Ford Focus 2008 Oil Change - how often?

[mrpatbones]

I got a 08 Focus in February, one of the things I noticed in the maintenance manual was that my first scheduled maintenance should be at 7500 miles, and this included the oil change. I was a bit confused coming from an 89' Buick which was every 3000. Just to make sure i didnt blow up my new car's engine i called the dealer and asked if this was true. He said well there is a lot of shades of grey there and it all depends on how much time goes by from 0 to 7500, the weather, in town or highway miles, etc.... He said they generally recommend you come in at about 5000 miles. I am about 5400 miles right now, and was wondering if they want money from me faster and more often, or i shouldnt really wait out the 7500 miles?

Also, how does everyone feel about places like Jiffy Lube or other oil change places as opposed to the dealer? A friend's opinion was that those places would probably use the regular 3000 mileage oil to get me to come in more often instead of using a more longer lasting oil that my car can really support.

Thanks for any input.

[brockmd]

Ford 5W-20 oil has is a synthetic blend. That is why you are able to go longer for the oil change. Based on your habits would be whether you go 5000 or 7500 miles. I would check to see what the Jiffy Lubes use and plan accordingly.

[fordfirst]

As brockmd said Ford uses a 5W-20 for most oil changes, however, they are now selling a 0W-20 full synthetic. You will be able to go further on an oil change and get superior protection. Just remember to use a good filter. Motorcraft has a pretty good filter. You should be ablet to go up to 10000 miles on an oil change with the full synthetic. I myself have a 2005 Focus ST with the 2.3L engine. Since I am a Certified AMSOIL dealer I use their 0W-30 full synthetic. It is rated at 35000 miles or one year when you use their EA oil filters. I started using the oil after 5000 miles on my Focus. I put around 25000 miles a year on the car. Since owning the Focus I have only had to add one quart per year between changes. Mileage has improved two mile per gallon. I average about 33 miles per gallon. I do mostly highway driving. The 3000 mile oil change anymore is a marketing ploy to sell more oil. GM has even debunked the notion of the 3000 mile oil change. More of their cars are coming out with oil monitoring systems to let you know when to change the oil. Most cars are going 7000 to 10000 miles on regular oil. In Europe most people change their oil at around 9000 miles. Hope that helps. Good luck with your new Focus.

[jdfenske]

hahaha,

just because it's synthetic doesn't mean it's immune to metal shavings and/or dirt.

oil filters don't filter that fine.......

[HuneyMan]

Depends on driving conditions. Severe conditions, city driving idling a lot, frequent high speed freeway driving, dusty roads, pulling a trailer, change 5000 mi. Easy driving 7500 mi intrervals is good. It is very hot here and all cop cars use the Motocraft 5W-30 synthetic blend oil and Motocraft filters (you can buy both at WalMart) and you KNOW their cars see VERY severe conditions and last 200K mi or more. The quick change oil places NO-NO! It is very easy to do so learn how or take it to your Ford dealer. Easy driving use 5W-20, severe use or high mileage use 10W-30 or even straight 30W. Very severe then full synthetic is an option but keep in mind many a car has gone 200K to 300K mi on regular old Dinosaur oil. Oil change intervals are like noses, everybody has an opinion and they aren't all the same. I figure Ford wants us to get good service so we'll buy another Ford, so I do it their way.

DON'T FORGET! Tranny fluid should be changed per the manual, a fluid change is heck of a lot cheaper than a $1,500. rebuild. Ford here charges $100. and make darn sure they use Mercon V half synthetic better than former Mercon.

[Miler]

HOLD ON, HOLD ON. May I debunk a few myths here. I did my thesis in Oil Filtration when in engineering school, which don't make me right, just keen on the subject:
SYNTHETIC OIL DOES NOT, REPEAT NOT, PERMIT A EXTENSION IN OIL REPLACEMENT FREQUENCY.
You MUST stick to Fords frequency, depending on whether you are using your vehicle in severe use (which most of us are in stop start driving) or regular.
You MUST stick to 5-20. The reason is that 90% of all engine wear occurs during start up and Ford has determined that this is a requirement. You will invalidate warranty if you do otherwise. Our local dealers here in Canada are very helpful and supply the oil at the same or lower price to their competitors
Synthetic oils give superior lubrication (and by extension extended engine life) at temperature extremes, whether its worth the extra money when most people replace their vehicles at 200,000km give or take, is a moot point

Transission. Flush and replace every 50, 000km for severe. Be careful, many lube places say they flush and when you go looking for the pump, its nowhere to be found!

Hope this helps

[HuneyMan]

Roger all that Miler. Motocraft oil rated among the best synthetic blend and tell me another vehicle that sees severe service like a cops Crown Vic with a Trooper on the Interstate, city cop lot of idling then wide open chasing a speeder. You know the drill and the cop cars catch he(( big time. Here in SC it is hot and the cops, troopers and sheriff all use Motocraft oil so if it's good enough for them it's good enough for me. With 43K on my 05 Focus I gravitate toward a straight 30 wt Shell Rotella T diesel oil summers and winter a 10W-30 whatevers on sale at WalMart. They DO carry Motocraft oils & filters at cheap prices. The SuperTech synthetic is excellent oil made by Pennzoil-Quaker State and it's about $15.50 for 5 qts.

Bottom line, we have to evaluate our particular driving conditions and a large majority of us will do fine using a good dino oil and change oil and filter every 5000 miles. How many times folks don't flush their tranny oil for $100. then end up with a $1,500. tranny rebuilt. A friend has auto repair garage and a sign behind the counter that says; "MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE IS NOT AN EXPENSE, . . IT'S AN INVESTMENT." DUH? Big time DUH?

Let's have a show of hands please. How many have ever changed their power steering fluid? Say what? Yup, takes about five minutes and you don't disconnect one single fluid line.Yabba-yabba-, . . . how I do 'dat? Take a piece of little tubing and siphon the reservoir dry, refill it and drive it a day then siphon it out again. I do mine six times and the fluid is changed, or at least, "refurbished" to my satisfaction. Not advising anyone to do this, but I do the same siphoning drill with my brake fluid reservoir and refurbish it with synthetic brake fluid.

BTW, Mercon V is half synthetic and you CAN use Mercon V where it wants Mercon. However, you CAN NOT use Mercon where it wants Mercon V. I can't provide the link right now but Ford came out with a TSB - Technical Service Bulletin - that confirmed the above info.

Here you go, scroll down just a little: http://fullsizebronco.com/forum/arch...p/t-91461.html

[theoldwizard]

Gosh, I don't understand all the controversy. I'm a retired Ford Engineer and I will make it simple.

FOLLOW THE BOOK !

That's it. Period. End of Discussion. Any thing else could void the warranty.

P.S. Oil change places make money by selling oil (duh !). The more oil they sell, the more money they make, so of course, they will recommend a more frequent oil change period.

[theoldwizard]

Originally Posted by HuneyMan

... Severe conditions, city driving idling a lot, frequent high speed freeway driving, dusty roads, pulling a trailer, ...

I just double checked my "Scheduled Maintenance Guide".

"Frequent high speed freeway driving" is not considered "Severe" or "Special" operating conditions.

Use of E85 fuel more than 50% of the time (for flex fuel vehicles only) is consider "Special Operating Conditions" and that maintenance schedule should be followed.