I took my truck in for a check on the block heater and their $29 tire rotation (nope, they didn’t properly adjust the tire pressure).

While dropping it off they checked the mileage which was 13,500 miles.

The writer came over to me and said I was just 1,500 miles from the recommended fuel filter change. I was driving the truck 1,000 miles the next week so I said ok let’s chamge them. They charged $200.

As I was leaving the dealership I was thinking that seems like a pretty early filter change. She also told me to change the air filter.

When I went to pick up the truck I questioned her why her recommendation was about 7,500 miles sooner than Ford Motor Co.

She said if their is ever a warranty claim on the engine we need to show ford we were aggressive with maintenance.

I said but if we are following their 22,500 mile fuel filter change and watching the air filter guage while draining the water separator regularly how can they deny a claim.

I had already bought the fuel filter to do the job myself at 20,000 miles which I was thinking was aggressive enough.

So what do you think. Is this dealership screwing their customers my getting extremely aggressive with changing fuel filters and air filters at 15,000 miles or is that just smart maintenance on the PSD?

Thank you everyone.

 

So many things to say pop into my mind. None of them flattering or even positive concerning this dealer's practices.
Did that woman's nose seem particularly long, by chance?

 

I changed my fuel filters every other oil change on my 2011 and got 250k miles out of it with zero hick ups. I was told the fuel systems on the 6.7 were finicky and that was the only concern I would ever have so that was my own maintenance schedule made up by me. So I intend to follow again and hope it was a good choice.

 

Once again people, that does not prove anything.

Follow what is on the factory maintenance schedule, not the dealer schedule.

My friend still has the oil on his truck changed by a professional (who also happens to be a friend). The professional (once again, also a buddy) still puts one of those stickers on the inside of the windshield stating that the next oil change is due in 3000 miles.

 

Looking at the OM:

• Normal-use (including occasional special conditions) factory maintenance:
  • 30K miles for the two (diesel) fuel filters
• Special conditions (primarily used for towing, frequent idling or low-speed operation, high speed at max GVWR, low ambient temps, etc.):
  • 15K miles for the two fuel filters

HTH,
Jim / crewzer

 

This is what I was going to post as well. Recommended interval is 30k miles for 90% of us that operate these trucks. That other 10% (hot shutters, oil field guys, etc...) should be sticking to the 15k service.

I did my first service at 24,195 miles and that was because I got antsy to change the filters. Next time I will go 25-30k.

 

I have a maintnenace package and am getting oil changes at 5000 miles, fuel filters at 15,000. It's a heavy service use package because of our cold starting, idling, and summer towing. I think they did fib a little, you could have waited for your use, and you already had the filter.

 

Thank you everyone. This confirms what I was suspecting.

Im looking for a different dealer for the big stuff and will do 100% of my own maintenance.

Thank you.

 

How do these people come up with this baloney?

 

My thoughts exactly!!!

 

I called 3 other area dealerships service advisors today to ask them “when is the recommended mileage to change the fuel filters on my PSD”.

I specifically said “the recommended” as opposed to “your recommended” or “fords recommended” change interval.

Fords recommendation:
Normal driving is 22,500 miles.
Major towing or idling is 15,000 miles.

First dealership said at 30,000 miles.

Wrong answer. Really bad recommendation.

Second dealership said 15,000 miles. I said only 10% of my miles are towing. He said we tell everyone to change them at 15,000 miles.

Mostly wrong answer.

Third dealership said 15,000 miles. I said the owners manual says 22,500 miles for how I drive. He said hold on. 2 minutes later he said he has not had to change the fuel filters on a 2017 and he needed to check the specs. He then told me the recommended by Ford is 22,500 miles but they recommend 15,000 miles. He was very helpful and started asking me how I drove the vehicle. Then said he would try to maintain the filter changes to a 15,000 mile schedule average over the warranty period. So if I changed them at 13,000 miles the next one could go 17,000 miles...as long as I never exceed 22,500 miles.

Least wrong answer.

So these are my choices of places to take my truck around St Louis.

Looks like I will let convenience go and do all routine maintenance myself.

I just can’t beat their $29 tire rotation considering it would take me about an hour and those tires/wheels are not light. I can readjust the tire pressure myself for that price.

 

Where are you getting 22,500? The 30K/15K (regular/severe) interval posted by SDcrewzer is what I found in the manual.

 

 

I don't drive a lot so on my 2013 I changed mine every 10k miles or at the 1 year mark. I will be doing that again with my 2017. I know they are not cheap to change but on a $70k truck its pretty minimal.

 

From the ford website.