oil change interval question

[j rick kirby]

I have changed my oil every 3,000 miles for almost 35 years and until I got my Mach I have always used dino oil.Now using Mobil 1 I have extended my intervals to 5,000 miles.Is this too long and aren't they now advertising going 15,000 on full synthetic?

[The Mach Says]

Uh...........15K is kinda overdoing it no?? If that would be the case, I would just be doing my first ever oil change now, 2+ years later!!

I think it all depends on HOW MUCH you drive more than anything..............For me it takes like 6 months to get around 3500-4000 miles...............I don't like having oil unchanged for 6 months, so I change it every 4 months REGARDLESS of how much I drive, therefore, I'm changing my oil every 2500 miles or so............and that's with Mobil 1..........religiously.

JC

[Totoland Mach]

I do pretty much the same as Mach Says: Mine sits most of the winter (3+ months with a few nice days just to drive it), so it's more like 4 month intervals rather than mileage. I use full synthetic too.

Case in point: I recently sold my daily driver that had a whopping 294/k miles in 15 years...used Mobil 1 since new. Did a tranny overhaul, water pump and radiator replacement and that was it...never turned a wrench on the motor. That vehicle is still running around the KC area doing food delivery for a local resturant.

[j rick kirby]

I not suggesting that I will go 15,000 miles but wouldn't 5,000 be perfectly ok if Mobil says they are good for 15,000?I'm not trying to slight anything,my 89 Super Coupe has 209,000 on it now and I have changed the dino oil every 3,000.My little V6 was perfectly clean when I replaced the valve cover gaskets and recently dynoed 260hp/348ft lbs.I'm just thinking 3,000 might be over kill with the synthetic,that's all.

[ANTHONY979]

5,000 miles is fine. it won't hurt a thing. But if you're the type to drive your mach hard everyday, like to floor it at every street light, or race constantly, then 3,000 miles would be best. other than that, if youre just a daily driver for the most part, 5,000 is a good number. all depends on how you drive. And of course like the others were saying, you wouldnt want to go 6 or 7 months without an oil change just because you havent reached 5000 miles. they usually recommend 3000-5000 miles or 3 months, whichever comes first.

anthony

[j rick kirby]

Originally Posted by ANTHONY979

5,000 miles is fine. it won't hurt a thing. But if you're the type to drive your mach hard everyday, like to floor it at every street light, or race constantly, then 3,000 miles would be best. other than that, if youre just a daily driver for the most part, 5,000 is a good number. all depends on how you drive. And of course like the others were saying, you wouldnt want to go 6 or 7 months without an oil change just because you havent reached 5000 miles. they usually recommend 3000-5000 miles or 3 months, whichever comes first.

anthony

Thanks Anthony,that's what I was thinking.I'm a 48 year old fart who rarely runs this daily driver hard so 5,000 it is.

[Starsky]

I recall reading a study Consumer Reports did on oil a few years ago. They used New York Taxi cabs since they see all kinds of weather and abuse, and the high tech, hi calibrated measuring equipment you motor nuts probably know all about to measure wear and tear to the inth degree...turns out an oil change at 7500 miles and an oil change at 3000 miles with the usual name brand oils showed absolutely no difference. After reading that, I weaned myself off the 3000 mile ritual my father pounded into me...wasnt easy, but Ive saved some dough..

[03mach69mach]

I wonder if, by extending the change time beyond what is called for in the Ford Owners Manual, whether Ford would have a problem with the warranty? Just curious if someone works for a Dealer or Ford, how they might interpret this situation.

[Ralph Greene]

I think our owners manuals have it about right whether using synthetic or dyno oil. But I usually use Mobile 1. 6 months or 5000 miles....whichever comes first. So on my Mach, the 6 months comes first at about 3500 miles. On my other cars, the 5000 miles comes first.

[loathe]

hrmmm. interesting

[b3warnick]

I've changed oil in my '87 5.0 since new, every 5,000 mi. Just like the manual said (this was my first NEW car) It now has over 150,000 miles on it. The Mach has only had one oil change since I bought it used, and wasn't sure when it had last been changed, so I wanted to start with a clean slate. I will probaby change oil in it between 3,500 and 5,000 mi. My dad always changed oil at about 5,000 miles...usually some V-8. (289 Comet Caliente, 351W Montego...)

I kinda follow the same rules. I figure my V-8's usually don't work that hard or rev that high in normal day-to-day driving.

Now, on some of the wifes' cars (Topaz, Escort, Voyager), all 4 or 6 cylinders...They work harder and rev higher. I change oil in 'em at 3,500 miles....regardless of the manual.

Just my $.02.

[Ralph Greene]

As I mentioned above....For normal duty....my owners manual doesn't exactly say change at 5000 miles. It says change at 6 months or 5000 miles, whichever come first. For some of you like me who don't drive theit Machs 5000 in 6 months, that means changing at fewer than 5000 miles.

For severe duty use, (explained in the mnanual), change at 3 months or 3750 miles.

There is a lot of confusion about exactly what our manuals say, so I would suggest you read it. And I think it's about right.

[ttown]

For warranty, dirt roads, or city driving I'd say around 5k. I've used Moble 1 since my 87 GT and I sold it at a little over 150k. I drive 30k highway miles a year and changed it around 10k and that car was clean and ran as strong as when I brought it new. I've also done the same on both my dodge P/U's and they had 150k+ and one around 200k now with absolutly no issues. These oils aren't dyno oils with all the issues they have. I worked at the Amoco research center for 22 years and saw a lot of test with syn oils and wouldn't ever go back.

On my 2 Mach's and the GT I let them go 5k to 6k miles or once a year which ever comes first. On the Mach's it's usually a year, these oils don't break down sittting in your oil pan, you just have to make sure you change filters on longer oil changes a couple of times to remove any dirt that may present itself. JMO

[machiado]

Boy, I guess I am in the minority here... `Being at a Ford Store with a great Service Dept., allows me to have it changed, pretty much "whenever I feel like it"... For me that means much sooner than later. The small imported P/U I purchased in 1980-right at the tail end of the gas crunch-had 197,000 miles on it when I traded it for my first full-size F-150, in 1997...I changed the oil in that truck, "religiously", every 2500 miles. The same follows with the MaCh...!

[mrscherry2000]

I had a full synthetic put in at 11000 and now I'm at about 15500 and am wondering myself. I heard that you still should change the oil filter at regualr intervals even if you aren't changing the oil. Change the filter and add a quart for what you lost. You can take a look at the oil and see what it looks like to determine if you want to change it.

[birdman941]

To me, it ain't worth the chance.
Every 3000 Mobil 1 and a nice new Motorcraft filter.
Cheap insurance, plus you can keep a closer eye on things that way.