How often to change oil?

[ghunt81]

I've been doing 5000 mile changes for the last several years. My Mustang only accumulates about 10K miles a year (if that) so it gets Mobil 1 and either a Mobil 1 or Bosch filter twice a year (generally right before I store it for the winter, and then sometime after I get it out in the spring).

The Ranger I just put a Purolator Classic on it and I can't remember what oil. I think I just put some Super Tech from wally world in there, been using that stuff in various other vehicles for years.

 

[snake]

The local parts store had several new filters cut open so you could see the filter material and such. Fram was one of the suckiest filters, but with that said they do seem to filter out what needs to be filtered out. But I stick with motorcraft. They built the engine so it should be a good match. I also use full synthetic motorcraft oil, kinda hard to find but with the turbos on the ecoboost I want to have the right stuff. I normally use all motorcraft parts no matter what, they always fit perfectly. Can't get a motorcraft filter? I'll use a wix as I've seen the inside of them as well...

 

[fredobandito]

Are Motorcraft filters generally more expensive than Frams in y'all's areas? My dad runs Frams because he likes the spray-on truck bed liner on the end of the can, so I used that because he paid for it. Once I was on my own, I generally found the Motorcraft filters were the same price or cheaper than the Frams and Purolators. Right now I'm using a Mobil 1 filter because I got it as part of the parts store oil change special with my Mobil 1 0w-20.

As for OCI, I always used 5k miles out of convenience, and, because it's what my dad told me to do. Of course, he said that to my sister, too, but she's gone well over 10,000 miles on Walmart high mileage oil and a Fram orange can in her Focus.

I've done more research than any normal person should do on the subject of motor oils, and there really is no generic answer. It depends on your driving environment, style, and what kind of oil and filter you choose.

Be forewarned that there are a lot of misconceptions about synthetic oil (as we've seen a lot in this thread, even). Anyone who tells you that you can't switch back and forth between them, or that you shouldn't switch to it with high mileage, is perpetuating old wives' tales.

As for me, I drive in Atlanta traffic every day, so Mobil 1, Motorcraft filter, and 5k OCIs.

and oil dont go bad or wear out.....it just gets dirty.

I'm afraid I must disagree here. Ever heard of oil shear? Oil on the shelf won't go bad, but after a while, the force of squeezing oil through tight spots in the engine thins it out. On an extreme scale, but to illustrate the concept, it's like the block of cheese you run against a grater. With every pass, the block of cheese loses a bit off the end. Ask anyone who did a used oil analysis on a 6.0 PowerStroke. 10w-40 went in, and, 5,000 miles later, 10w-30 came out. For the record, most diesel motor oils now are rated for API SM certification, which is what we all used between 2005 and 2011. It may not be as severe in our trucks, but it is still a present issue.

 

[snake]

Wal-Mart has both motorcraft and fram, I think the MC is about 5 bucks? Can't remember exactly but not outrageously expensive for factory stuff

 

[ghunt81]

Motorcraft filters are just rebadged Purolators anyway. Basically a Purolator Plus filter inside a regular Purolator case (this is according to bobistheoilguy.com). I generally buy the regular Purolators, I can get them for $4 at wally mart.

 

[jcd302]

We live out in the country. My wife drives about 20 miles to work and I Drive 30, one way. I run Mobil 1 full synthetic and a really good filter and will typically go about 10,000 miles. Everywhere we go is enough to warm the engine up. I think church is the closest and that is about 5 miles away.
I avoid the orange can of death(Fram) like the plague. I almost lost a fresh 460 rebuild on one of those. Cut a few filters open and you can see the difference. You definitely get what you pay for. But the opinions on oil filters is like everything else, Ford better than Chevy Purolator is better than Fram, Pioneer's better than Kenwood, whatever.
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[fredobandito]

We live out in the country. My wife drives about 20 miles to work and I Drive 30, one way. I run Mobil 1 full synthetic and a really good filter and will typically go about 10,000 miles. Everywhere we go is enough to warm the engine up. I think church is the closest and that is about 5 miles away.
I avoid the orange can of death(Fram) like the plague. I almost lost a fresh 460 rebuild on one of those. Cut a few filters open and you can see the difference. You definitely get what you pay for. But the opinions on oil filters is like everything else, Ford better than Chevy Purolator is better than Fram, Pioneer's better than Kenwood, whatever.
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Yeah, but everybody here knows Ford is better than Chevy. Lol

 

[enjr44]

I love these types of threads. Everyone knows what is best and none of them agree. Me, I use Wix filters and semi synthetic. Change the oil once a year whether it needs it or not. Of course, being retired I don't put a lot of miles on them anymore, maybe 500 a month.

