Confusion about scheduled maintenance intervals

[The Real Maverick]

You can change oil every 1,000 miles and have a major engine failure before 40,000 on the Odo.

You can change oil every 20,000 miles and never have any troubles for 400,000 miles.

So much is out of your control.
People like to believe they have more control than they really do.

The correct oil change interval is the one that keeps your mind from going boom.

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[HeyBales]

I talked to the dealer today who said it's basically "you gotta get an oil change within every 4000-6000 miles to keep the extended warranty valid". I think it's actually supposed to be 7500k according to the paperwork they gave me when I bought it but I'm not gonna make a big deal over an extra 2500 miles, I just gonna bring the thing in every 5k miles and not have to worry about it. 5k get an oil change, 10k get the "scheduled maintenance" as indicated on the Ford Pass app (which includes another oil change), 15k oil change, 20k scheduled maintenance, etc

That way I don't even have to worry about not meeting some specifically interval outlined by the warranty

I wonder if that is for their dealership only "special powertrain warranty" where they have to do the maintenance also?

I got one of those free from dealer, I failed to read the fine print of what's required - but the bold print was only they could do the work and cover the warranty, for anything in the list that fell outside the normal warranty.
If I move far away - it's no good.

But I bought an extended Ford warranty thru Grainger - so the normal things apply - follow the stated maintenance intervals. Which ain't 5K on a hybrid, unless the OLM says to. And I can do the services myself. So much better.

 

[ZH84]

I wonder if that is for their dealership only "special powertrain warranty" where they have to do the maintenance also?

I got one of those free from dealer, I failed to read the fine print of what's required - but the bold print was only they could do the work and cover the warranty, for anything in the list that fell outside the normal warranty.
If I move far away - it's no good.

But I bought an extended Ford warranty thru Grainger - so the normal things apply - follow the stated maintenance intervals. Which ain't 5K on a hybrid, unless the OLM says to. And I can do the services myself. So much better.

Yeah it's from the dealer but technically it's from this insurance company called Premiere. He did tell me when I paid for the truck that I could take it to any Ford dealer or even do it myself if I keep the receipts. I realize now what I should have done was called this insurance place directly. The paperwork I signed mentions all this stuff about "maintenances must be done at the specified service interval" but there's no mileage requirements or intervals listed anywhere. The dealer said "just bring it in every 5000 miles" so that's what I'll do. I was kinda hoping when I got it that I'd be able to get like 11k miles between oil changes like I've heard some people do but I'd rather be safe than sorry

 

[HeyBales]

Yeah it's from the dealer but technically it's from this insurance company called Premiere. He did tell me when I paid for the truck that I could take it to any Ford dealer or even do it myself if I keep the receipts. I realize now what I should have done was called this insurance place directly. The paperwork I signed mentions all this stuff about "maintenances must be done at the specified service interval" but there's no mileage requirements or intervals listed anywhere. The dealer said "just bring it in every 5000 miles" so that's what I'll do. I was kinda hoping when I got it that I'd be able to get like 11k miles between oil changes like I've heard some people do but I'd rather be safe than sorry

Ahhh - did you get the 1 yr one for other things too, like road hazard, windshield glass, dents, lost key fob?
That one was nice.

 

[ZH84]

Ahhh - did you get the 1 yr one for other things too, like road hazard, windshield glass, dents, lost key fob?
That one was nice.

No, there was a more expensive plan that covered that stuff like dents, key fob, tires, etc but it was $4500 and my regular car insurance covers all that stuff already.

 

[jcs]

I have close to 120k on a 2017 Subaru Forester and I do the 5k motor oil interval 50k on coolant, and differentials and 30k on brakes. I haven't had a single issue with that vehicle.

 

[The Real Maverick]

Not arguing with your 5k because I do that also but how many miles have you racked up on 1 car? Easy to say "I change it every 5k and never had an engine failure" if you trade them off before 80k miles.

Exactly.

However with my ESCAPE hybrid, very similar to these, I routinely went 15,000 miles with Mobil 1 and the Escape was fine at 250,000 miles when someone hit it and turned the original battery into a taco shell.

 

[skinnyboy]

I am shocked, SHOCKED I say that a mechanic or service garage would recommend routine maintenance needs done twice as often as the manufacturer. You don;t think it is to generate business and revenue do you?

They didn't recommend it. I was talking to the tech. off hand. He knows I do my own maintenance and I was getting his personal opinion. He doesn't do oil changes, so has no skin in the game.

You do you, but might be worth listening to people in the field.



Cheers,.

 

[MakinDoForNow]

On one of my 2022 hybrids the OLM went to less than 5% remaining oil life at ONE YEAR from "the in-service date". Pop up said to change oil! My backup hybrid had about 875 miles on it!

 

[Maverick123]

Extened oil change intervals cause Autism.

... and spelling mistakes?

 

[Carlitos_92]

Exactly.

However with my ESCAPE hybrid, very similar to these, I routinely went 15,000 miles with Mobil 1 and the Escape was fine at 250,000 miles when someone hit it and turned the original battery into a taco shell.

I had over 175,000 miles on my 2014 Acura RDX, and I never changed any fluids more often than what the "maintenance minder" told me to. That usually meant over 10,000 miles between oil changes. I just used Mobil 1 from Walmart at whatever viscosity Acura specified. The vehicle didn't burn or drip a drop of oil, and I would still have it (instead of the Maverick) if it hadn't been totaled by an F-250 last year.

But I hear there are some opinions on YouTube...

 

[HeyBales]

Brakes are nice because something physical to see that it's time - the likely groove is gone.
Even then, sometimes there is some decent meat left on them.
But since rarely is someone looking, got have the squealers.

Oil & tranny, hard to see if the additives are about done for.
Would be nice to implement, a purple hue that shows up when the additive package is about gone.
Kicker though - still relies on someone checking the dipstick to see it's purple now.
I'm sure a sensor could be designed for that.

The times I"ve seen a hood open at the gas station besides mine, perhaps couple times. Tad unfair now too - only have to stop monthly!

Brake fluid is supposed to be checked at intervals - moisture meter should be part of that check.
Coolant strength is called out too - am I the only one getting out the refractometer to do that?
I'm logging those to see how it goes on these new systems - are they sealed better?

 

[The Real Maverick]

Yes yes no maybe, and I heard Stella got her groove back.

 

[Gpp]

Years ago a old timer mechanic told me he never had a customer who complained if his vehicle got serviced a little early and about why it took him a little longer to service a car!they new when he got done it was checked over from front to back!
I been doing the same for about 50 years and im sticking to my ways of doing it!when was the last time you saw someone check the air in your spare tire?power steering fluid and cleaned your windshield when you where donelittle things mean alot sometimes

 

[The Real Maverick]

A bit more info on why I don't trust the manufacturers 10k miles oil intervals. The Maverick Hybrid has the Duratec 25 engine in it, it is the same engine as in the Escape. The manual for the 2009 Escape estates an oil interval of 7,500 miles. The EPA regulations and marketing are the reason for this change.

YOU POSTED A DOCUMENT FOR A GAS ONLY VEHICLE - NOT A HYBRID!

The Ford Recommended Oil Change intervals for HYBRIDS has ALWAYS been 10,000 miles, dating back to the 2005 model year.

20 years of data. Millions of HYBRIDS with no widespread engine trouble with 10k OCI.

If a 20 year "test" with ~2 Million engines is not a fair test; what is???

Cheers.

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