Oil life not accurate?

[tamamade]

I've had my 2.0 ecoboost AWD maverick for a little more than a month. Had already put 3k miles on it. Most of them highway(75%).
I just checked oil life on the dash. It says it's still 80%. Thats odd! That means the oil change interval will be over 10k when the car tells you to do an oil change. Is this normal? Should I change the oil at 7.5k no matter what the oil life computer tells me ?

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[Mikeetch]

Per the owners manual

When to Expect the OIL CHANGE REQUIRED Message Interval Vehicle Use and Example 7500–12500 mi (12,000–20,000 km) Normal Normal commuting with highway driving No, or moderate, load or towing Flat to moderately hilly roads No extended idling 5000–7500 mi (8,000–12,000 km) Severe Moderate to heavy load or towing Mountainous or off-road conditions Extended idling Extended hot or cold operation 3000–5000 mi (5,000–8,000 km) Extreme Maximum load or towing Extreme hot or cold operation Extended engine idling

 

[BuddyS]

I'm going by the computer in mine, just as I have for the past 20 years with my Volvos, VWs and Audis. You're going to hear from a lot of people that say "well, I don't care what the book says, I'm doing it every 3k!", and that's their right, but cars and oils today are a totally different thing than they were 30 or 40 years ago. And no manufacturer wants a bad rep for oil/engine issues, so if they had the slightest hesitation about 10K intervals they wouldn't set the intervals that far apart.

 

[Shakesbear]

Picked my Mav up Jan 15. I only have less than 4000 miles on it to date, and the oil life monitor, based upon my driving habits, indicates an oil change will be needed next January. Will probably change it at 7500 miles though.

 

[commadorebob]

Per my dealership: If using full synthetic, first one needs to be swapped out NLT 5,000 miles (manufacturing impurities and all that). After that, the computer status is fine; but don't let it get below 20%.

 

[Hardening2753]

I've had my 2.0 ecoboost AWD maverick for a little more than a month. Had already put 3k miles on it. Most of them highway(75%).
I just checked oil life on the dash. It says it's still 80%. Thats odd! That means the oil change interval will be over 10k when the car tells you to do an oil change. Is this normal? Should I change the oil at 7.5k no matter what the oil life computer tells me ?

Highway miles are pretty easy on engines.

 

[baseballchamps]

I've had my 2.0 ecoboost AWD maverick for a little more than a month. Had already put 3k miles on it. Most of them highway(75%).
I just checked oil life on the dash. It says it's still 80%. Thats odd! That means the oil change interval will be over 10k when the car tells you to do an oil change. Is this normal? Should I change the oil at 7.5k no matter what the oil life computer tells me ?

I don't think Oil and tire status readings are very accurate, Oil seems like an estimate and tire pressure is always overstated by 2 lbs. than what is actually in the tire. I think the program is worthless and if I were you I would change the oil right now if you have never changed it and then every 5000 miles. Good Luck!

 

[skyhawk]

Personally I would do the first oil change at 3k - 5k and from then on follow the maintenance minder.

 

[Old Man]

From Amsoil:
While first-generation oil life monitors were simple, mileage-based systems that prescribed fixed oil-change intervals regardless of operating conditions, today’s systems are far more sophisticated. They monitor several conditions known to reduce oil life, enter those values into an algorithm and return the oil-life percentage you see on your vehicle’s display.

Today, it’s common for an OLM in a vehicle driven mostly under normal service to recommend an oil change after 10,000 miles (16,000 km) or more. They’ve prevented the waste of countless quarts of perfectly good oil over the years.

Oil life monitors track climate, driving habits and other conditions. The algorithm calculates mileage, idle time, engine temperatures, trip times, engine loads, and ignition starts and stops. It then establishes an oil change interval as low as 3,000 miles (4,800 km) and all the way up to 10,000 miles (16,000 km) and more depending on severity of conditions.

 

[MaveLick]

I drove an Ecoboost for less than 70 miles two weeks after an oil change. Oil life indicator showed 96% life left. Then I took the car out of town for 700+ miles. The oil life indicator is now showing 95% or 1% more after adding 700+ miles. The oil indicator seems to be doing its job.

 

[Johnkn]

Ecoboost motors are inherently dirty. Change with a quality filter and oil every 5000 miles...


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[Mikknj]

I'm going by the computer in mine, just as I have for the past 20 years with my Volvos, VWs and Audis. You're going to hear from a lot of people that say "well, I don't care what the book says, I'm doing it every 3k!", and that's their right, but cars and oils today are a totally different thing than they were 30 or 40 years ago. And no manufacturer wants a bad rep for oil/engine issues, so if they had the slightest hesitation about 10K intervals they wouldn't set the intervals that far apart.

The Ecoboost turbos can cook your oil, and the increased cylinder pressures will push more gasoline into the crank case - For the sake of carbon reduction I think it would be wise to shorten the time to oil change interval. ( 12K miles must be too long ) but 3K is too short. It's a personal choice you have to live with. But ensure you understand the technology of your engine as you decide where you fall on the timeframe.

 

[Johnkn]

The Ecoboost turbos can cook your oil, and the increased cylinder pressures will push more gasoline into the crank case - For the sake of carbon reduction I think it would be wise to shorten the time to oil change interval. ( 12K miles must be too long ) but 3K is too short. It's a personal choice you have to live with. But ensure you understand the technology of your engine as you decide where you fall on the timeframe.

LOL


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[NoVaJimmy]

I'm going by the computer in mine, just as I have for the past 20 years with my Volvos, VWs and Audis. You're going to hear from a lot of people that say "well, I don't care what the book says, I'm doing it every 3k!", and that's their right, but cars and oils today are a totally different thing than they were 30 or 40 years ago. And no manufacturer wants a bad rep for oil/engine issues, so if they had the slightest hesitation about 10K intervals they wouldn't set the intervals that far apart.

You have a hybrid, that engine is MUCH less sensitive to good oil, especially since a percentage of your mileage is electric with the ICE not operating. This is very bad advice for ecoboost owners, direct injection and turbochargers don't do well with extended oil changes, especially Ford ecoboost engines. I've already posted my experience getting a used oil analysis with 5k miles on my oil and it was not good. I would say that the vast majority of owners are operating their ecoboost vehicle under the "severe" category at best.

Here it is again; reduced viscosity at operating temps, reduced flashpoint which is most likely the result of too much fuel in the oil, an inherent problem with turbocharged direct injection engines. Change your oil, it's cheap insurance to keep your ecoboost motor running. This is my third ecoboost 2.0 and both previous engines went well above 100k miles with no issues

 

[Montana]

I think we made it 4 days before this new oil thread.

Congratulations MTC. New record!

They (the manufacturers) only need it to last as long as the warranty, then it's on you. I'd personally never go 10k with a vehicle I plan on keeping beyond the factory warranty. My driving habits, like the majority, are in the extreme service intervals due to weather alone. You do you though. The cost of oil changes more frequently is cheap insurance especially if you are capable of doing them yourself.

Also, to those pushing the limits, good luck when your PTU/RDU grenades itself from running less than half a quart/just under a quart of fluid at such high temps inside differentials beyond 30k... Numerous reputable FORD techs disclose this info and it's readily available for you to research for yourselves. Or... just take the manufacturers word for it lol. Oil is not the only fluid that needs changing... #lifetimefluids

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