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Oil change interval question

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Old May 22, 2022 | 09:04 PM
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Oil change interval question

I've done 5k oil/filter changes on every diesel I've ever owned and just curious if I should stick with that routine on my 2019 or if I should go by when the truck's built in oil life monitor tells me it's time to change it.
 
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Old May 23, 2022 | 05:26 AM
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You will probably get several thoughts on the topic.

I do 5K oil changes and 15K on the fuel filters. I use OEM only fuel and oil filters.

Lots go by the oil change reminder, but changing the oil sooner is better. My oil change minder would have my changing the oil at about 6500 miles but with towing I think that is too long.

Your duty cycle would also be a consideration.
 
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Old May 23, 2022 | 09:06 AM
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I only recommend full synthetic oil. I let the truck tell me when to change to oil. If you use the blend than every 5,000 may be the best. Like Senix I only use Motorcraft filters because guys have tried to use aftermarket filters and had problems. I only use Motorcraft oil because I don't have to ask the question will it work in my truck.
 
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Old May 23, 2022 | 09:50 AM
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Two great answers above. I tend to change fluids earlier than the vehicle says, because that is calculated to the point where the fluids are at their end of their protection life. Anywhere from 4500 to 6000 is plenty for me. I only use my truck for long haul recreation, so easy cruise control highway miles. Nothing that I spend $80K on is going to get me to try to stretch maintenance intervals.

The Motorcraft factory oil filter is pricey, even at Wally. If anyone knows a better way, I am all ears, but that's all that I have ever used.
 
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Old May 23, 2022 | 05:03 PM
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I agree with Senix about only using Motorcraft Fuel Filters. Also only Motorcraft Air Filters. The Motorcraft oil filter is of decent quality, however there are others that are comparable with better internals that might be sourced for around the same cost. I don't think $15-$20 is expensive for an oil filter of this size. If you want to save money purchase your filters in bulk from dieselfiltersonline.com. If you spend $250 or more the shipping is free. Be careful of Motorcraft Fakes which can be found on Amazon. I wouldn't hesitate to use a Wix or Napa Gold (rebranded Wix filter) either.





There are users here that run the oil until the truck tells them to do so and that oil has been sent to a lab for analysis and always comes back with plenty of TBN left to protect the engine. It's not the oil we need to worry about in the 6.7, it's fuel dilution which is a concern in these engines. I tow 90% of the time, use bio fuel (most of us do and don't know it) idle quite a bit, and worry about fuel dilution so I use the severe duty maintenance cycle that Ford recommends for the 6.7. I have my oil analized at every oil change and twice now I've had fuel dilution without changing driving conditions, so I was glad to get that oil out of the engine at 5k miles.
 
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Old May 24, 2022 | 07:38 PM
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Originally Posted by senix
You will probably get several thoughts on the topic.

I do 5K oil changes and 15K on the fuel filters. I use OEM only fuel and oil filters.

Lots go by the oil change reminder, but changing the oil sooner is better. My oil change minder would have my changing the oil at about 6500 miles but with towing I think that is too long.

Your duty cycle would also be a consideration.
This for me too! I did have my first oil change at 1400ish miles, then a little before 5k, but from here on out I plan on changing them as close to every 5k as I can. I will do fuel filters at every 15k, and will use authentic Motorcraft filters. I also switched over to Rotella T6 and will continue to run that from here on out (assuming we can still get it...) I also sent out my last oil sample and plan to send out a sample from each change.
 
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Old May 24, 2022 | 08:01 PM
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I get the T6 in 5 gallon buckets from napa for $159.00 USD.
 
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Old May 27, 2022 | 03:37 PM
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Originally Posted by Leardriver
Two great answers above. I tend to change fluids earlier than the vehicle says, because that is calculated to the point where the fluids are at their end of their protection life. Anywhere from 4500 to 6000 is plenty for me. I only use my truck for long haul recreation, so easy cruise control highway miles. Nothing that I spend $80K on is going to get me to try to stretch maintenance intervals.

The Motorcraft factory oil filter is pricey, even at Wally. If anyone knows a better way, I am all ears, but that's all that I have ever used.
Don't cheap out on filters. An other thing run on y full synthetic and you can easily go 7500 miles between oil changes. You cant tell by the looks of the oil because it turns black almost as soon as you start the motor. I don't cheap out on oil ether. Sure you can run something else but Motorcraft oil came in my truck so that's all I use. I don't sent my oil off to Blackstone for annalist. I just do good maintenance on my truck so i feel no need to do that.
I also tow with mine but not as much as before Biden got into office.
 
