Brand new F250 6.7 diesel with only 304 miles on it and it says I have 18% oil life left?? Door sticker has a build date of 8/2018, I bought it on 8/2019 (8/24/19) with 72 miles on the odometer. How is the oil life calculated? Ford say's "Oil change service intervals should be completed as indicated by the instrument cluster message center or every 7,500 miles.". How can I be reading 18% remaining oil life? Is the change interval one year and/or 7500 miles so the trucks "brain" is counting from the build date?

 

Yes, time definitely enters the calculation and 1 year is the limit.

I’d ask the dealer to change it for you since it was sold for all practical purposes with an oil change due.

 

Your truck is about a year old, and the one-year service interval timer is running out.

Check 2019 OM page 583 for discussion on the diesel engine’s “Intelligent Oil Life Monitor”, which is different from the gas engine’s “Oil Life Minder”. Also check page 585 for service interval limits.

HTH,
Jim / crewzer

 

It also goes by calendar, witch i don't go by. If i'm not driving i'm not dirting the oil.

 

I bought a new truck last week, it was built the first week of August this year, the Ford Pass says 92% oil life remaining, there's 28 miles on the odometer. My first time using the FordPass app.

 

Yep, Im finding that it goes down roughly 10% per month. My last oil change was done 7/26, Ive put aprox. 200 mi. on since, oil life is at 90%.

 

I asked the service manager and he said "I wouldn't change it till at least 2500" and I said "it's almost a year old" and he said "It's still new" and "I can reset it for you". I told him I could press and hold the button to reset it myself but I'd rather have some fresh oil. I said Ford's change interval is one year and/or 7500 mile... Which ever comes first. Sadly, They are not going to change it for me as a courtesy.

Going to ask Ford customer care to tell them to change it. What a load of BS. Not too happy with my first Ford purchase.... I've only put 140 miles on it and it's already racked up 10 days in service.... And I've been lied to repeatedly.

Avoid Napa Ford Lincoln in California at all costs, I've never met such a concentration of liars under one roof as these guys in my life.

 

FYI it's a 10,000 mile interval - not 7500. Even when doing a lot of towing I've never had it ask for a oil change below 10k.

 

Yes, you go by the IOLM with a footnote that says not to exceed 1year or 10,000 miles. The truck in question was due for an oil change when it was purchased as it had been “in service” since August of 2018. Short test drives are not the best operating conditions for a diesel engine. See footnote #1 in screen shot from owners manual below.

 

I tend to agree with your dealer, even though that was a stupid reason to argue with a customer.
Oil is cheap. Was it worth it to them to cost a customer over a couple bucks?
Anyway, it’s just been sitting in your block, and someone correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe there is a break in additive from the factory that you should run.

I dump it at 4K. Others think differently. Again, oil is super cheap, and with EGR still in use and contributing to contamination, it’s a smart idea to dump it out earlier.. Lots of reasoning to extend oil changes.. environmental, economical among others..and none of which benefits your bearings or rings.
IMO of course....

 

Some dealership sale’s organizations are big liars. My brother was a Manager of Fleet Operations for a large group of dealerships. Even in his role the sales guys would lie to him all the time.

If you lie to me once I will not deal with you. I’ve bought 57 new cars in my lifetime. I’ve run into some very unethical dealerships and some very ethical dealerships. I have my go-to Ford Dealer that I’ve used to buy 4 trucks since 2016. I deal directly with the sales manager who I can trust to tell the truth all the time.

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There is no break-in additive used by the factory. That has never been true. It is a popular myth. Such an additive would either advance wear (piston rings) or prevent friction (engine bearings). In either case, it's not required. But just for kicks, look up using Bon Ami down the carb of a running engine to help break up ring glazing. Yes, that's a real thing.

You may be referring to some boutique oils used in the aftermarket by people building flat-tappet engines. These oils have a higher zinc content to supposedly help prevent wear from scuffing, which occurs on flat-tappet cams. Just an interesting sidebar, but these oils have never been proven as a solution to camshaft failure. Good marketing, though.