Service engine oil light is a joke

[Fcnrwy]

My first warning came on, about 6 months after I did my 2nd oil change.
The second warning came on, about 2 weeks ago... about 6 hours AFTER I did my 3rd oil change..

Jerry

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[Probity]

None of you are explaining why the system would tell me to change the oil after 2000 miles unless it is driven simply by the date.

The IOLM's a tool/an aid/a guideline/a reminder, it is not a software-driven version of something like a Blackstone oil analysis, use (or don’t use) the IOLM accordingly. Just like that little sticker on your windshield from the dealership or oil change joint (if you don’t change your own oil/filter). If the IOLM ‘warning’ bothers you, reset it to 100%.

Post #26 gave you the general explanation why the IOLM might tell you an oil change is due after only 2000 miles or so.

I’m a low annual mileage driver, have a little experience with Ford (F150’s) and GM (Silverados) versions of ‘intelligent’ (algo driven) oil life monitors. Only a couple of things I can say with 100% certainty:
1. Yes time interval matters, especially that ‘one year since oil change’ milestone. If you changed your oil on 01/01/2024 and reset the OLM to 100%, and then for example only drove a total of 5 miles over the course of a year, on 01/01/2025 your OLM % remaining oil life will be zero. That’s the way both Ford and GM’s OLM’s work, it is what it is. Doesn’t mean your engine oil really has expended all its additives or needs changing, it’s a rule-of-thumb reminder they’ve decided to program into how the OLM works.

2. I can say with 100% certainty that idle time/temperature/engine load (i.e. towing) greatly impact (negatively) what happens to OLM % remaining oil life. Have been stuck in monster 6+ hour traffic jams on interstates, hot/humid ambient temps causing me to run a/c a lot at idle/near idle conditions, at only ~2500 miles since last oil change the OLM told me I need to do it again. Similar when doing extended (many hundreds of miles) towing in warm/hot temps.

3. As mentioned above, the time interval (months) per x miles traveled had a big impact on how quickly the OLM % remaining oil life drops. If you drive ~1000 miles over a 6 month time period vs. driving ~1000 miles over a 6 day time period, the OLM % oil life ‘expended’ rate of change will be very different.

Case in point – I have a new Silverado I don’t usually drive much. Before my 1st oil change I was at ~5 months of ownership, 1234 miles/43.5 engine hours (~28.4 mph overall average), OLM at 64%. So, for my 'city' driving, 36%/1234 mi. = ~2.9% oil life 'expended' per 100 miles of (mainly) city driving over a ~5 month period.​

​

Changed my oil/filter (reset OLM to 100%) before a long-ish road trip. Made a 2166 mile R/T over ~5 days, 34.5 engine hours (~63 mph overall average, mainly 70-80 mph on interstate highways with some rest stops, minor traffic delays in large cities, etc). OLM was 99% at start of trip, 71% at end, so 28%/2166 miles = ~1.3% oil life ‘expended’ per 100 miles of (mainly) highway travel over a 5 day period.​

At the end of the day, you’ll decide what OCI you want, what brand of oil/filter you’ll use, whether or not you find value in things like a Blackstone oil analysis, etc. Wondering why the IOLM works the way it does is kinda like "why do bars have parking lots when drunk driving is illegal" - because.....

Happy Trails.

 

[B2000]

The IOLM's a tool/an aid/a guideline/a reminder, it is not a software-driven version of something like a Blackstone oil analysis, use (or don’t use) the IOLM accordingly. Just like that little sticker on your windshield from the dealership or oil change joint (if you don’t change your own oil/filter). If the IOLM ‘warning’ bothers you, reset it to 100%.

Post #26 gave you the general explanation why the IOLM might tell you an oil change is due after only 2000 miles or so.

I’m a low annual mileage driver, have a little experience with Ford (F150’s) and GM (Silverados) versions of ‘intelligent’ (algo driven) oil life monitors. Only a couple of things I can say with 100% certainty:
1. Yes time interval matters, especially that ‘one year since oil change’ milestone. If you changed your oil on 01/01/2024 and reset the OLM to 100%, and then for example only drove a total of 5 miles over the course of a year, on 01/01/2025 your OLM % remaining oil life will be zero. That’s the way both Ford and GM’s OLM’s work, it is what it is. Doesn’t mean your engine oil really has expended all its additives or needs changing, it’s a rule-of-thumb reminder they’ve decided to program into how the OLM works.

2. I can say with 100% certainty that idle time/temperature/engine load (i.e. towing) greatly impact (negatively) what happens to OLM % remaining oil life. Have been stuck in monster 6+ hour traffic jams on interstates, hot/humid ambient temps causing me to run a/c a lot at idle/near idle conditions, at only ~2500 miles since last oil change the OLM told me I need to do it again. Similar when doing extended (many hundreds of miles) towing in warm/hot temps.

3. As mentioned above, the time interval (months) per x miles traveled had a big impact on how quickly the OLM % remaining oil life drops. If you drive ~1000 miles over a 6 month time period vs. driving ~1000 miles over a 6 day time period, the OLM % oil life ‘expended’ rate of change will be very different.

