04 FX4 owner. about 13,000 miles so far...excellent truck, no problems, vibration or other.

I have to go on a trip this weekend and cant get to dealer to get oil changed before. When I return, the oil will have about 4,000 miles on it. I religiously change oil between 2500-3000 miles, 5W20 motorcraft. Any concerns going to 4,000 miles this one time?

I know there are varied opinions on this....thanks for your help.

-Mrshark

 

I have an '04 Super Crew, 5.4 litter, 4X4. I change my around every 4000 miles. I have had no problems. Sometimes I am under by a couple hundred, like this last time and sometimes I am over by a couple hundred. I have been changing my oil in all of vehicle every 4000 miles since 1974 and have had no problems, 1 Toyota Truck, 1 Chevy truck, 1 GMC truck, and many many Ford trucks!


Rich Dunklee
NR2D

 

Personnally I change my oil at 3K, but Ford recommends 5K. So, I don't believe there will be a problem especially if the miles are highway.

 

I don't think there is a problem especially since the oil change interval from Ford is 5,000 miles, and with the quality and additive packages in today's oil, no problem should be realized!

 

I was told by my dealer that the oil change timing is a major factor of 2 things. 1. How hard you drive and 2. the location in which you live. I live in south Louisiana and my dealer service person, whom I have had lots of contact and he seems to always steer me right...even if it contradicts the "Service Manual."

He told me in the south you DEFINITELY do not want to run the 5w20 they recommend, even if you use synthetic-which Ford also recommends. He said that that thin of oil breaks down too quickly with our heat 9 months out of the year. He recommended 10w30 or 10w40, conventional or synthetic. He also said that if you drive hard to change oil a little more often...say every 3k.

But if you dont abuse your truck and dont drive in overly dusty or harsh conditions he said to change conventional oil every 3k-5k whichever you prefer and that if you run synthetic you could actually run 5k, change filter only and top off, then change oil at 10k. He did also recommended changing conventional oil every 3k and synthetic every 5k if you drive hard.

Good luck, just wanted to put my two cents in!!!

 

It's amazing how oil myths won't die...

 

Well your technical contact is still in the old schoolhouse. If he new what went into the 5W-20 spec he would not make such a bold comment! Even his oil change theory is old school!

 

thanks all for your input/advice. By the way, I live in CT, not sure I ever heard that 5W20 is bad oil anywhere...too thin for southern heat? Guess going to 4000 miles 1 time on my oil wont hurt. Mostly highway miles anyway...guess I'll have to change it at 2000 next time to compensate .


Overall I'm 100% satisfied w/this truck, only minor problem I had was small rear windo rattle, which dealer quickly fixed. I think the center console looks so sharp, even with snow/salt/sand on it in the winter, I still turn heads driving around in town.

No vibration problems here...blue oval for me for life...

 

Well, just to throw a wrenc in things, here's a little story for ya!

In the Jetta that I traded in for the truck, I used to go 10k between complete oil changes. I would change the filter every 5k and just top it off. I used a Wix filter and Mobil1 5w30.

I also read a test that somebody did, independently, that took a brand new Camaro and changed out to Mobil1 and sent test samples every 1000 miles. By the tests that came back, the particulate level was getting high at about 12k, so he changed the filter and topped it off. At the time that I had read the article, he was up to 18k and was about to the point that he neede to change the oil.

Just a little food for thought

 

Ford calls for 5000 miles, but thats using their Syn blend. I let them do it but stay with 3000 miles also. No way 4000 will ever hurt anything.

 

Ford book says 5000.Dealer says 3000.I go 4000 give or take a few miles.

 

Wrong, dealer stands by 5000. Look at the sticker when they change your oil. It will call for the next change in 5000 miles. I admit your dealer may be different but I don't see why they should be. Its because of the Syn blend they use, it does not break down as quickly.

 

mrshark , You should cancel your trip. Just Kidding! Your engine will be fine , especially if mostly highway miles. I would check level on dipstick before taking off.HAVE FUN!!!!

 

Wrong yourself,not all dealers stand by 5000.

My sticker alway call for another oil change at 3000.

 

I have a new Ford Five Hundred, even the info computer is set to remind me to change oil at 5000.