I have a '05 Taurus and the owners manual states that they recommend oil changes 5,000 miles and my dealers says 3,000 miles. Who is right? Is the dealer just after that little bit of money or what.

 

I use synthetic and change the filter every 3,000 miles and then add a quart of oil. I'm a firm believer in changing the filter every 3,000 miles. I have a buddy that changes oil every 2,000 miles. It seems to be a bit overkill but those folks that change every 5,000 miles probably think that I'm overdoing it also.

 

the 5k in your manual is under normal service the 3k is also there listed as severe service most cars fall into the 3k.

 

I would take heed of the owner's manual over a stealership anyday. That's just me. Among others.

My Ranger might lose a 1/2-quart between 5000 mile changes and with oil "tech" as good as it has ever been, I feel fine with that.

 

I would say that we are normal service. We are lucky to put under 10,000 miles a year on.

 

so is that a lot of short trip driving? if so then that is severe service.

 

My wife and I both have our own work vehicles so the '05 sits in the garage til the weekends or vacations.

 

As long as the oil changes are done within every 5000 miles Ford can never void you warranty due to lack of maintenance. Whoever said it was the severe duty is correct, but what the call severe duty fits almost every car on the road so I really don't read much into it and I change mine every 5000 miles. One reason is I put miles on so quick anyway and I really don't feel like having to change my oil at every 1 1/2 month interval.

 

My job requires me to drive a lot and most of the miles are highway miles. I change my oil and filter every 5,000 miles. I use Valvoline Durablend and Motorcraft filters. 168,000 on a `92 Explorer, 229,000 on a `96 Explorer and now 178,000 on a `01 Windstar. Never had an engine problem.

 

No, I don't think so. Towing a heavy trailer. Primarily stop and go driving (like a taxi or a delivery truck). That's severe service. Gramps, Granny and the grandkids running down to Chuck E. Cheese's, even if only a couple of miles away, is not severe service.

My Dodge V-10, in August in Texas, pulling my 10,000 lbs. trailer, 500 lbs. in the bed, in stop and go traffic. That's severe service.

No, not necessarily. The issue is does the engine get hot enough to burn off the water.

Water + combustion byproducts = acids

Even with short trips in Illinois, about 8-9 months out of the year, his engine will get up to operating temps. The issue will be the winter months. When I lived in Ohio, I liked to change in Nov./Dec. and then again in March.

He is probably OK March-Nov./Dec. No need to change again in mid-summer, unless that is when all the miles get put on.

To answer the question, change according to your book, not what the dealer says.

Think about it. How much profit does Ford make off an oil change?

How much does the dealer make?

Do I need to draw you a picture?

BTW - And I am not even considering the fact that the more times you take your truck to the dealer, the more chances he gets to sell you something else.

 

Highway miles are probably the easiest on an engine.

 

I'm afraid most people have been "brainwashed" by quick lube chain ads, especially from a company name that sounds like "iffy". The dealer service writer, who is on commission, is just taking advantage of that.

Severe service is only what is clearly stated in your owners manual, such as door-to-door delivery in freezing weather. Modern oils are light-years ahead of what they were just a decade ago, plus modern engines are calibrated so lean and have high energy iginitions, such that fuel dilution is pretty much a thing of the past. PCV systems are better and engines warm up much faster, so moisture buildup is also reduced. Without blowby or early oil breakdown by oxidation, there is no source of acids, and there is plenty of "buffering" additive in the oil to take care of that for a lot longer than 3000 miles.

Jim

 

Personally, I don't care what the dealer or owners manual says...every 3000 miles. YES, oils are better than they were 30 yrs ago, and filters are better, and yes, synthetic oils last longer...I don't care. Oil changes are cheap insurance for your engine. Use a quality oil and filter, and never have lubrication related failures....
My poor 96 Dakota with the 2.5l 4cyl engine has over 212K on the clock,(hard driven commuter vehicle) and doesn't use or burn any oil...NONE. I've adhered to this maintenance schedule for over 30 yrs, and I'm happy with it, and don't forsee changing it anytime soon.

 

Awwww. Come on! Pretty please?

You know, TV's come with remote controls now.

 

Let's keep this civil. Every person has their own way of doing things. If you don't like the way they do it, too bad. Please play nice and not get into any arguments.

-Matt