Case in point – I have a new Silverado I don’t usually drive much. Before my 1st oil change I was at ~5 months of ownership, 1234 miles/43.5 engine hours (~28.4 mph overall average), OLM at 64%. So, for my 'city' driving, 36%/1234 mi. = ~2.9% oil life 'expended' per 100 miles of (mainly) city driving over a ~5 month period.​

​

Changed my oil/filter (reset OLM to 100%) before a long-ish road trip. Made a 2166 mile R/T over ~5 days, 34.5 engine hours (~63 mph overall average, mainly 70-80 mph on interstate highways with some rest stops, minor traffic delays in large cities, etc). OLM was 99% at start of trip, 71% at end, so 28%/2166 miles = ~1.3% oil life ‘expended’ per 100 miles of (mainly) highway travel over a 5 day period.​

At the end of the day, you’ll decide what OCI you want, what brand of oil/filter you’ll use, whether or not you find value in things like a Blackstone oil analysis, etc. Wondering why the IOLM works the way it does is kinda like "why do bars have parking lots when drunk driving is illegal" - because.....

Happy Trails.

I agree with most of your points. My point- after talking to friends who are a master mechanic and long term service advisor- is that changing oil based on time is not necessary and a system that is based on time is not valid- any more than the sticker on the windshield.

I will probably do it anyway unless I figure out it won't void my warranty. I am tempted to do an oil analysis just to see how "worn out" that 2000 mile oil is.

 

[Probity]

I agree with most of your points. My point- after talking to friends who are a master mechanic and long term service advisor- is that changing oil based on time is not necessary and a system that is based on time is not valid- any more than the sticker on the windshield.

I will probably do it anyway unless I figure out it won't void my warranty. I am tempted to do an oil analysis just to see how "worn out" that 2000 mile oil is.

^^Agree (mostly). Time definitely an important part of how Ford’s OLM algos work, but it’s beyond me knowing what kind of weighting is given to time compared to engine/idle hours, temp, etc. I used to be a lot more involved with/concerned about trying to know/control all the parameters surrounding oil/filter changes - OCI miles, syn blends vs full syn oil, additives performance and testing, base number, viscosity index and modifiers, NOACK volatility (I really got off on a tangent on this on my first DI-only twin turbo F150), even shelf-life of the oil I purchased (yes I started out being very OCD), ad nauseum. And of course, looking into ‘catch-cans’ on my forced induction engine cars and trucks (principle is sound/valid from my research but based on my actual drive usage – I’m not a drive-it-‘till-the-wheels-fall-off guy – I don’t need them).

Over the years I’ve now become pretty laid back/not OCD about all of this. OCI – I use the OLM as a general reminder but rarely go more than ~5000 miles between changes. Whatever oil brand I use meets Ford (or GM or Hyundai or whatever my vehicle OEM is) specifications (and says so on the label). I use synthetics because not much more $ than a syn blend (although warranty-wise, Ford states Motorcraft Syn-Blend is fine). Oil shelf life issues - 99.999999% chance will never come into play for anyone (unless you're determined to use that dusty ?? year old jug you found buried in your garage like this BITOG guy (post #13) found....yuk Motor oil shelf life | BobIsTheOilGuy ).

I tend to do most (but not all) oil changes myself, keep receipts, take odometer/OLM photos etc as a ‘just-in-case’ for that 1 in 10,000 chance I’ll need powertrain warranty work done.

 

[Montana]

I doubt I'll ever see said light. I change my oil early and often. Every 4,000-5,000 miles. In my experience, the oil life monitor usually says I have about 50 percent oil life remaining when I change it.

Yeah, I know, maybe I don't have to do it. Fresh oil never hurt an engine, and I'd like it to run for a long time.

Yea same. I've never even cared to read it or remember where it was when I reset it. Forgot to reset it last oil change too.

 

[The Real Maverick]

I agree with most of your points. My point- after talking to friends who are a master mechanic and long term service advisor- is that changing oil based on time is not necessary and a system that is based on time is not valid- any more than the sticker on the windshield.

I will probably do it anyway unless I figure out it won't void my warranty. I am tempted to do an oil analysis just to see how "worn out" that 2000 mile oil is.

The only intelligent thing you've said in this thread.

And old master mechanics are just that. Old.

These trucks, engines, and oil formulations are new.

I hope your "old" master mechanics and service advisors are not telling you to use leaded gas, because, ya know, it lubricates better.

 

[Bob zimmerman]

The only intelligent thing you've said in this thread.

And old master mechanics are just that. Old.

These trucks, engines, and oil formulations are new.

I hope your "old" master mechanics and service advisors are not telling you to use leaded gas, because, ya know, it lubricates better.

I’m new to the forum and I have now figured out who the know it all A-hole on the forums is. What’s with your attitude?
Super turned off by your remarks to others. FYI

 

[HeyBales]

None of you are explaining why the system would tell me to change the oil after 2000 miles unless it is driven simply by the date.

Because eventually it is.
But not at the start - notice next time when it's hanging out in the 90-80's% left. (app still gives an end date of 1yr, and likely mileage at that point based on current usage, but the % math doesn't fit)
At some point the OLM stopped going by miles & usage and switched to that 1 yr limit.

Because as other post brought out clearly - it doesn't have sensors for actual oil quality - just sensors to get an idea of usage type.
Eventually they've decided the EB needs 1 year limit even if no extreme usage.
Hybrid they allow a bit more time for max, decided by engine hours probably as part of math.

ETA:
You seem to have ignored all the posts even in this thread where ones are informing you of their stats that proves it is not "driven simply by the date".
Unless you mean in your case specifically - in which case at this point yes it is.
1 yr max.
So all you have to do is follow your heard advice and go for 5 years out with 10K miles on the engine - you'll be out of warranty so it won't matter.

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