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Old May 28, 2022 | 06:43 PM
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I have been driving a diesel since 1996. I have always used Rotella. The last 10-12 years the synthetic version. Always changed at 5K miles.
 
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Old May 29, 2022 | 08:20 AM
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Originally Posted by The Bone
Don't cheap out on filters. An other thing run on y full synthetic and you can easily go 7500 miles between oil changes. You cant tell by the looks of the oil because it turns black almost as soon as you start the motor. I don't cheap out on oil ether. Sure you can run something else but Motorcraft oil came in my truck so that's all I use. I don't sent my oil off to Blackstone for annalist. I just do good maintenance on my truck so i feel no need to do that.
I also tow with mine but not as much as before Biden got into office.
I am sending mine to Blackstone just because I think it's cool to be able to get the analysis. I still plan to change mine as close to every 5k as possible though.

Also, I didn't get to tow much last year because I was waiting on the truck for most of the prime camping time, however, I have made up for it this year... just in the month of May I have put around 2200 miles on the truck with the camper... and I figured up all of my diesel purchases for the month of May, which came to to $1058! It's crazy that about 7 months ago it would have been half that or just a tiny bit more! And I'm not done either... lol!
 
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Old May 30, 2022 | 08:48 AM
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I used to change my oil every 5,000 miles, When the 6.7L engines came out. One of the Ford Engineers was on the forums answering questions and said that many of the test mules went well over 10,000 miles between changes with no problems. 2011 trucks were popping up Oil change messages around 7500 miles and the oil analysis that I had done showed that the oil was still in great shape. So I went with the 7,500 mile interval. My 2017 truck would run around 9,000 miles before the Oil Life Monitor told me to change. So I stretched my change intervals out to about 9,000. I'm still changing oil around 8,500-9,000 miles on my 2020, which is before the Oil Life Monitor pop's up.

I put 3,000 to 4,000 miles on the truck every month. So it's about 10 weeks for me. I do use Valvoline Premium Blue Full Synthetic. Motorcraft Filters. I change the Fuel and Air Filters every other oil change. My dealer also throws in a Life Time Warranty on everything that oil touches. So I'm a little less nervous about oil failure
 
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Old May 30, 2022 | 09:20 AM
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I change mine when the display says its time to do it which is 7,000 miles or so, trucks main purpose is pulling the 5th wheel. I also change fuel filters once a year. Truck doesn't idle much other than after long tow while getting the 5th wheel set up or couple minutes after driving an errand. Motorcraft filters for both. Only 53k miles on the '16'.
 
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Old Jun 2, 2022 | 07:17 AM
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Originally Posted by scraprat
I change mine when the display says its time to do it which is 7,000 miles or so, trucks main purpose is pulling the 5th wheel. I also change fuel filters once a year. Truck doesn't idle much other than after long tow while getting the 5th wheel set up or couple minutes after driving an errand. Motorcraft filters for both. Only 53k miles on the '16'.
This is how I do it as well.
 
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Old Jun 2, 2022 | 01:12 PM
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Last UOA with MC 10w30 with 7387 miles

This is my last Blackstone analysis report. This last report was much improved when it comes to fuel dilution since my last analysis worried me some with the 2.0% amount. Looking at my report, you can see how some amount of fuel affects the flashpoint temp rating of fuel. My truck does not idle a lot and for reference I will edit this with a screen shot of the hours on truck next chance I get. My truck always finishes its regens also.

I pay the 10 bucks extra to have the TBN tested and it always comes out strong with plenty left at the OCI the truck sets. I was considering changing this oil out at 5k miles when I saw my last report, but decided to let it go out to the truck OCI .

Next oil change, I'm going with Triax semi synthetic 10w30.


 
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Old Jun 3, 2022 | 09:26 AM
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Since my truck sits more than driven, I don't put enough miles on for change intervals, have never reached a 5K interval, so change it once a year. I do the Blackstone too, just to keep me informed on engine condition, and so far so good. What I do is mark a date and miles on the filter when I put the new one on, that way I can see when it was last changed and how many miles between changes. Those window stickers tend to fade in a years time.

Just keep in mind, there are nearly 4 gallons of oil in there, Thats a lot of oil! As long as it is good oil, going a year with low miles should be fine, at least for my use, but YMMV.

My F50 3.5 EB get an oil change when the dash pops up saying change oil soon. 60K and still coming back with good oil samples.
 
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