In tepast, my Ford Dealer has changed my oil every 5K---and the sticker to remind me is a 5K interval---today, it was 3K---and the Service Manager sadi, "See you in 3,000 miles!"---I think that they may be trying to rip me off---what do you guys think?

 

the more they change your oil the more money they make....I think there is a whole section in the owners manual covering this. Opinions vary on the subject...

 

Yeah, the dealer told me 3000 or three months, whichever comes first. I told them I don't want the truck if I gotta change the oil every 1200 miles.....

 

Use a good quality synthetic like Mobil 1 & you can go 5K intervals with no worries, per owners manual, after warranty period, you can add another 2K easy.....

 

I have always used the dealership(stealership?) where I purchased my truck to change my oil---the price is great and I have trusted them---5K on the dot. Now---the window sticker says 3K---and I feel that they need to make a little more money---a little more often...

I have always used the motorcraft oil and the motorcraft filr, too.

Tim C.

 

Being a dealership lube tech, I kind of know the grounds. On warranty vehicles we put 5,000 mile stickers. On regular vehicles we just put 3,000 miles. It really depends on how hard you drive your vehicle. Chances are if you get your oil changed at a dealer, your not getting Motorcraft oil or filter. My dealer uses Valvoline oil and filter. Little cheaper, little smaller filter, but it does the job. But back to the intervals, if you go on a couple hundred mile journey on a weekend or so, than use the 3,000 mile rule. If you just truck it to work and no heavy engine load such as towing, do the 5,000. I drive my truck like a bandit, especially since it sounds 100x better w/o the muffler. I change it 3,000 even though I leak a qaurt every 800 miles(oil lines and headgaskets).

I also suggest to recheck your oil conditon and capacity after you get it changed at the dealer. Some of there pumps don't pump the exact amount the tech types in, and some techs do not check the oil.

 

My dealership said they'd give me free oil changes every 5 months or 5,000 miles. I still haven't decided if I'm going to take them up on it. From working at the dealer, I remember them using some bulk, recycled oil when they did oil changes. I might just change it every 3k myself with motorcraft filter and motorcraft semi-synthetic oil...Yeah, it's going to cost roughly $20 each time, whereas I could get it done for free, but it's nice peace of mind to know that you changed your oil properly every 3k...

Heck, that's 90% of the reason I bought a vehicle new...so I know it was properly maintained with good fluids and parts and not beat on.

 

hmm.... i always like to play it safe and change it at 3k miles. i use castrol syntec blend 5w 20... its funny how me spend literally thousands in mods and bitch about things like oil change intervals, fuel mileage, and fuel prices. i just prefer to play things safe, as i am planning on keeping my truck for the long run. just my opinion, tho.

 

04 Supercrew, 4.6, 75000 miles. I run the oil to 7500 miles and change. I have near single digit wear metals and TBN for the 5w-20 Pennzoil and Havoline oils is still 2.0+. Sometimes, my engine idles for hours with the A/C running as it is too hot for it to catch up in the summer. What else could you ask for? No tricky BS advertizing hype synthetic, just plain old cheap motor oil. As long as it meets Fords spec, no need to pay more because you don't always get more, especially with motor oils.

 

I always run mine about 5000 miles before an oil change. I don't believe in the 3000 mile interval unless you beat the hell out of your truck on a daily basis.

 

every 5K here, and yeah I take it to my dealer, oil & filter plus tire rotation is $24.. tho now I guess I'll have to put the stock intake back on every time I go back.. LOL

 

If you really want the best oil for your truck, use AMSOIL 5W-30 or, 0W-20(new) fully synthetic. I have used it since 1992 and go 20,000 miles on one oil and filter change. I really became a believer when we started using it in all of our state patrol cars. This stuff holds up and dosen't break down!
_________________
2002 F150 Screw FX4
5.4
AF1
Superchip 1715
Flowmaster
15-16 mpg city

 

I heard that FORD raised the mileage up to 7K now for some oil changes.

 

I've dumped in havoline on all my oil changes and just used fram filters, I change every 2-2.5k have on all my F150's: '84 (302 V8), '97 (4.6L), and now my '02 (5.4L). This may be excessive, but as was stated it's for my piece of mind, and since I do it myself I can do my 2 changes in the same amount of time for the same price as having someone else doing it

P.S. I live in the mountains and tow often

 

I was using castrol but i switched to motorcraft filter and oil.The motor seems smoother and quiter since switching.I change it at a max of 3000 miles but i beat the hell out of it daily.I have thought about amsoil but i can never seem to find it and i don't like switching around much.