Maybe this is some new rule but i never heard of it.

I got a letter from the service center of the ford dealer that i bought my truck from 5 months ago and it said that i need to bring my truck in for a routine maintenance next week. i called them and spoke with a female in the service dept and she said that i need an oil change and a routine checkup. I told her that i had the truck 5 months and i only have 2,400 miles on it, so why would i need an oil change?

she told me that it doesn't make a difference about the mileage, it's the length of time that determines when to change the oil. Instead of discussing it further and wind up arguing with her, i told her thanks, but now thanks.

Has anyone heard of this oil change rule of thumb, because i never have?

 

As far as I know, its always been 3000 miles OR 3 months. For instance, if you're using good old fashioned dino oil and the truck were to sit for 3 months and not be driven, there is a chance that your oil could begin to break down and coagulate.

There's not been many documented cases of it, but at $28 for an oil change including a genuine Nissan filter and 6 quarts of whatever oil I choose, I'll change mine every 3 months or 3000 miles, whichever comes first, whether required or not.

 

Follow your manual. If you live in the south, run 10W-30 otherwise run the 5W-30 oil. Follow the maintenance intervals and send her a bowl of ****s to eat.
She is calling you because in 5 months you should have already driven "x" miles which would equivocate to an oil change. If you plan on keeping your truck for some time, keep researching this forum and keep your money in your pocket.

 

yep, you're right.

they just want some revenues because car and truck sales are down in the country right now.

 

Yup, I just take mine in when the mileage is right. I have a short commute to work, so to get 5K miles in between takes longer than most people. I get the same mailers and stuff, but ignore them.

As a matter of fact I have one on my desk telling me to go in for my 10K service this week when I only have 9200K, so needless to say.....im waiting till 10K like the mailer says, not the date.

 

i would only go by the 3 months if you drove your truck maybe a couple times a month, but if its driven every day dont bother going by the months, driving it every day will keep things mixed up, besides ive never seen a shelf life on a bottle of oil

 

I do drive it everyday. I only put about 15 miles a day so the miles are low.

 

Insult your intelligence? Just by sending you a service routine mail out? Alright ...

 

Next thing you'll see is them insulting his bank account by putting coupons in there too.

 

As said before, follow the manual.

FWIW, I bought a '91 Mazda 323 brand new. The Mazda dealer recommended I change the coolant at the first oil change. And a whole bunch of other stuff that the owner's manual did not specify until 30,000 miles. If I did everything they said I needed, it would have been a $400 service on my little econo box.

The manual called for an oil change. When I pointed this out, the dealer's service department told me Mazda's recommend service intervals were inadequate.

So I wrote Mazda a letter to find out whether their manual recommended inadequate service intervals or whether they have lying dealers that are trying to fleece their customers on unnecessary services. Strangely, Mazda customer service never bothered to answer my question, but I'm going with the crooked dealer scenario.

 

Crazy businesses !! Why in the world would they try to make money !?

 

Neither 5W30 or 10W30 are recommended oils for your truck - 5W20 is what the manual says.

Read your maintenance schedule - there will be 2 schedules, normal and severe service. Decide which applies. I'm too lazy to download the schedule for 2007's, but I *THINK* it's 7500 miles/6 months for normal service and 3000 miles/3 months for severe service.

 

Those letters you get in the mail don't come from the dealer either, some outfit in BFE sends them out, making a rough guestimation on your mileage and how often you "need" services.

 

i was talking about the person telling me that my oil needed changing even though i told her that i had only 2,400 miles on it.

now i'm starting to wonder about your intelligence.

 

Wonder all you want. We all know about your intelligence after this thread ...