I'm not driving my 2016 5.0 enough to change the oil by mileage. The oil life monitor is hitting zero after one year. I'm running synthetic oil and a Mobil 1 extended life filter. I'm going to change the oil due to moisture contamination concerns but I'm wondering if there's any reason to change the filter?

Thoughts?

Thanks!

 

IMO, It's $8, why not?

 

+1
Same opinion.

 

Why wouldn't you? It's half the cost of a fast food meal.

 

So that you're not contaminating your fresh oil with old oil from the filter. I have never understood the logic behind changing the oil, but not the filter.

 

One thing I didn't mention is that I'm on crutches for the foreseeable future and changing the oil is a lot easier for me than changing the filter.

If the filter is supposed to be good for 15,000 miles, what's the logic in changing it after 3,000 miles? Changing the oil after one year is a no brainer due to moisture absorption. The 4-5 ounces of oil left in the filter isn't going to contaminate the 6 quarts of new oil.

 

I doubt that missing the filter once is going to ruin the truck. My 3.5 is so darn easy to change the filter, but I'll admit, I have no idea difficulty of the 5.0. Do as your abilities allow, and if need be, simply take it to a decent shop and have it done, certainly no shame in that.

 

I agree but I might not be inclined to buy a truck that had it's oil service done this way.

 

Just wondering why? What happens to the oil filter that would cause an issue?

 

well, to me, it's kinda like taking a shower and putting on dirty clothes. You may feel fresh and clean but you are dirty and stink.

Once a fresh oil filter and oil become used they both have some amount of contamination. It may or may not be an acceptable amount. So even though your intervals are long and your miles are short there is still some amount of contamination. All of it being in the filter.

The other potential risk is an internal seal/glue failure inside the filter due to age or the drain back valve not working due to age.

These VVT engines are complicated and I wouldn't risk using a used filter and possibly having it cause problems with the phasers. Specifically the little oil filter screens.

So at the end of the day, ask yourself if the savings is worth the risk and you will have your answer. And if you told me your service routine I'd pass on buying the truck.

 

the 5.0 is easy. A touch messy if you are impatient and rush the draining process.

 

The filter change on a 4x4 5.0 makes a mess. Ford didn't really seem to care where the oil was going to go when the filter was removed.

 

I've had way worse. When I do mine I have very little mess. I let it drain for a bit before removing it and when it is off the threads I tilt it up and let it drain some more. All the oil drains on the back side of the little pan. Put on the new filter and spray some brake clean to wash out residual oil. Maybe takes 10 minutes. Easy peasy not much mess.

 

I pull my the front wheels up on ramps. That way the oil from the filter drains off the back of the plastic tray. I really hate where Ford puts these filters, more for the messiness. Access isn’t that bad when up on ramps.

 

Engine oil doesn't "wear out". It becomes contaminated with combustion byproducts and the various additives become depleted. The filter is there to capture particulate matter in the oil and sludge that really shouldn't be there if the additives are doing their job. If your only concern is actually moisture contamination, then take the truck for a 50 mile highway run to boil the water out of the oil. To change the oil without changing the filter seems like false savings.

If you're physically limited in your ability to change the oil, simply pay a bit more and have the dealer do it. Or one of the quick change places.