekend is getting picked up tomorrow from my driveway for an oil change, airbag light clip recall, and investigation of a dash rattle (likely in the lens in the instrument panel).

I've also had too many problems at Take5JiffyQuickOilChange in the past to ever go to one of those again. I DIY or use my Ford dealer's QuickLane location a few miles from the dealership which has competitive prices even before you earn/redeem Ford points, plus all the maintenance gets recorded in the Ford Pass app.

 

[Escapologist]

Lol. Indeed, several hours draining is stretching it, but also allows the engine to cool significantly before adding ambient temp oil . Old school thinking I know... truth be known gives me time to piddle with other tasks at my leisurely, retired pace between draining & filling. Lots of birthdays has a few rewards. Ha!

I mean it's even a bit slap dash, you could put it on the ramps, drain half, top up to full with kerosene, leave it to soak a couple of hours, start it and idle a couple of minutes, then drain all that overnight...

(Prolly not great to do a kerosene flush in the main, but it's a good "try as last resort" for anything looking really sludged up)

 

[HeyBales]

No more than 10k or 1 year, no less than 5k or 6 months. 3k or 3 months hasn't been necessary for 25+ years.

If you drive mostly highway miles, closer to 10k is fine. If you drive more stop-and-go city miles or shorter trips where the oil is less likely to reach optimal temperature, changing it more frequently is cheap insurance on your investment, especially if you plan to drive the wheels off. For me I plan on going 7-8k

My 25 Hybrid XLT just passed 5k this weekend is getting picked up tomorrow from my driveway for an oil change, airbag light clip recall, and investigation of a dash rattle (likely in the lens in the instrument panel).

I've also had too many problems at Take5JiffyQuickOilChange in the past to ever go to one of those again. I DIY or use my Ford dealer's QuickLane location a few miles from the dealership which has competitive prices even before you earn/redeem Ford points, plus all the maintenance gets recorded in the Ford Pass app.

So 25MY you get exact report of Total and electric miles ongoing - with 5k, how many non-ICE miles you at?

 

[DScruggs]

I also use Shell 91 Premium, which also has a better additive package than their 87 Regular.
It is NOT just about octane. It is about cleanliness. Sludge & Carbon are not going to be happy in my Maverick.

Show me proof. Same with your Techron comment. For over 15 years the additive package in a PARTICULAR brand's 87 Octane is EXACTLY the same package that is in their 89, 91, or 93 Octane versions. However, I stand ready to be corrected with hard evidence.

 

[Chops]

Show me proof. Same with your Techron comment. For over 15 years the additive package in a PARTICULAR brand's 87 Octane is EXACTLY the same package that is in their 89, 91, or 93 Octane versions. However, I stand ready to be corrected with hard evidence.

Yes, additive packages are similar between the octanes. But the higher octanes get a higher percentage of the additives.

Hard evidence? Visit any website of Top Tier brands to read their description of the make up of their higher octanes. There is more than just a higher octane…

 

[DScruggs]

I have followed your suggestion and find that you are partially correct. That is true of some brands but not universal. It is also questionable whether these "extra" detergents are of any additional benefit. Here is one websites opinion and commentary (I know that opinions vary)

https://www.cartalk.com/content/premium-vs-regular-0#myth2

Cheers.

 

[Mavster Mechanic]

10,000 miles on the oil
and
15,000 miles on the oil
(Two separate changes.)

Lab tests are virtually identical.
Good quality oil is STILL GOOD at 15,000 miles in a HYBRID.

15,000 one had more highway miles.

I used this, no special "hybrid" formula.

Oil Life Monitor was 1%

 

[Chops]

Lab tests are virtually identical.
Good quality oil is STILL GOOD at 15,000 miles in a HYBRID.

15,000 one had more highway miles.

I used this, no special "hybrid" formula.

Oil Life Monitor was 1%

First, a sample of one driver in the same vehicle with a unique driving routine is hardly enough data to state “Good quality oil is STILL GOOD at 15,000 miles in a Hybrid”. Conjecture on top of Confirmation Bias.

Second, letting the OLM getting down to 1% either shows distrust of the algorithm or an abuse of your vehicle if you trust the OLM.

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[Mavster Mechanic]

^what a joker

 

[HeyBales]

Have you seen the posted trip reports in other threads - minimum 50% EV usage.

So ICE usage was at worst 7500 miles, but probably less.

The reports are proof that trust in the OLM was no abuse to the oil or ICE.
These aren't the only reports on hybrids with many miles.

 

[Mavster Mechanic]

I was going to say, (but I got a phone call) that every UOA I've done with hybrids dating back 25 years has shown really long intervals are possible.

Hybrids, are gentle on oil by design.
People should not worry about fringe cases (like the guy making only 3 mile trips every day while being north of the Arctic circle in January) unless they know they are a fringe case.

 

[Chops]

Have you seen the posted trip reports in other threads - minimum 50% EV usage.

So ICE usage was at worst 7500 miles, but probably less.

The reports are proof that trust in the OLM was no abuse to the oil or ICE.
These aren't the only reports on hybrids with many miles.

It is my understanding that the OLM does not measure miles or time or battery conditions - only but monitors the conditions the ICE is experiencing.

Or one year - whichever comes first. If your OLM shows 60% and is one year old - change it per Fords requirements. I fear to think how old MM’s oil was to get down to 1%. Elder abuse.

 

[HeyBales]

It is my understanding that the OLM does not measure miles or time or battery conditions - only but monitors the conditions the ICE is experiencing.

Or one year - whichever comes first. If your OLM shows 60% and is one year old - change it per Fords requirements. I fear to think how old MM’s oil was to get down to 1%. Elder abuse.

Don't look at the report dates for almost 15 months old for the long one! ETA - lab test dates not oil change dates.

ETA - considering how infrequent he fills up - his OLM may have gotten stuck 2 months earlier and never noticed it didn't change!

OLM uses distance, time, and other factors, like idle time is logged, EV miles of course.
MM with a 6K OLM change when towing highway shows the OLM is more than willing to shorten up too.

 

[Mavster Mechanic]

It is my understanding that the OLM does not measure miles or time or battery conditions - only but monitors the conditions the ICE is experiencing.

Or one year - whichever comes first. If your OLM shows 60% and is one year old - change it per Fords requirements. I fear to think how old MM’s oil was to get down to 1%. Elder abuse.

Why do you make such wild assumptions?

As every printed manual says:
Oil changes should be based in time, miles, and conditions.

The oil life monitor can accurately consider all three.
The human can accurately keep track of 2 of 3 in an Ecoboost: Time and Miles.
The human can monitor only time with any reasonable accuracy in a hybrid.

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