 

[97RangerXLT]

I love these types of threads. Everyone knows what is best and none of them agree. Me, I use Wix filters and semi synthetic. Change the oil once a year whether it needs it or not. Of course, being retired I don't put a lot of miles on them anymore, maybe 500 a month.

And you are wrong!!!! [emoji12]

Motorcraft filter and Mobile 1 Super for me...usually because it is what is cheapest or I can get a deal on at Walmart.

AJ

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[pjtoledo]

just the facts M'am

2005 Ranger w/2.3. I'm the original owner and do my own maintenance.
6000 to 7000 miles on an oil change, with very few exceptions its been Mobil 1synthetic oil & Mobil 1 filter. I use a larger filter than what is specified, M1-209.

hit 289,000 miles today, it now uses a quart about every 2000-2200 miles.

 

[Mickey Bitsko]

Here's a different concept , why not follow manufacturers recommendation .....
wouldn't that be the logical thing to do ? Seems everybody on this thread is smarter than that..

To the op , change it when you want , start a new trend.

 

[JoshT]

Here's a different concept , why not follow manufacturers recommendation .....
wouldn't that be the logical thing to do ? Seems everybody on this thread is smarter than that..

Really? The OP is asking what the manufacturer recommends because he can't find it in the owners manual. A lot of replies in this thread say 5000 miles which is what the manufacturer recommends for a lot of Rangers. The manufacturer also recommends using shorter intervals depending on the driving conditions, which some are also going by. I don't think anyone on the other side of a computer screen knows what my driving conditions are like, and I certainly won't pretend to know what their conditions are like.

Really the only wrong answer here would be: "You need to change the oil? " or recommending extended oil change intervals. By extended I mean longer than manufacturer recommended.

Please be careful with that last line. Someone out there might take you literally and change it every 10k+ miles when they think about it, or just do it once a year regardless of miles driven. There are some clueless people out there that would do it then come crying when their motor blew up.

 

[SenorNoob]

Hey, those clueless people COULD get lucky. My aunt has a '90 Pontiac Grand Prix that had 190,000 miles when the odometer went out 10 years before she stopped driving it and it's only had 10 oil changes or so since then...

 

[JoshT]

Hey, those clueless people COULD get lucky. My aunt has a '90 Pontiac Grand Prix that had 190,000 miles when the odometer went out 10 years before she stopped driving it and it's only had 10 oil changes or so since then...

Well yearly oil changes can workout fine if you drive it little enough that it doesn't warrant more. My motorcycle gets yearly oil changes, because I just don't ride it. Based on mileage it would have had one oil change since I bought it in 2006, and would only have a few miles on it since. My truck was actually like that for a few years as well. I was mostly using it during hunting season and it would rarely see 5k miles a year. I really need to get in the habit of suing both of those more and cut down on the mileage my car see every year.

 

[Mickey Bitsko]

Really? The OP is asking what the manufacturer recommends because he can't find it in the owners manual. A lot of replies in this thread say 5000 miles which is what the manufacturer recommends for a lot of Rangers. The manufacturer also recommends using shorter intervals depending on the driving conditions, which some are also going by. I don't think anyone on the other side of a computer screen knows what my driving conditions are like, and I certainly won't pretend to know what their conditions are like.

Really the only wrong answer here would be: "You need to change the oil? " or recommending extended oil change intervals. By extended I mean longer than manufacturer recommended.

Please be careful with that last line. Someone out there might take you literally and change it every 10k+ miles when they think about it, or just do it once a year regardless of miles driven. There are some clueless people out there that would do it then come crying when their motor blew up.

Have you EVER gone past a manufacturers recommendation... yea , me too
You can't fix clueless.