Oil Change Required?

MichaelH

My Bronco has about 6,000 miles and is two years old. Last oil change was about a year ago at 3,000 miles. Oil still looks full and pretty clean. But the “Oil Change Required” message came on. Is the message simply triggered by the passage of a year? Or do I need to rush out and get an oil change? Thanks for any advice.

Yeah, it went off due to being a year since the last oil change. Here is something out of the manual.

The oil life monitor in your Bronco is using the low-mileage annual oil change parameter vs. the mileage accumulated algorithm. My personal opinion based on my experience and practice with other brands, is changing the oil at 3,000 miles based on 12-month interval is a waste of money and petroleum resources. Modern engines using modern engine oils and good oil filters along with top-tier gasoline brands easily handle 10,000-mile oil changes. I had one car that went 426,000 miles on the original engine with a average 12,300-mile oil change interval (I just lost it in an unexpected flood event at my house). Other cars I own also are driven well under 5,000 miles per year and I change the oil in them every 18 to 24 months mostly around every 7,500 miles of accumulation. The cars I am referencing are 17 years old with 124,000 miles (bought used at 8 years old/23,000 miles), and 28 years old with 200,000 miles (bought new in 1997).

However, to preserve the 60,000-mile/5-year drivetrain warranty, I suggest following Ford's oil life change schedule as notified by the monitor in the Bronco. I follow the notification change schedule as reported by my Bronco, which is the low mileage 12-month notification and is about 5,200 miles (my annual mileage). Definitely use oil and filters that meet Ford's specifications.

I wouldn't change the oil at 3K, though I know there are many people who believe a lot of myths and legends about oil that sits in an engine for a period of time. People forget that the original reason for specifying time intervals for oil changes was that it was easier for people to remember 3 months (or whatever interval) than to try to remember mileage. I've owned vehicles back to a 1982 model, and have never experienced a need to do any engine repairs that would be oil- or engine wear-related. The oldest vehicle in our fleet is currently operated by my daughter and is 21 years old. I've always just followed the manufacturer's mileage change recommendation. Every vehicle older than the Bronco has 6-digit mileage, runs fine, and passes emissions easily.

MichaelH

My Bronco has about 6,000 miles and is two years old. Last oil change was about a year ago at 3,000 miles. Oil still looks full and pretty clean. But the “Oil Change Required” message came on. Is the message simply triggered by the passage of a year? Or do I need to rush out and get an oil change? Thanks for any advice.

I don't know about rush out, but I do 3000 mile oil changes. A year doesn't bother me as much. If really want to learn about lubrication check oil geek on you tube.

timhood

I wouldn't change the oil at 3K, though I know there are many people who believe a lot of myths and legends about oil that sits in an engine for a period of time. People forget that the original reason for specifying time intervals for oil changes was that it was easier for people to remember 3 months (or whatever interval) than to try to remember mileage. I've owned vehicles back to a 1982 model, and have never experienced a need to do any engine repairs that would be oil- or engine wear-related. The oldest vehicle in our fleet is currently operated by my daughter and is 21 years old. I've always just followed the manufacturer's mileage change recommendation. Every vehicle older than the Bronco has 6-digit mileage, runs fine, and passes emissions easily.

You are correct. This is what Blackstone Laboratories has to say. They have tested oil in vehicles that was 10 years old that was fine. They also have made the statement that “Oil is oil is oil”. People really over think their oil…

Blackstone's view is that oil analysis should be based on miles, not just time, because their tests show that low-mileage oils, even those that are several years old, are often still within spec for wear. They emphasize that the physical work the oil does matters more than how long it sits in the engine. Therefore, they recommend using oil analysis to determine safe, extended oil change intervals, rather than relying solely on the manufacturer's recommended mileage or the vehicle's oil life monitor.

I have a Chevy cobalt that I was putting 40k a year on and I changed the oil twice a year if it needed it or not. It only has 380k on it now I stopped driving it now that I work from home. And it is just a spare car.

Jakob1972

I have a Chevy cobalt that I was putting 40k a year on and I changed the oil twice a year if it needed it or not. It only has 380k on it now I stopped driving it now that I work from home. And it is just a spare car.

My 426,000 mile BMW early on saw repeated 17,000 and 18,000 OCI.

timhood

I wouldn't change the oil at 3K, though I know there are many people who believe a lot of myths and legends about oil that sits in an engine for a period of time. People forget that the original reason for specifying time intervals for oil changes was that it was easier for people to remember 3 months (or whatever interval) than to try to remember mileage. I've owned vehicles back to a 1982 model, and have never experienced a need to do any engine repairs that would be oil- or engine wear-related. The oldest vehicle in our fleet is currently operated by my daughter and is 21 years old. I've always just followed the manufacturer's mileage change recommendation. Every vehicle older than the Bronco has 6-digit mileage, runs fine, and passes emissions easily.

I'll disagree, Ow and 5w oils are not for engine protection but gas mileage. GM owners are learning this and the manufacturer is changing their specs. Changing oil is an inexpensive maintenance expense. Your references are for older engines that utilized 10w.