[Nathan Green]

It is my understanding the Transit has an intelligent oil life moniter that tells you when it is due for an oil change. This interval could vary in duration depending upon load, towing, idling, temperature, etc. You can run a vehicle health report to check your percentage at any time.


Well, I am at 6600mi. I run about 50% of the time towing something(about 30% of that was near max load 5500lbs..the rest was about 1500lbs). Almost all highway miles. Almost always use cruise control and I am extremely easy with the go throttle and brake.


My vehicle report today at 660 mi has 37% oil life remaining. 6600mi/.63== 10,476 mi for oil change (assuming it is linear). I checked it every few thousand miles and it has been consistent.


Now I do plan to get my oil changed tomorrow...getting set to leave on a long trip so I want to go ahead and get it done. Also, this would be my first oil change so I don't want to push it to the end.


My question, is the similar to everyone else? Towing is not easy and yet the cpu tells me I can go 10k between changes. Just checking if the thing is off its rocker.


Of course, I would never go more than 10k/1yr per the manual if it came to that.


Nate

 

[star gazer]

Where can I find this? I only have the standard synch radio if that matters.

 

[SuprMover]

Mine was at 32% at 7100 miles, so I guess the computer figures 10K oil changes are OK. Motorcraft oil is actually one of the best on the market, so I don't feel bad about 7500-9000 miles. 11K on semi-synthetic is pushing it though...

 

[Nathan Green]

Mine was at 32% at 7100 miles, so I guess the computer figures 10K oil changes are OK. Motorcraft oil is actually one of the best on the market, so I don't feel bad about 7500-9000 miles. 11K on semi-synthetic is pushing it though...

FWIW, the oil change interval on my ford escape (hybrid) was 10k. But...of course engine idle time was low in that application.

The manual does say change oil out if you reach 10k or 1yr regardless of the monitor.

Nate

 

[bbird]

this is a great tool, once I pass the 60,000 mile mark, I will switch to Mobil-1 full synthetic, I am running motcraft full synthetic currently. should be Interesting to compare the two. I am a Mobile-1 guy. I had this in my Sprinter with over 500,000 miles on the motor. It used a quart of oil every 10,000 miles, which is very good

 

[Whitedog]

this is a great tool, once I pass the 60,000 mile mark, I will switch to Mobil-1 full synthetic, I am running motcraft full synthetic currently. should be Interesting to compare the two. I am a Mobile-1 guy. I had this in my Sprinter with over 500,000 miles on the motor. It used a quart of oil every 10,000 miles, which is very good

Why wait to 60,000 miles?

 

[bbird]

Why wait to 60,000 miles?

Cause that's when the 60,000 mile powertrain warranty expires, rather stay with the oem oil till then

 

[Nathan Green]

this is a great tool, once I pass the 60,000 mile mark, I will switch to Mobil-1 full synthetic, I am running motcraft full synthetic currently. should be Interesting to compare the two. I am a Mobile-1 guy. I had this in my Sprinter with over 500,000 miles on the motor. It used a quart of oil every 10,000 miles, which is very good

I plan to stay with Motorcraft synthetic blend...if it is giving me 11K oil change interval I am assuming there is still plenty of life left at 10k which is the max I would leave my oil in there (per owners manuel). See no reason to justify the extra cost.

I get coupons from ford for $15 semi synthetic oil changes all the time.

Nate

 

[bobojay]

Cause that's when the 60,000 mile powertrain warranty expires, rather stay with the oem oil till then

I hope you know that you don't have to stick with "OEM" oil to maintain the warranty. No auto, truck, snowmobile, lawnmower, motorcycle manufacturer can tell you that you have to use their brand of oil. It's a federal law.

 

[ultane]

My dealer told me that the first oil change MUST happen before 5,000 miles or the Ford warranty is voided.

 

[ultane]

Cause that's when the 60,000 mile powertrain warranty expires, rather stay with the oem oil till then

I'm thinking that Mobile 1 oil probably exceeds what ever requirement that Ford requires for the Ecoboost engine.. I haven't looked but usually the owners manual states what is required as far as oil rating. And last time I checked Ford did not make any oil products. I'm guessing Motorcraft oil is bottled by someone else for Ford?

 

[Nathan Green]

My dealer told me that the first oil change MUST happen before 5,000 miles or the Ford warranty is voided.

Dealer (neither the one I bought it from nor the one I just had the oil changed at) didn't tell me that. Nor is it in the owners manual.


Nate

 

[PeterR]

The owners manual permits other oils, which meet specifications, on p. 274 here:

http://www.manualslib.com/manual/745073/Ford-Transit-2015.html?page=277#manual

"Motor oils of the recommended viscosity grade that meet API SN requirements and display the API Certification Mark for gasoline engines are also acceptable."

For the schedule of oil changes see here:

http://www.manualslib.com/manual/745073/Ford-Transit-2015.html?page=439#manual

The Oil-Life Monitor determines the schedule, which under extreme conditions could be as low as 3,000 miles.

 

[Whitedog]

Cause that's when the 60,000 mile powertrain warranty expires, rather stay with the oem oil till then

If the reason is that you want to feel comfortable using what Ford resells, then you should do that for your own peace of mind.

But if you are doing it because the dealer or someone has convinced you that you must in order to maintain warranty then you need to read up on the facts. As mentioned earlier, as long as the oil meets or exceeds manufacturer specs, it will be OK.

 

[bobojay]

My dealer told me that the first oil change MUST happen before 5,000 miles or the Ford warranty is voided.

The dealer is not the one that determines if the warranty has been violated. That's a Ford corporate decision, and they have to provide a valid reason for that decision.
Me thinks your dealer is padding his service dept.

 

[VacaMobile]

My dealer told me that the first oil change MUST happen before 5,000 miles or the Ford warranty is voided.

We were just talking to the service department manager Wednesday. We asked if we were supposed to have the oil changed prior to 10,000 miles. His reply was only if Sync told us to. He said that Ford no longer uses break-in oil.

 

[ultane]

Thanks guys. I hadn't read the entire manual yet..

 

[e.powell01]

I can't even find it in my menu.... I have a 2015 with the standard POS radio.

 

[Longboard]

OK so I have 5,000 miles on the oil and 17,000 total, the interval would be anywhere from 5,000-10,000 miles for my driving. Because extreme anything is a hard value to quantify. I'm curious what the oil life monitor thinks, but we really can't read it directly even with Sync? We have to register and get on-line? Or at least phone?
Or is there a menu item for this......I sure can't find it and there's nothing in the manual.
Probably easier and quicker to just change the oil, possibly better as well.
Still want to know what the computer thinks though.

 

[brittles]

Just go ahead and change your oil without resetting the IOLM. When it comes on you'll know what the computer thinks.