The manual for my 2008 V10 suggestions an oil change interval of 12000 km or 8000 km for rough service. Does this seem too long? If the manual is telling us this, FoMoCo should not have any trouble with warranty coverage if we follow this right?

I travel 1/2 hiway, 1/2 gravel roads so am doing the 8000 kms but wonder if I should be changing sooner.

Any input would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

I would dump the oil on a new engine at 500-800km's.
Then every 4000km after that.
Oil is very cheap.

 

I agree with Sask on this one. Oil and filter are very cheap insurance.

 

In the last few years the filters and oils have been made to much better standards then before..... Extending oil & filter changes out a couple of thousand miles is not going to hurt anything with these new products... Large fleets provided the wear feedback to GM, FoMoCo, and Chrysler---- without significantly changing the SC/API requirement, they all have slowly increased their "recommended" oil change intervals....

With Ford's recommended MotorCraft semi synthetic 5W20 the "loss rate" data is good enough for them to confidently increase the change interval...

Trust me FoMoCo would NOT do that if there was no data to support the change...

I was a every 3000 mile or 90 day guy

This year I changed to 5000 Mile or every 120 day...3 changes a year vs. 4 changes

The last change with 5200 miles on the oil & filter, I only saw about 1/3rd quart loss and the oil seemed to my uncalibrated eye to be about the same "dirtiness" as my 3000 mile changes

If you are in an exceptionally dirty dusty environment like I am here in Central Texas I don't recommend going all the way to 7500 miles

Here in Texas (where trucks out sell cars in the rural areas) I know dozens of dummies who only get the oil changed an average of once every season (about twice a year) most of these folks are flirting with danger in my opinion--- BUT none of them seem to have any significant issues with their motors....

In my opinion these are vehicles that will NOT last 10~14 years with high mileage. The folks I know never keep their vehicle long enough for the problems to manifest during their ownership... I quit preaching to them...they don't get it and don't care....

 

I have a 2000 Excursion V10 with a little over 105000 miles on it, and I run a 7500 mi change interval using mobil1 full synthetic. I use about a quart or so between changes and have not had any issues engine related.

I live in the Dallas/Fort Worth area though, so not too much dirt/dust to get into the oil to make it go bad.

Do you think this is too long an interval?

Isaac

 

I'm doing 7,000-8,000km oil changes on my 05 v10 using Ford filters and Rotella full syn oil. Comes out somewhat dirty but always clean on the dip stick. Never needs oil added between changes but I fill it to the top of 6.5 lts.
I change air and full fiters alot and I think that helps keeps the oil somewhat cleaner.
I need the longer intervals due to trip distances and time. Last week we put on 3,900 km and next week our run will add another 1,200 plus the 700 kms we put on at home weekly. After that I need a sleep, not doing an oil change...LOL
This v10 has been the quieties and smooth gasser I'd ever had. No valve train noise that my 2V 5'4's had on start-up on long distance oil changes. No problems just something I noticed on my 01 and 03.

 

I have always changed my oil every 5000K and after 30 years of driving with no oil related failure I will continue that interval.

I thought Rotella synthetic was a 5w-40 grade and the ford needs a 5w-20?

 

this should start something..I use rotella 0w-40 full syn in everything. Including my diesels.Kohlors etc.

I have not been doing this for a couple of weeks but 4 years. THe v-10 has been on it for 95,000kms, 5.4's 90,000km, 7.3 350,000kms,passat td 245,000kms,Audi A6 2.8 204,000, Kubota diesel 600hrs. Kohlor twins 1,000 hrs, Merc cruiser 700 hrs. 350 Vortec 220,000 kms
Call me crazy but I only need 1 pail of oil in the shop

It is not unusual for us to leave home in the winter -30C and do a turn around in Florida 90F so you can see the viscosity issues I have. Gross GVW is usually about 21,000 lbs trip 4,400 -4,800 km's

 

RBC,
You won't get an arguement out of me about what you do with your truck. More than likely you worked hard to pay for it - or making the payments - and you can do whatever you want to. The manufacturers have spent many long hours, though, designing and testing these engines and have came to the conclusion that a certain oil is what's best for their invention. When the dust settles and the smoke clears, they don't jump up and say "Thou Shalt use such and such oil" --- they recommend a certain oil according to their test results.

So, do what you want to with it, but remember that just because a different oil may work, it is not what was found to be the best.

 

when I started doing this...I called Shell Tech Services. I don't get it but was told that the 0-40 syn would be similar to a 30w dino on the high side.

cheers

 

I've been sticking with oil changes every 5000 kms / 3000 miles on every vehicle I've own that got to the 40,000/50,000kms mark (a little less frequent for lower mileage). Every third oil change gets a full flush with very few exceptions to that rule. But of course with exception of my teens years when I seemed to be adding a litre/week to my beaters. I can't remember ever having a motor crap out on me.

Rick...

 

Oil change intervals are about as controversial as gas vs diesel.

As far as reconmendations from the mfg's, yes they do extensive testing, but they also receive a lot of pressure from the tree huggers and the government to reduce oil use (ie, changes) and thereby extend drain intervals.

I think if you are concerned about drain intervals, then order a oill analysis... that will tell for sure how your oil is doing.

 

I don't put a lot of miles on my truck, about 6000 per year, so the time(3 month) intervals don't work all that well for me. I use Mobil 1 full synthetic, and change the filter and all of the oil every 6000 miles. At 3000 miles, I change the filter, and add to the full mark. On my car, that I drive every day, I have changed the oil and filter every 10000 miles with the same halfway interval for a new filter and topoff. I bought the truck used, and haven't had it very long, so I don't know how it will work out in the long run, but I bought the car new in 1994(Oldsmobile). It is currently at 231,000 miles, and the engine is quiet and reliable. I have been using the Mobil 1 since the first oil change, and by now, I use it in all of my vehicles, except for my mud truck-just can't talk myself into the 11 quarts to fill the big pan.

2001 F350 Crew Cab 4x4

 

Hey guys, I have a 1999 F250 SD 5.4L , It has 200,320 miles on it. I use shell rotella 15w40 oil in my engine. For years , I used it in my Lexus LS400 and my 2005 Nissan Quest and It always comes out very clean at oil changes. What do you guys think about using 15w40 in my 5.4L ?

 

I think you may be sacrificing economy using diesel oil.

There's no added protection based on weight. MC 5W-20 or 5W-30 works just fine and is probably cheaper.

If your oil is clean then something is wrong. It should come out black.