Oil Change
2nd Gear Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 435
The manual doesn't say to change it every 3000 miles. It says 7,500. Also, Walmart charges 13 bucks for a five-quart bottle of Motorcraft synthetic blend ($2.97 if purchased by the quart), and another $3.67 for a Motorcraft filter. More than ten bucks, but still a bargain, especially if you don't change it every 3000 miles like some obsessive-compulsive Rainman.
6th Gear Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 15,865
From: Ludlow, Mass
Maybe I can clarify from what I know about this .You can possibly go longer than 3000 miles between oil changes with regular oil (MAYBE all the way up to the 7500 mile interval ) under IDEAL conditions .However there are too many variables in engine operating conditions .Like for instance, if you do a lot of cold starts and only go a few miles then it is not under ideal conditions or driving where it's dusty or sustained high speed driving .In other words some of the things I mentioned may be normally hard to avoid which means you are operating more under the catagory of severe service and the oil change interval is less.So regular oil change for most people is 3000 -4000 miles but maybe longer under ideal conditions.Store bought synthetics like mobil 1 and amsoil (not castrol syntec ) is every 6000- 7500 or maybe a little more and ester based oil like Redline you can go about 10000 or so.
3rd Gear Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 707
From: Land of Lincoln
Yeah nobody drives the "ideal conditions" thing to go past 3,000 miles. Do what the manual says and change it every 3,000 and have piece of mind. Cost me $10 and 20 minutes to do it and know it's done right. I use Ford synthetic blend and motorcraft filter from Wal Mart. Changing your oil and filter is the single best thing you can do for your car.
Most of us (as in 90%) are under normal driving conditions. If we were not, it would be called abnormal.
6th Gear Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 15,865
From: Ludlow, Mass
actually a majority of people fall under severe driving conditions, i.e. lots of cold starts, several trips of 20 miles or less at a time, etc.
2nd Gear Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 435
Whatever the majority of people do, that by definition, is normal. Still, if you want to err on the side of caution, try changing the oil every 5000 miles. Every 3000 is just marketing.
Show me a person who's pushing the 3000 mile standard, and I'll show you a person who's trying to sell you an oil change.
Show me a person who's pushing the 3000 mile standard, and I'll show you a person who's trying to sell you an oil change.
Last edited by Charlie321; Nov 8, 2008 at 01:05 AM.
2nd Gear Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 435
You can't go wrong with Mobil One, which is full synthetic but very expensive. Otherwise, the Ford-recommended Motorcraft synthetic blend 5w30, along with a Motorcraft oil filter are both really cheap and really good for the money. I started changing my own oil because I didn't want any minimum-wage chumps touching my car. The money I've saved so far has paid for the Rhino Ramps I use to raise the car.
6th Gear Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 15,865
From: Ludlow, Mass
You can't go wrong with Mobil One, which is full synthetic but very expensive. Otherwise, the Ford-recommended Motorcraft synthetic blend 5w30, along with a Motorcraft oil filter are both really cheap and really good for the money. I started changing my own oil because I didn't want any minimum-wage chumps touching my car. The money I've saved so far has paid for the Rhino Ramps I use to raise the car.
"Whatever the majority of people do, that by definition, is normal. Still, if you want to err on the side of caution, try changing the oil every 5000 miles. Every 3000 is just marketing."
no if you use cheap dino oil and a fram filter you will be lucky to make it the 3k
easiest way is to check your oil weekly, when it gets dirty, change it