My truck is only a few weeks old, but I've already racked up 1,800 miles. Should I trust the oil life % indicator that the digital readout gives me. Mine currently says that I have 85% oil life left. If that is true, and my oil life keeps reducing at the same rate per mile, I won't reach 0% oil life until around 10,000 miles. Could that be correct? No way in heck would I feel comfortable letting my brand new truck go 10,000 miles before its first oil change.

 

Personally, I would do the first change well before the life indicator recommends it. While there is not nearly as much break-in wear as there used to be, I still think it is good practice. After that, I would go by the oil life calculator.

 

I don't put too many miles on mine, so I'd change once a year, or follow the Oil Life Monitor.
For the first change and any after that, it won't hurt to change it early if that's what it takes to make you feel happy.

 

As mentioned, if it worries you can do it before the OLM. I did my first at 4700 and change it every 5k. This is way overkill and I could probably go 9-10k between them. Helps me sleep at night.

 

I did my 1st at 5000 miles and have used 10,000 mile OCI's since then. Oils, filters and engine technology have come a looooong way.

 

 

Then don't do it.


I did, followed up by a UOA.... 10k is just fine.
Been following the OLM ever since.




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6K to 7K dump cycle for me ever since the second change. The OLM still says that I have about 30% or so but I don't care.

 

I will change my oil between 5 and 7.5 thousand miles, depending on the towing mix. So far, I've only needed one oil change, but the next change I think I will put in full synthetic oil, but stay on the same 5 to 7.5 schedule.

 

What he said!! While I'm sure they take great care in sterilizing (removing all 'fines') all internal parts, still a good idea to change out filter and oil after first 5K miles. Then use the oil life calculator.

 

So 10,000 miles is normal between oil changes? I guess I need to get with the times. I'm used to changing my oil every 3,000. My previous ride is a 2000 expedition (I still have it). I change the oil in it every 3,000 miles, without fail. It's currently got 340,000 miles on it and is still going strong with all the original power train. Having all of that, I guess times change and they have designed these new trucks to go much further between oil changes. It's going to take me a while to get used to that.

 

It's not just the trucks that have changed. Oil has improved a lot in the last thirty years. Even the bottom of the barrel cheapo conventional oils are very good these days.

 

This has been talked about quite a bit on this forum.

I personally did my first oil change with only 480 miles on the truck. The Ford service writer said "You know you only have 480 miles on your truck right?" To which I replied of course I do

After that first change I have gone with the OLM for oil changes. I did a Blackstone oil sample and they even thought I could have gone another 1,000 miles without issue.

Why did I change the oil the first time so soon? The old school thinking of getting those metal fragments out as soon as I could during break in got the best of me. I just wouldn't be able to sleep at night knowing I didn't do it. Honestly like has been mentioned before the tolerances of the new motors is a lot better now and the oils are better. These newer motors do not break in like the motors of old.

Even knowing all that I still had to do it for my own piece of mind. According to Ford they want you to use the OLM including the first oil change because they still have the thought that you are using a "break in oil" That makes me when I hear that.

It's all up to you what makes you feel better for your truck, odds are you are not going to keep your truck for 200,000 miles so what difference does it really make?

Good luck!

 

FWIW, all the factory fill's that I have seen tested, show to be 5-20 instead of the recommended 5-30.
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That's how I do it. New oil is good for her!