Question about scheduled maintenance

[althanis]

I have a question about scheduled maintenance. This is what the manual says:

 

Your vehicle is equipped with an Intelligent Oil-Life Monitor that determines when you should change the engine oil based on how you use your vehicle. By using several important factors in its calculations, the monitor helps reduce the cost of owning your vehicle and reduces environmental waste at the same time.

 

This means you do not have to remember to change the oil on a mileage-based schedule. Your vehicle lets you know when an oil change is due by displaying a message in the information display.

 

 

It then goes on to say that under normal use (which qualifies for me) I can expect the prompt to appear between 12,000-16,000km. If they light doesn't come on, I shouldn't exceed 16,000km or 1 year.

 

Now, we bought the Edge brand new last summer, and my wife took it in yesterday to take off winter tires and decided that since it was at 14,000km we'd have the scheduled maintenance done even though the light hadn't come on. So we took it to the Ford dealership at Thorncrest Sherway and they were really nice.

 

However, they put a sticker on saying that we should have the oil changed again at 22,000km (that's after 8,000km of driving) or in October (after 6 months).

 

So finally, the question: why are they saying we should have the oil changed so quickly? Is it the type of oil they used this time? Did we totally misunderstand the schedule and we shouldn't have waited for 14,000km to have it maintained?

 

 

[akirby]

Simple. Dealerships are independent businesses - they’re not owned by Ford. So they can recommend whatever they want.

 

In this case they are recommending you line their pockets with additional cash unnecessarily. You’re lucky they only did 8000 km. In the states some are still recommending 3K mile oil changes which haven’t been necessary in a couple of decades.

 

Bottom line - ignore whatever they put on the sticker. It means nothing.

[WWWPerfA_ZN0W]

Not a bad recommendation for 8K Km. But as akirby says, the IOLM is a good measure to stick by. One way or the other, you should decide on a routine, be it time, mileage or IOLM prompt.

[akirby]

But almost NEVER some sticker from a dealer or oil change place.....

[enigma-2]

Short but authoritive article of how oil monitoring systems work.

 

https://www.edmunds.com/car-care/oil-life-monitoring-systems.html

[Mikula]

I read an article once (wish I could find it) that was talking about how the EPA and some other environmental type agencies were the ones that began the switch from 3k mile oil changes to the new standard of... well, whatever it is now. What I gathered from reading the article, is that the 3k mile recommendation was there, because it actually had merit. It was suggested to be changed because of the argument on fossil fuels, pollution, and baby seals (or something of that nature). I'm sure it wasn't the only reason the 3k mile oil change went out the window, but it makes sense. Though engines and oils are built quite differently these days, I still agree with the old way (sort of)

 

I won't be caught dead with oil that has went unchanged for longer than 5k miles (8k kilometers)

 

Am I overkill? Yes, you bet I am. Because I've seen the difference between engines that get regular "early" oil changes, and ones that have stretched that out to 8k miles or more between changes. Is it catastrophic to leave the oil in for that long? absolutely not. Akirby is spot on about the sticker meaning nothing.

 

Here is my unproven theory/thoughts... If changing the oil every 5k miles or less yields an extra 30k miles of longevity out of my motor, I'm fine with that. For me, that is 2 extra years of driving the vehicle. for the $90 a year it costs to change the oil at 5k miles, I'll do it.

[akirby]

There is a lot of oil testing analysis out there if you take the time to read through it. That will tell you if going longer than 5K miles is necessary or overkill. No need to guess.

[Mikula]

There is a lot of oil testing analysis out there if you take the time to read through it. That will tell you if going longer than 5K miles is necessary or overkill. No need to guess.

I've read, and most tell you exactly what I said. Changing early is good, helpful, but not "necessary" by their standards.

[WWWPerfA_ZN0W]

The 2011MY is an exception to the working IOLM, so it is good to monitor and verify your driving habits against the IOLM's take on oil life before relying on the IOLM. Should not be an issue any more, but no harm in being proactive.

[enigma-2]

I won't be caught dead with oil that has went unchanged for longer than 5k miles (8k kilometers)

I change mine once a year whether it needs it or not. Same time I change my underwear. lol.

 

Actually every 6k (dealer sticker).

Edited April 11, 2018 by enigma-2

[macbwt]

I have a question about scheduled maintenance. This is what the manual says:

 

 

It then goes on to say that under normal use (which qualifies for me) I can expect the prompt to appear between 12,000-16,000km. If they light doesn't come on, I shouldn't exceed 16,000km or 1 year.

 

Now, we bought the Edge brand new last summer, and my wife took it in yesterday to take off winter tires and decided that since it was at 14,000km we'd have the scheduled maintenance done even though the light hadn't come on. So we took it to the Ford dealership at Thorncrest Sherway and they were really nice.

 

However, they put a sticker on saying that we should have the oil changed again at 22,000km (that's after 8,000km of driving) or in October (after 6 months).

 

So finally, the question: why are they saying we should have the oil changed so quickly? Is it the type of oil they used this time? Did we totally misunderstand the schedule and we shouldn't have waited for 14,000km to have it maintained?

 

 

Here is some information Edge Specific on oil testing and used samples to help determine your intervals.

https://www.mactgarage.com/oil-analysis

[chefduane]

How is the 2011MY IOLM an exception? I typically change at 5k intervals regardless but I am interested in the reasoning for the comment.

[akirby]

How is the 2011MY IOLM an exception? I typically change at 5k intervals regardless but I am interested in the reasoning for the comment.

It only seems to use mileage even though Ford says it’s a more sophisticated algorithm.

[chefduane]

Yes, I just set it to 5k and it starts giving notifications around 4500 miles. If there are some other notifications or oil life parameters available, I've never seen them.

[akirby]

Yes, I just set it to 5k and it starts giving notifications around 4500 miles. If there are some other notifications or oil life parameters available, I've never seen them.

 

You won’t see them. It’s part of the internal algorithm that it uses to determine oil life. It’s supposed to take into account temperature and idling time e.g. If it’s working then you’ll see different intervals based on driving conditions.