I have a new truck comming and have a question. I used to be ASE certified and have always been very good mechanicaly. The question is I think this time around I want to take care of the oil changes fuel filters etc. Don't trust the guys on the lube rack to put in the proper oil proper level etc. What type of oil does the forum think is the best. Also filters. And does Ford give you any grief if you do not have the dealership do this? I figure if you document the oil changes this should be acceptable. If you have a problem will Ford give any grief because they have not been servicing the vehicle. Thanks

 

I do all my own minor maintenance and keep a log in the Ford supplied maintenance book. I keep all my receipts. I stay with the Motorcraft filters and as long as it is API certified CI-4 your ok. Brand of oil is up to you. The dealer hasn't said a thing about it.

 

I also do all of my routine maintenance. I keep a small notebook each vehicle for notes with date and mileage. It's bascally the same as the log in the back of the operators manual but I need more note space. If I notice something a little odd, I jot that down also. I have never had any problems with the dealers questioning my maintenance. I did have one service manager from Ford that was interested in seeing it and said he would never question me again. Like almost all cases, smother them with paperwork and it takes most of the fight out of them because you have loads of documentation.
I have had no issues with my 2004 PSD to date. I'm one happy camper with the truck

 

I've done most of my own oil changes. The only exception being the free ones done by the dealer.

I keep the records in an Excel spreadsheet where I also track mileage. I keep receipts for service and oil filters and will soon be adding oil analysis reports to the stack.

Done this for a number of different vehicles and never had any issues with warranty service claims. But then again I've never really had any warranty service claims against a major engine part either - mostly chassis or other minor fitment kinds of things.

 

I have been maintaining my vehicles for years. I have never had a dealer balk at warranty. I guess if your oil looked like mud maybe they would. I also have never had to show records of such maintenance.

 

The only gas I have gotten from the dealer was from the service advisor who is a sales person for service. There has been more than once I have had to pull out the owner manual and show them. I have got bad info from the service advisors more than once. However, the diesel tech and the service manager have been great, knowledgeable and up front.

 

I prefer doing my own maintenance also. One thing I do differently is I log all my maintenance details on the Ford Website. This includes when I drain the HFCM, rotate the tires, change oil and filter, change fuel filters, etc... I think the actual webpage is My Ford and here is the link My Ford Webpage .

It is free to register your vehicle. If you financed through Ford you can check it here also. There is a maintenance tab where you can input the maintenance you perform, see the maintenance schedule for your truck, and check for recalls. Also, once registered you will automatically receive notices should there be any recalls. This is a Ford website so it is on record and I also print my record after I input it. I believe there is a printable page tab on the maintenance page.

 

Get a Fomoto valve and install it on your first oil change. They are worth the money. $40+-. Next, Think about having your oil tested. I and a bunch of people here use Balckstone labs. $20. If you keep records of the work you do, and have the lab reports from the oil. I dont think any dealer will give you any greif. I do not have an ASE cert. But I have had my A+P Certs for 16 years. I have Never been questioned by a dealer about anything. Read the maintenance schedule and keep records. If and When you have questions (come here) This is the best fourm on the internet. Somebody will get you an answer.

 

most of the time they use scare tacics to get misinformend people to spending 95.00 on a oil change because they might void the warranty not true.as long as it is api certified you are fine

 

You can get the Fumoto from Fumoto at
http://www.fumotovalve.com/merchant.cfm
I think they are about $25.00. I got one and it makes life easy. now if I could only find one like that for the fuel/water separator drain.

 

I agree with SBV45. I put the Fumoto on during my first oil change. I'd love something similar on the fuel seperator as well. I also learned that I need a bigger drain pan after that first oil change. What ever came out from the factory filled my pan to the top. It didn't over-flow but was close enough and made it difficult to move it to the used oil storage barrel.

 

Nice thing about the fumoto is that I saved some one gallon containers from the first oil change. I just drain right into the gallon jugs and don't spill a drop with the fumoto.

Fumoto sounds like that big lizard on National Geographic.

 

Thanks guys. Tried My Ford Webpage and they do not even list a 2005 yet will try it later. The only question I did not get answered but in looking I can understand why is what kind of oil. Looks like there is many opinions already. Guess I will stick with motorcraft filers.

 

I'm glad I don't go to your dealership. The service advisor is NOT supposed to ask for records. If there is a question about covering something under warranty or not it goes to the service manager who HAS to call Ford if he suspects foul play. Ford has final say as to coverage, not the dealer. Some service advisors think they run the place. They are there ONLY to write up your complaint and route the vehicle to the service department. I worked at a Ford dealership and if I thought something was not right I got the service manager. He would get the area rep to approve or disapprove the repair. If disapproved, he would call the customer, who would then raise the roof and the service manager and the Ford area rep would then have to escalate it to the regional rep who almost always approved the repair. The area rep where I worked stated, “Anyone can write dates, mileage, and work done in a book. Doesn’t mean it was done or even done right”.

I'm not saying you don't need to keep records. I would suggest you do but there is nothing in the owners manual that states you must have receipts to prove maintenance. I had a friend once call me and say his dealer told him his warranty would be voided if he didn't bring his truck in there for every service interval and have them do the work. I rode down to this guys dealer with him, handed him the owners manual and said show me! He did a big moon-walk backwards and said "well we recommend it".

One time I had a service writer (advisor)who didn't know where the rear main seal was located. This is not the dealer where I buy my trucks.

You just have to know your dealership and how they treat people. Don't let them bully you. They can't make the call. Ford has to.