OCI Recommendation

[dave300]

Hello all,
I've been reading BITOG for some time now and am impressed with the quality of information and knowledge present. I would like your opinions on OCI's for a couple of my cars.
Vehicle 1: 08 Ford Taurus AWD with 54K miles on it. I use this car as a sales vehicle, mostly highway but occasionally lots of starting and stopping while visiting customers in the city. I run about 4K miles in 3 months and use MC 5W-20 with MC filter. Currently doing a 4K OCI.
Vehicle 2: 07 Ford Fusion AWD with 30K miles. The wife drives 80 miles per day, mostly highway but a few miles of moderate city traffic. Also using MC 5W-20 with MC filter. 4K OCI
Vehicle 3: 08 Ford Mustang V6. 11K Miles. I bought it used with 9K and according to the dealer sticker on the windshield the oil had 7K on it.It was very dirty! Changed with Pennzoil Conventional and drained after 2K now using PP. The wife drives it to work in the summer. I should also mention that we drive (slowly) on 2 miles of gravel per day, and live in Iowa with the resulting temperature changes and salty roads.I replace the air filters around 12-15K miles. So, do you think I'm OK at 4K OCI or is this considered severe service. Sorry for the length of this post, and thank you for your collective advice!

 

[addyguy]

Vehicle 1 & 2: Stretch your MC 5W-20 oil change interval out to 7500 miles - it will handle it easily.

Vehicle 3: If you like PP, use Pennzoil Platinum 5w30 and go 7500 miles OR 1 year.

 

[tig1]

On the Taurus and the Fusion I would go with Mobil 1 5w20 Extended Protection and do 10-12K OCIs. On the Mustang I would go with either MC or regular M1 until the warranty is up then switch to Mobil 1 Extended Performance with once a year OCs if your mileage is under 10-12K.

 

[FZ1]

I think it's severe service and think the 4k is ok subject to your observations when you change the oil and AF.

 

[HTSS_TR]

Originally Posted By: addyguy
Vehicle 1 & 2: Stretch your MC 5W-20 oil change interval out to 7500 miles - it will handle it easily.

Vehicle 3: If you like PP, use Pennzoil Platinum 5w30 and go 7500 miles OR 1 year.

+1

 

[dave300]

By the way, I forgot one critical bit of information, the MC 5W-20 is the blend. Thanks!

 

[sicko]

Assuming all of them call for 5w-20, I'd use Motorcraft 5w-20 synth-blend and a Motorcraft filter in all three of them. MC5w-20 synth-blend has shown itself to be a quality motor oil, at a very reasonable price, that can easily go 4k miles.

If any of the vehicles has an oil life monitor I'd just follow that. Otherwise I'd change the oil ever 4k-5k miles, or whatever is needed to maintain the warranty.

Obviously if any of the vehicles requires synthetic, or a different weight oil, then you would need to adjust accordingly. But MC5w-20 is a quality oil, you can use it with confidence

 

[dave300]

Thank you all for the advice! It sounds like I can easily extend the interval without worry!

 

[Hemi426]

Pennzoil Ultra will do 10k as will Mobil 1 Extended Performance.

 

[Gary Allan]

Test your next 4k on either of the primary vehicles. Normally I'd say run the standard MC5w-20 for 6 months in both. Your mentioning the gravel road kinda mandates that you figure out if any fine particulates are bypassing the filter ..or just passing through it. If that were the case, you're about where you need to be right now.

The primary vehicles see little in terms of insult. Long bouts with a single warm up. Unless you have real protracted down times at customer's sites, you should spend little time in fuel enrichment even with your in town hopping. Filter loading should be minimal.

Can we assume that the 'Stang is garaged or sits the 9month period that your wife isn't driving it to work? I didn't see what it does the rest of the time. That kinda alters what vehicle #2 does. One would think that it sits for the summer.

 

[demarpaint]

Originally Posted By: FZ1
I think it's severe service and think the 4k is ok subject to your observations when you change the oil and AF.


I agree and might possibly stretch it out to 5000 miles or 6 months with the MC oil your using.

According to my owners manuals you fall under severe service:

Quote:

If your driving habits FREQUENTLY include ONE or more of the following conditions:

Short trips of LESS than 10 miles when outside temps remain below freezing.

Tow a trailer, using a camper or roof-top carrier, or carry maximun loads.

Operate in severe dust conditions.

Operate during HOT WEATHER in stop and go rush hour traffic.

Extensive idling, such as police, taxi, or door to door delivery service.

Low speed operation

High speed operation with a fully loaded vehicle (max GVW).


This was from an Old Ford Owners manual, that is how they spelled out severe service. In the day they called for 3 months and 3000 mile OCI. We could probably double that with dino today. My suggestion of 5000 miles or 6000 miles gives a margin of safety. A used oil analysis might help make a more accurate assessment. Check your owners manual for their recommendations.

They also had extreme service but that would pertain to off road use.

 

[dave300]

You would be correct concerning the Mustang. It will be garaged from November through March. It will be stored with clean oil and fuel stabilizer. The Fusion is driven 1 or 2 times a month (maybe 150 miles) in the summer. Usually my visits with customers are less than 20 minutes so you're right on there. By the way, what is "filter loading?" I have a used oil analysis kit from Blackstone so I'll check the Taurus at 4K and see what the results are. My main concern is the very dusty road even if it's only 2 miles a day. Thanks for the great information!

 

[dave300]

Thank you, I kind of think severe service is a possibility even considering the large percentage of highway miles.