OCI opinions for 2011 Fusion

[stranger706]

I would like some opinions on the following. Regarding my 2011 Fusion, Ford specifys a 10,000 mile OCI using any conventional 5w20 that meets the Ford spec WSS-M2C930-A. (The car has the new intelligent oil life monitor that reduces the OCI based on driving conditions; for my mostly-highway driving conditions it dictates a 10,000 mile OCI.) How many miles would you all be comfortable running a major brand of synthetic oil out to? 15,000? 20,000?

 

[CATERHAM]

10,000 miles max.

 

[stranger706]

Could you expand on that please? If Ford says 10,000 miles is ok with conventional, would you not think a good synthetic could go further?

 

[CarbonSteel]

I think this is going to vary quite a bit based upon several factors--driving conditions, engine attributes, etc. The only way that you will KNOW how long any oil can be used is to perform a UOA and check the properties of the oil. You may find that due to driving conditions, the conventional will not last for a 10K OCI or it may and you can run synthetic for a longer time. You need data to make an informed decision and running a few UOAs will allow you to determine the true usable life of the oil. Just my thoughts...

 

[Dakota1820]

Do you trust Ford to be honest ? I wouldn't. My Saturn says every 7500 and that's why a lot of them use oil because they are allowed to get to dirty. Im not sure what's different but my mom's 09 focus says every 5,000 and that's with a blend. I wouldn't run conventional over 5,000 and synthetic would be 7500 though some will tell you that you can go longer and maybe you can I don't like the thought of it. If you ran conventional and changed it every 5,000 the cars engine will live as long as you want to keep it. Conventional is so good now that in an ordinary daily driver that doesnt see any severe conditions it would be fine and prefered in my opinion based on cost.

 

[Unearthed]

Originally Posted By: chevyboy14

Do you trust Ford to be honest ? I wouldn't. My Saturn says every 7500 and that's why a lot of them use oil because they are allowed to get to dirty. Im not sure what's different but my mom's 09 focus says every 5,000 and that's with a blend. I wouldn't run conventional over 5,000 and synthetic would be 7500 though some will tell you that you can go longer and maybe you can I don't like the thought of it. If you ran conventional and changed it every 5,000 the cars engine will live as long as you want to keep it. Conventional is so good now that in an ordinary daily driver that doesnt see any severe conditions it would be fine and prefered in my opinion based on cost.

There are plenty of UOA's on this site that prove your opinions to be incorrect.

 

[CATERHAM]

Originally Posted By: stranger706

Could you expand on that please? If Ford says 10,000 miles is ok with conventional, would you not think a good synthetic could go further?

Yes it could go further but I wouldn't automatically do so without an UOA at 10,000 miles on the syn' oil you want to run to estimate how much further you can go. If you don't want to bother with a UOA peruse the UOA section to see if you can find some extended oil drains for your car on which to make a decision.

 

[tig1]

I do 10K OCIs with no problems at all with my Fusion I4.

 

[Triple_Se7en]

Originally Posted By: stranger706

I would like some opinions on the following. How many miles would you all be comfortable running a major brand of synthetic oil out to? 15,000? 20,000?

There is quite of bit of synthetic in your Motorcraft 5W-20 oil. Plus, while your vehicle is under warranty, never exceed the OCI in your new car owners manual.

 

[JOD]

Originally Posted By: stranger706

How many miles would you all be comfortable running a major brand of synthetic oil out to? 15,000? 20,000?

Looking through the UOA's on this site, I'm increasingly of the opinion that with respect to drain intervals there's not much difference between the less expensive synthetics and most SN-rated conventional oils. The GF-5/SN standards seem to require a more robust formulation, whether it be with more GIII oils or better GII oils. However they formulate the oil, I doubt there's a huge different in how long you can run the oils. I have basically the same engine, so I've scoured most of the UOA's for it on here. This engine is definitely easy on oil, and I don't doubt you could go a little longer--but a UOA @ 10-12K would give you some insight into "how long". One thing is that they don't consume much oil, so there's little opportunity for top-ups.

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: Triple_Se7en

Plus, while your vehicle is under warranty, never exceed the OCI in your new car owners manual.

Agreed. There are undoubtedly all kinds of synthetics that could exceed 10,000 miles, at least under favorable conditions, including Mobil 1. [Just saving tig1 some typing ] Whether it's a good idea under warranty is another issue. Ford knows quite well that synthetic oils can potentially go much longer. SN/GF-5 and Ford's own spec are not long drain specifications, though. I'll pick on Pennzoil since that's what I'm using (and happily, I might add) right now. PYB meets SN/GF-5 and Ford's spec. So do PP and PU. Technically, PP and PU could be no "better" than PYB at meeting the required specifications. We know that's not the case, but my point is that Ford has to live with API/ILSAC regulation, along with their own specification, the latter of which is the only one over which they have direct control. Until they come out with a second specification (i.e. like GM used to have a conventional and a synthetic spec), I would suggest one is stuck with the manual's recommendations for any API/ILSAC/Ford oil, conventional or synthetic, while under warranty.

 

[addyguy]

Brand new car under warranty, and the manufacturer says to do 10k max on an OCI...so your OCI should 10k. Once you are out of warranty, do whatever you want.

 

[Dakota1820]

Notice I said my opinion . Also you can change yours at 10,000 ill do 5,000 with conventional and I bet your last no longer or does any better at anything. The only real benefit to synthetic is longer drain Interval. It wont make any engine last longer . Conventional will make the car last long past its reasonable life and your ownership

 

[fxrider]

I would only take it to 8,000 but that me..

 

[volk06]

Originally Posted By: chevyboy14

Notice I said my opinion . Also you can change yours at 10,000 ill do 5,000 with conventional and I bet your last no longer or does any better at anything. The only real benefit to synthetic is longer drain Interval. It wont make any engine last longer . Conventional will make the car last long past its reasonable life and your ownership

If you double the interval for only $5 more you can save a lot of time and money. PYB at 15.78 or QSUD for 20.57 for example. I also bet in extreme temps, hot and cold, the syn could hold up a lot better and flow a bit better at start up.

 

[dparm]

Originally Posted By: addyguy

Brand new car under warranty, and the manufacturer says to do 10k max on an OCI...so your OCI should 10k. Once you are out of warranty, do whatever you want.

This. We've said it countless times before.

 

[afoulk]

isn't the engine in the new focus direct injected? Have these been having fuel dilution problems like most of the other direct injected engines out there? Wouldn't 10,000mile OCI's be a bit to long then, even when running synthetic?

 

[afoulk]

sorry guys, I just realized the op has a Fusion, not a Focus