2007 Focus, break in oci?

[spunky]

Hey,

Just got a new '07 Focus SES... Considering changing factory fill at 2500 miles, then at 5000 miles, and every 5000 after that... Dealer just says bring it in at 5000, but I'm skeptic.

Are there any special break in additives that are added in the factory fill? Leaving the FF in until 5000 harmful???

Thanks

 

[beanoil]

I agree with your plan, no, and probably not.

 

[spOILEDrotten]

I'm not trying to be a pain, but there are usually 3-4 of these posts every week. One great thing about this site is the archive of information that is available through the search feature. To address your question, there is not really one specific answer.

I personally dump factory fill after the first 1000 miles. There is enough metal in the oil to actually be seen by the naked eye.

 

[Dr. T]

I've done it with my new vehicle last year and I think it's fine to leave it in for the regular interval unless the owner's manual spec's otherwise.

 

[kkreit01]

I did mine at 1500 -- then 3000, then 4000, then switch to Synthetic -- and keep the 5000 OCI intervals.

 

[Seth]

Not to be cynical as I have gone down this path before... Nobody except a few keep their vehicles long enough to know the difference.

 

[tenderloin]

"Not to be cynical as I have gone down this path before... Nobody except a few keep their vehicles long enough to know the difference"

That could be said for nearly every topic on BITOG. Yet we are still here, asking and answering.

 

[Max_Wander]

Quote:

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I personally dump factory fill after the first 1000 miles. There is enough metal in the oil to actually be seen by the naked eye.

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agreed!

Quote:

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I did mine at 1500 -- then 3000, then 4000, then switch to Synthetic -- and keep the 5000 OCI intervals.

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That seems like a good idea! 5000 might be a little light on the synthetic though, depending on the type you end up with... (GrIII or Gr IV)

 

[BTLew81]

My plan on my Mazda3 is to change out the factory at 2k miles, and then run Amsoil 0-20 for 5k. Changes of 7.5k after that.

 

[glenncof]

I thought Ford kicked the OCI to 7500 miles on 2007. 5W20 right ?

I have a 2005 Duratec; changed FF at 2500, then dino for 3000, then MC blend 3K OCI's until 17K.

Now running cheap GrpIII (PP, QS, Synpower on sale/rebate) only to 5K but limited by warranty. MC or TropArtic blend could do this job. I feel comfortable to take GrpIII out to 6-7K without UOA but will wait for warranty to expire.

Initially I was uncomfortable with 5W20. I was also uncomfortable when initially using 5w30 conventional in a big 5.7L GM (now at 140K with good results).

 

[TR3-2001SE]

"Not to be cynical as I have gone down this path before... Nobody except a few keep their vehicles long enough to know the difference." Wait a minute. I drive my vehicles till they die. Most have gone to 250,000-260,000 before using so much oil they where junked. This with 3000 mile changes on conventional oil. I hope to better this on my current cars using synthetic to 350,000 or more. Time will tell. I have one approaching 200,000 and runs as new on synthetic. On conventional all burned oil by 200,000.
I recommend changing new cars at 1000 miles or less and then 3000 mile changes until 7500 miles or more. Then synthetic with 6000 mile changes until full break-in which is usually around 30,000 miles. Then as far as used oil analysis tell you is reasonable.

 

[R6j6B]

Also an '07 Focus owner . FF changed out at 1k miles . Just hitting 3k today and will change it again . Then at 5k and every 5 k there after until out of warranty. I've been using 5w20 and 0w20 for so long ...is there any other grade ?LOL

 

[ewetho]

I had my dad just follow the 5K OCI and Tire Rotation.

Simple no fuss no muss. Runs great.

 

[mechtech2]

Go ahead and change it at 2,500 miles.
You will never second guess yourself as to if you did any harm.
It's a good thing to do.

 

[JTK]

I've changed the factory oil/filter in quite a few new vehicles. Never have I seen 'metal' in the oil. I'd be a bit nervous if I did.

Joel

 

[R6j6B]

Quote:

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Never have I seen 'metal' in the oil. I'd be a bit nervous if I did.

Joel

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I'd agree on the "bit nervous" also ! FWIW the factory 2.0 duratec Focus fill will be an ugly yellowish puke color (and smell a bit funny! ) which will be the moly assembly lube used at the factory. Just finished oci #2 at 2972 myself . Word to the wise : Ford has a Gorilla in Hermasilla installing the oil filters - Make sure to have a good filter wrench ! They are *Tight* .

 

[double vanos]

Quote...

Wait a minute. I drive my vehicles till they die. Most have gone to 250,000-260,000 before using so much oil they where junked. This with 3000 mile changes on conventional oil. I hope to better this on my current cars using synthetic to 350,000 or more. Time will tell. I have one approaching 200,000 and runs as new on synthetic. On conventional all burned oil by 200,000.

My Dad can be described as a man who does skin flint maintenance on his cars. He simply is NOT an auto enthusiast.

His '94 Suburban went 320,000 miles with the skimpiest of maintenance using who knows what for filters and lubricant. He did not have a set OCI and he considered the GM trans a " sealed unit".

When we traded it in it did not smoke or use oil and was quiet as a mouse. It didn't even leak. He never topped off anything. Ever.

Go figure!!!

 

[Titan]

I have done all but about 4 oil changes on all my engines over the past nearly half a century. I've never done an oil change where I could not see at least some metallic-appearing flakes in the oil. So, I'm not so sure that those sparkly-metallic-appearing flakes are bad, as I have never had an engine fail on me due to inadequate lubrication. I've done several kinds of "break-in" (I prefer the term run-in", from very easy to very hard, and everything in between. I've changed the FF oil early, on time, and late. I prefer to do it early, and go to synthetic at that time. The only thing I think I can say is, the harder run-in I did, the better the engine ran. That's a run-in with NO LUGGING, lots of variation in rpm's, and lots of high-rpm downhill coasting.

Anyway, change it the way you want, and don't fret whether you change the FF out early or as per the manual. Either way, you'll be fine....even on a HONDA!