Oil Change Opinions

[rjs]

Sounds good MrPlow, I will cgange mine at around 5000kms.

[PURSUTE]

I agree with most of you on this one.

I'm sure that the 15k service would be OK, but that interval is a balance between reliability and lower running costs. An earlyer change can't hurt, as long as you give it a few thow to bed in. After it's bedded in, the more frequent the changes the better IMO.

As with every car I have owned, from old sh*tters to the 6t, I will be changing oil and filter every 5k. I will be using Mobil 1. I may, however give it 7k or so before the initial change, but I am keeping a very close eye in the condition of the oil as well as how quickly the light goes off on first start.

This is a personal thing though. I am taking it fairly easy on mine for the first few thou, keeping the load lowish, and not reving it too hard. Damn it's a hard thing to do, but I intend to keep mine for the long run, and a little restraint now can't hurt, and will hopefully pay off in the long run.

I think if you intend to give it heaps right from the word go, as many people do, an earlyer first change is probably a better idea.

[Cashie]

I think I'll be getting my oil changed at the 3000 kms service.

Whilst washing and giving the car a once over yesterday, I noticed a small amount (about three pieces) of white metal swarf <sp> in the rocker cover directly under the filler cap.

I was a bit surprised and if I found that how much more is running around in the engine??

I have done about 1700 kms and will definitely change the oil/filter at 3000 kms.

[Guest Isher]

Guys,

Here is my take on the topic..

If Ford (like many other car manufacturers today) are increasing the service interval (read oil change interval) from 10K to 15K they must have good reasons to do so. This decision would be based on some sound engineering design principles.

Basically the contaminates in used engine oil will have resulted from a number of things:

1. Carbon and other products of combustion.

2. metal contaminates from wearing of components etc...

I'm no mechanic but I believe that the factors that come into play WRT engine oil are largely:

1. The circulating volume of oil available to the engine.

2. The specifications of the oil filter (filter size, life etc).

The filter in any engine would be designed to remove contaminates over a certain particle size. Ford would have taken these into consideration when designing the engine.

Sure, a lot of the enthusiasts out there will want to change their engine oil every 3K with some elaborate fully synthetic gunk (and run extra virgin olive oil in their gear box :lol: ) but it is probably a waste of money. It won't hurt the engine, may even be slightly beneficial but is it worth the cost?

Considering that Ford warranty the engine it would be in their benefit to specify the oil change more frequently. It is of no cost to them as the owner pays for future oil changes.

Why don't Ford do this? Marketing... If my memory serves me right Expensive Daewoo has extended the service interval in their cars from 10K to 15K. They achieved this by increasing the oil capacity of their engines so that they could reduce the frequency of oil changes. More oil in the engine results in longer oil life.

Considering that most people would go to a mechanic to get their oil changed (probably as part of a routine service) the total cost of ownership of a vehicle is greatly reduced if the interval between routine services is increased from 10K to 15K. I would imagine that this would be particularly important for fleet buyers such as rental car companies. Hence the marketing push..

In short, I don't think its worth the effort and money to change the oil more frequently than specified. I think it might just make some people feel better to do so.

Just my thoughts..

Isher

[rjs]

Good thought there Isher, I guess it all comes down to personal preference, driving conditions and characteristics, also making close observations around 3000kms to ascertain any changes in the oil, coarsness from the engine etc...

[Guest falchoon58]

On the subject of oil/changes.

1/ Don't use Mobil 1 as it is not the correct grade. Ask Porsche Australia why 911 turbos have an oil level gauge and why they use 1 litre per 5000km of oil.

2/ Any turbo or performence engine will need more frequent oil changes due to driving conditions. The harder you drive the more changes are req. Just check the condition of the oil. The "browner" it gets, the more crap it is holding in "suspension" within itself.

3/150000km services are for marketing purposes only. It sounds good to the fleet buyer!

4/Heat is the turbos worst enemy. Oil can actually turn to carbon if subjected to extreme heat. Just imaging to oil flow around the turbo when you have a solid material(carbon) restricting flow.

5/ LET COMMON SENCE PREVAIL,IE IF IT SOUNDS,SMELLS LIKE sh*t, IT PROBABLY IS!

[DavoWA]

Whoa - I dug this one back up, and before anyone asks, I do this kind of thing for a living.

I have just done an oil analysis on my engine oil after the 3000 km service, and yes I DID put new synthetic oil in it.

The oil analysis was quite surprising, showing that the factory run-in procedure must be quite good, as the oil analysis results showed respectable wear metals for a new engine, in fact somewhat lower than I would have expected to see.

25 parts per million of Iron and Lead (a little bit higher than I would like, but OK), 1 ppm Chrome, 6 ppm Aluminium, 33 ppm Copper and 1.5% fuel.

Although it will take a couple more samples to show a trend, as an initial sample it shows tat the 15000km service might not be as bad as first suspected.

Rather than me rabbit on, I'll just wait for anyone to ask any questions and I'll answer them if I can.

[Redhawk]

Would like you to post the trends Dave.

I got my oil and filter changed at 3000k, got the filter home and ripped it open and was very suprised at the little (visible) amount of metal in it, practically none. I got the oil replaced with a Mobil mineral oil and will change oil to Castrol Formula R (or better!!!) and filter at 7000k.

At least this car has given me the incentive to modify my ramps to take the lower front end :D

Hey Dave what level of concern is 1.5% fuel dilution, with regards to lower viscosity? At what % dilution level would you start worrying?

[DavoWA]

  Quote

Hey Dave what level of concern is 1.5% fuel dilution, with regards to lower viscosity? At what % dilution level would you start worrying?

1.5% for a petrol engine during mostly city driving, is pretty good.

I get a bit nervous if it climbs much above 2.5 - 3%.

It is this fuel dilution during city driving that generally leads to people thinking that the car has "used oil" during an extended country run, when in fact they have only evaporated off the fuel that has been keeping the oil topped up during the city cycle.

As a matter of interest, the synthetic that I have used has a viscosity rating of SAE 10w/60.

The engine may be expected to "drink" a bit if the 5w/xx or 0w/xx versions were used.

[Guest]

Silwerhawk,Ford told me the donks are run with bedin oil then that is dumped at the factroy. that's why I only changed my filter at the 3000 check. I reckon 1500 k oil change is BS! Ill do it at every 5000.