Life Time Oil Changes
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New User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: Boise
Life Time Oil Changes
When I bought my 02 7.3 Ex new off the dealers lot I paid an extra $598.00 for a lifetime oil and lube package (3 months or 3000 miles max 4 per year). In checking today it seems that I have now had my Ex serviced 36 times since it was new averaging 3 month and 1800 miles between oil changes. At todays price of $79.95 for an oil change that would have come to $2878.20 for the same services I paid $598.00 for. Finally I feel like I am one up on the dealership!
Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,066
Likes: 4
From: North Texas
Love it. I got "free" lifetime changes with a 2000 Focus we bought new and kept for over 100K miles. I think they were sick of me coming in every 3K. For a while during its life that was once a month! I now drive my primary truck so little, that I am comfortable changing the oil and filter twice a year. 
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,632
Likes: 4
I bought a new car that came with "free lifetime tires". I learned the hard way that the program was not through the dealership. The company that was administering the program went backrupt. Last time I heard the class action lawsuit wasn't making any headway at all. 
A new Tahoe I just bought came with free annual Virginia state inspections and oil changes. I guess I will see how this incentive pans out in the next year or three.
Most dealerships hope you sell or trade the vehicle before you get one up on them!
A new Tahoe I just bought came with free annual Virginia state inspections and oil changes. I guess I will see how this incentive pans out in the next year or three.
Most dealerships hope you sell or trade the vehicle before you get one up on them!
Cargo Master
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,822
Likes: 0
From: Minnesota
I agree! It's a good deal, but unless it's someone I trust unconditionally, I'd rather do it myself.
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,678
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From: Rapid City SD
yea I think they want me to trade in the bug, but the TDI is still running strong @ 140000 miles and my wife loves it... Been getting my free oil change regularly...
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Senior User
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 155
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From: West Chester, PA
I knew a guy that bought a new 98 ford mustang GT conv that came with free tires for life....fine print: as long as he had his oil changed "every 3k/3mos. whichever came first" at the dealership.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 763
Likes: 3
From: Rio Linda, Ca
My 2000 goes in every 3 months or 3k like clockwork. I even had a company work truck for a few years and still managed to bring her on in with about 14 miles round trip from the last oil change.
Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,066
Likes: 4
From: North Texas
My habits are changing slowly. I am reluctantly letting the Mountaineer decide when it wants its oil changed and it has been going to over 7K miles before asking for one! It monitors all sorts of parameters to determine oil life and as long as you follow it, you are still within the factory warranty. The oil still comes out fairly "clean" after these extended intervals.
When I had my 05 F150, it sat so much, I would change it about twice a year, it always came out clean for the 6 years I owned it. I ran the truck at least every week up to temperature. The big oil companies would love for us to keep doing the 3K oil changes, but with todays engine technology, I think its a huge waste.
When I had my 05 F150, it sat so much, I would change it about twice a year, it always came out clean for the 6 years I owned it. I ran the truck at least every week up to temperature. The big oil companies would love for us to keep doing the 3K oil changes, but with todays engine technology, I think its a huge waste.
Hotshot
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 13,484
Likes: 42
From: Stevens Point, WI
This tires for life deal, what happens if you burn the tires off? Or say you took the car to lapping days that ate a set of tires every weekend?
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,388
Likes: 2
From: Greensboro, NC
My habits are changing slowly. I am reluctantly letting the Mountaineer decide when it wants its oil changed and it has been going to over 7K miles before asking for one! It monitors all sorts of parameters to determine oil life and as long as you follow it, you are still within the factory warranty. The oil still comes out fairly "clean" after these extended intervals.
When I had my 05 F150, it sat so much, I would change it about twice a year, it always came out clean for the 6 years I owned it. I ran the truck at least every week up to temperature. The big oil companies would love for us to keep doing the 3K oil changes, but with todays engine technology, I think its a huge waste.
When I had my 05 F150, it sat so much, I would change it about twice a year, it always came out clean for the 6 years I owned it. I ran the truck at least every week up to temperature. The big oil companies would love for us to keep doing the 3K oil changes, but with todays engine technology, I think its a huge waste.
While the 3k oil change may not be something you agree with - the fact remains that certain oils are only designed for specific intervals and the additives can and do break down. While you may be protecting your vehicle warranty, you aren't doing yourself any favors if you plan to keep the vehicle after the warranty expires. Longer drain interval oils are available and they aren't that much more than the base conventional oils. If you plan to have extended drain intervals - get a synthetic like Mobil 1 or Amsoil and use a filter designed for the interval you plan to go. There is a difference!
Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,066
Likes: 4
From: North Texas
In the end, we will all do what makes us feel comfortable. I have no problems with an extended (7500) oil change on a highway driven vehicle.
Here's what the service manual claims:
To calculate the percentage of oil life left, the oil life feature uses:
-- The oil temperature sensor input
-- The tachometer input from the ignition control module (ICM) (12K072) (ICM)
-- The vehicle speed sensor (VSS) input and
-- Clock time (maintained internally by the message center)
- The oil life will decrease from 100 percent to 0 percent in no more than 7,500 miles or 6 months. It will reach zero percent sooner under different driving conditions.
- The percentage of oil life left is the second display in the system check sequence.
- When oil life left is between five percent and zero percent, the "CHANGE OIL SOON" message will be displayed.
- When oil life left reaches zero percent, the "OIL CHANGE REQUIRED" message will be displayed.
Maybe the older ones dont monitor these things?
Here's what the service manual claims:
To calculate the percentage of oil life left, the oil life feature uses:
-- The oil temperature sensor input
-- The tachometer input from the ignition control module (ICM) (12K072) (ICM)
-- The vehicle speed sensor (VSS) input and
-- Clock time (maintained internally by the message center)
- The oil life will decrease from 100 percent to 0 percent in no more than 7,500 miles or 6 months. It will reach zero percent sooner under different driving conditions.
- The percentage of oil life left is the second display in the system check sequence.
- When oil life left is between five percent and zero percent, the "CHANGE OIL SOON" message will be displayed.
- When oil life left reaches zero percent, the "OIL CHANGE REQUIRED" message will be displayed.
Maybe the older ones dont monitor these things?
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,388
Likes: 2
From: Greensboro, NC
It uses various inputs - still primarily time/mileage based - but it doesn't and can't measure the quality of the oil or how long the oil should last. Agreed - it's a owner decision - I don't even take synthetics that long but everyone makes their own decisions on those things.