My dealer told me when i bought my truck that i was to go 5000 between oil changes,I dont have my manual either i havent had time to get back to dealer, Is that correct? Seems like a big differance from 3- 5 k , also there is all that info on oil weight, i dont care the truck is a lease, saves me money on oil changes, but when started cold if seems to rev up at first,(1700)them idle down oil weight will not help that the damage is done with no oil presure. is this normal this is my first ford .

 

The revving up on cold starts is normal. On every computer controlled vehicle I have seen does this. It revs up for several reasons. 1. The motor will produce less emissions when it is revved up alittle. Since a vehicle puts out more emissions when cold, the motor will rev up to couteract the cold emissions. 2. When the motor revs up it actually pumps oil faster to the top end.
About the oil changes, everyone on here changes at 3,000 miles. However in the owners manual 5,000 mile changes is the light duty schedule while 3,000 is the heavy duty schedule. I guess you could say I have "mixed emotions" in you case. One side of me says "its not your truck, your just going to give it back, change the oil at 5,000 miles. However the other side says "change it at 3,000 miles, so that the next person that buys it will have had the extra protection." Use nothing but 5w30 oil unless you use sythetic and then it may be ok to move up to 10w30. Synthetic cost a bit more, so I suggest just using a good name brand 5w30. My family uses castrol brand oil in all of our vehicles, and we usually put over 200,000 miles on them before we trade them in, never any motor related trouble.

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1997 4x4 5.4 ORP XLT extended cab Dark Toreador red Westin nerf bars tint HARDER THAN A ROCK AND FASTER THAN A HEART BEAT

 

Well I wouldnt say everyone...

Ive been changing my oil every 5000 since Ive had the truck (I now have 42000). Engine oils today are better at protecting and last longer than they used to. Theres really no need to change every 3000 or less, unless you live in dusty conditions or go mudding everyday.
http://cartalk.cars.com/Info/Cyberch...tions/q37.html



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The Truck: 1997 Black F-150 Flareside. Regular Cab ORP and Towing Package
The Mods: K&N Filter, Eurolid Hard Tonneau and Ford Bug Deflector.
The Site:
Triton's 4.6 Liter Web Page
www.mindspring.com/~acbradley/index.html

 

Actually the light duty interval is either 7000 or 7500 (I can't remember which with out looking at the manual) 5000 is a nice compromise if you do mostly light duty but don't want to stretch it that far. I make sure I do it as I approach 5000 if not before that.

 

well over 90% do at 3,000.
cphillip, you sure. It seems like I remember reading 5,000, but I will check the manual.

 

The manual states 5000 for normal service intervals and 3000 for severe service intervals.

I believe Dodge does there normal service intervals at 7500.

We ought to start a thread on how many people change their oil at 5000 or above, I believe you'd be surprised at how many people do.

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The Truck: 1997 Black F-150 Flareside. Regular Cab ORP and Towing Package
The Mods: K&N Filter, Eurolid Hard Tonneau and Ford Bug Deflector.
The Site:
Triton's 4.6 Liter Web Page
www.mindspring.com/~acbradley/index.html

 

Thank you for the info, but reving a cold engine does more harm than good , i am a mechanic and i can tell you more heat is made with no lube on the upper end than if you where only to let it idle, the heat cooks the oil and scuffs the bore and the bearings, it takes a few seconds for oil to get to top of engine ( 15 or so) pull a vale cover some time a start a cold engine, you can see for yourself, The engine runs good though, thanks again on input about milage, i am not sure when i will change it.

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2000 f150 4x4 offroad pkg, 5.4 xlt

 

Ford-tough1,

No, I am not sure. I am sure my wifes Pathfinder is 3500 and 7200 which never made sense to me as this thing only holds 3.5 quarts. I might be confusing the two figures from that. I would have to look and don't have it with me today. You might be right. If so forgive me. After you pass fourty the second thing goes!

 

The reving of the engine when started cold is the equivalant of the choke on a carb. If you think the reving is hard on the motor just think of what high idle did to the engine.

 

The term "severe" can be kind of misleading since most manufacturers consider driving in stop and go traffic on a daily basis to be severe driving conditions.

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1999 Lariat Super Cab, S.B. 5.4L, 3.55 LS
and everything but the leaky slider window.
Bright red w/ gold 2-tone, Leather Captain's Chairs
Mods: Duraliner bedliner, Bugflector II, Hide-a-hooks.
& a leeetle chrome tip on the exhaust.

 

You guys are great , this board is really nice , thanks all around on the input, Like is said this is my first ford been a gm man all my life got married and now i get the a plan, so i thought i would give them a try glad i did i did'nt know what i was missing, rides much better than old truck, and the mpg is great, if i can keep my foot off the gas, thanks again to all!!!

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2000 f150 4x4 offroad pkg, 5.4 xlt

 

I have changed at just less than 3000 miles since I bought the truck. The dealer here made up a special service book that they give to every customer with shorter service intervals. It probably makes them a lot of money. But, I do keep the oil changed. I have started doing it myself since I can get the correct filter at Wal Mart for $2.97.

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97 F-150, 2WD, Reg Cab,Flareside,Dk Toreador Red, 4.6, 3.55 LS, EGR Bug Deflector, ******* Bed Cover, Bed Liner, XL Full Length Running Boards, Air Aid Kit, Gibson Single Out Cat Back, Superchips, TransGo Shift Kit, Hellwig Rear Sway Bar, Hellwig 2500# Overload Springs

 

I change at 4000 or 3 months ... 3000 just came up to quick but I just could not go to 5000 after having done 2000 and 3000 most of my driving life.

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99 .. XL .. SC .. 4.2 .. 3.31 .. auto
Olathe Kansas

 

When I say it pumps oil up faster at higher rpms, I don't mean when you crank the truck to immediatly run it at 5,000 rpms. What I mean is the initial rev (when you crank it and it goes to about 1500 rpms) will get the oil up there faster than if it cranked and went to 500 rpms. I know you don't rev a cold motor. I let mine idle for about 30 seconds before I put it in gear, then it never sees over 2,000 rpms until the temp gauge is in its normal position.
cphilip, I just checked my manual and it is 3000/5000 miles. Don't worry I forgive you.
steve, I don't think I will be pulling a valve cover off of one of these trucks, I barely can see the things.

 

I have always changed the oil and filter at 3,000 miles in every vehicle I have owned. Since I am using Synthetic oil now..I plan on extending that out to 4,000 miles for both the oil and filter.

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2000 F-150 XLT, 4x2, 5.4L Supercab, Styleside, Black with silver two-tone, 3.55, class III towing package with heavy duty cooling package, overhead console, sliding rear window, keyless entry, dark graphite interior, in dash CD, Pendaliner bedliner, K&N air filter, cabin filtration system, Bugflector II, engine build 10/4/99