Oil Change Interval

[Rondor]

Driving conditions and weather play a small factor in mileage but the modern age oils aren't as likely to break down over time, and most all retro's sit in a garage. I still change at 5 K miles but that is often way over a year..

" Not like when many of us were kids and bought recycled oil in a glass bottle for 15-20 cents and if your fuel pump in an old flat head ford lasted over 1-2 years you were lucky. "

[Stanley]

Change every 5,000 miles. Make about 9,000 miles a year. So change it twice a year. Other car is a lease. 2017 Ford Escape. Owners manual, and computer on dash read out says, every 10,0000 miles recommended, or when computer says to. So far it tells me to change oil after 10,0000 miles or around that for the last two oil changes. Ford trying to save the environment as best they can.

[BillyL]

Thanks for all the comments. I think the right answer for me is to continue using the full synthetic oil as recommended by the OEM manual and change at 5,000 mile or twelve month intervals. Same will be for the bird and daily driven vehicles. I did some research and came to this conclusion. The twelve month interval recommended by most all the oil manufacturers, synthetics included, is due to concern for acidity caused by oxidation in the oil and/ or water contamination of the oil caused by condensation in the oil pan and valve covers. Both conditions are more likely in cars not driven for days at a time and not kept in climate controlled conditions.
Above all, I think Greg, AKA Black Beauty, Has the best answer. Peace of mind for under $100 a year (full synthetic oil costs more than $50) is worth the cost!

[BirdsAndBugs]

Peace of mind for under $100 a year (full synthetic oil costs more than $50) is worth the cost!

All Ford dealers have an oil change package called "The Works". It's usually about $50 which is what Greg is referring to and uses Motorcraft Synthetic Blend so it's really not necessary to pay more for full synthetic when this is what Ford recommends.

I've also noticed that even most of the quick lube places tend to use a synthetic blend now too.

[Welker]

This may be off subject but here goes. I have about 123k on the car and it has never used a drop of oil. I change it about 3000-5000 depending on how much I drive it. My question: Does anybody have an oil usage issue? I bought the car new and I've never kept a car this long or for this many miles and just wonder if I should expect anything in the oil usage category.

[BirdsAndBugs]

This may be off subject but here goes. I have about 123k on the car and it has never used a drop of oil. I change it about 3000-5000 depending on how much I drive it. My question: Does anybody have an oil usage issue? I bought the car new and I've never kept a car this long or for this many miles and just wonder if I should expect anything in the oil usage category.

Ned, so your problem is you have no problem and your car is working the way it should?
Just be happy!

[Rondor]

Oil consumption is caused by either engine wear or a leak some where. Oil changes prevent engine wear and today's engines are better built out of better materials.Same can be said for today's oils. All much different for us older car guys with 50-60 year old habits.

[428PI]

I never add any to my bird with 124k. Now, with my Mark VIII with 250k I add perhaps a half a qt every 2k miles. My Grand Marquis with 248k-non. Now, just remember that you'll still get sludge build up if you don't change your oil. We had two newer cars in the shop today that we pulled the valve covers and they were sludged up. They get wholesaled.