Oil Life Monitor: Seems To Optimistic

[Gene K]

I have a specific question about an Oil Life Monitors:

The IOLM in my new Ford concerns me a bit. I know some of you have experience with the ones used in other makes.

2011 Mustang GT
5.0 4V V8
HP: 416 (Actual results during SAE J1349 Certification)
Torque: 394 (SAE J1349)
Oil Capacity: 8 Qt
Lubricant Requirement: SM/GF4 5W20 Conventional
Mileage: 1080 (When it clicked over to 93%).
Conditions: 75% City / 25% Highway
Average MPG: 22 MPG Actual / 20.5 MPG Info Center (Reads 7% Low)
Oil Life Remaining: 93%
(Maximum Interval is listed as 10,000 miles or one year)

Would anyone be concerned by the fact that the IOLM is supposedly programmed for conventional oil and yet seems to be on pace for a 15,500 mile OCI?
I know it will default to 10,000 miles or 1 year when it gets close but doesnt that algorithm seem awful aggressive?

 

[brandini]

I'd change it at the 1000 mile mark (assuming it's car mileage, not oil mileage), then trust the meter. The new engines have that awesome coating on the cylinder walls that is on the Ford GT.

 

[Shagger]

Change it at 1K car mileage to get rid of the 'break in' metals for sure!

 

[Gene K]

Originally Posted By: brandini
I'd change it at the 1000 mile mark (assuming it's car mileage, not oil mileage), then trust the meter. The new engines have that awesome coating on the cylinder walls that is on the Ford GT.


It was changed at 1062.5 miles (MC 5W20 SB). I just didnt reset the meter because I didnt figure I would run it all the way out.

Like I said I would have a hard time convincing myself taking a 400+ bhp car run mostly in the city 15,000+ miles on conventional without analysis to back it up. Even though I know it will default to 10,000 miles eventually it makes me concerned for the accuracy.

 

[Bluestream]

Gene, it's the new normal. We all have to get used to it.

 

[Gary Allan]

Don't assume that it will be some linear extension of your first 1000 miles. I'm sure the software takes into account "time in country" as it moves forward.

 

[gathermewool]

8 qts...that's a lot...use the monitor

 

[Deltona_Dave]

That 8qt sump will help you with longer OCI's. I would continue to use M/C oil and filters and follow the mileage minder.. Ford knows what they are doing. That 5.0 will last forever. The new Ford engines look like they use Nikasil bore liners on the performance engines. I could be wrong. We only have 3 F-250's with the new 6.2L gasser with 2 plugs per cylinder. well made Engine in my opinion. Can't believe 305HP on a 6cyl engine. Ford is coming a long way these past few years.

dave

 

[Trajan]

Originally Posted By: Deltona_Dave
That 8qt sump will help you with longer OCI's. I would continue to use M/C oil and filters and follow the mileage minder.. Ford knows what they are doing. That 5.0 will last forever.

dave


Yup.

 

[Gene K]

Originally Posted By: Gary Allan
Don't assume that it will be some linear extension of your first 1000 miles. I'm sure the software takes into account "time in country" as it moves forward.


Thanks Gary. I just wasnt expecting it to be still showing 93% while approaching 1200 miles of mostly city driving. I guess I can always pull a sample to convince myself.

 

[garlicbreadman]

i'd probably change it out at 5k or sooner only because the engine is still wearing in. perhaps after 20k miles or so i would then start to use the oil monitor.

 

[Gene K]

Originally Posted By: garlicbreadman
i'd probably change it out at 5k or sooner only because the engine is still wearing in. perhaps after 20k miles or so i would then start to use the oil monitor.


Im planning:
1st 10,000 Miles
1,000 OCI (Already done)
3,000 OCI
6,000 OCI
After that I will go by the IOLM.
I will stick with the MC SB and switch to the GF5 version as soon as its available.
I will run an analysis or two just to calm my fears.

 

[gathermewool]

Sounds like a plan. Send the samples out after the first run following the OLM

 

[HondaMan]

On the GMs and Honda's that I have experience with, the first countdown was the longest, seemed like a click per 1000 miles. Now with 33k miles on the Silverado, a week of short trips will cost 5 or 6 % OLM life.

On the GM, I feel I've noted a strange happening also in that now upon reset, I'll loose 5 points almost in a few days, for no reason.

The UOAs I have done with the Honda OLM and MC show that oil to be a winner.

BTW, what I did was change the oil several times within the first OLM interval while not resetting the OLM.

 

[Gene K]

Originally Posted By: HondaMan
BTW, what I did was change the oil several times within the first OLM interval while not resetting the OLM.


Thats what I did on the first change as I new it would at least make the second and most likely the third.

 

[Patman]

Originally Posted By: Gene K

Im planning:
1st 10,000 Miles
1,000 OCI (Already done)
3,000 OCI
6,000 OCI
After that I will go by the IOLM.
I will stick with the MC SB and switch to the GF5 version as soon as its available.
I will run an analysis or two just to calm my fears.


Sounds like a smart plan to me! I'm a big believer in the OLM systems, but I also believe they should not be followed right away as the first few oil changes need to be done a lot sooner to get rid of the break in material. I would not feel comfortable following the oil life monitor right down to zero until the third oil change at the soonest, and only if the UOAs told me it was safe.

 

[JetStar]

Originally Posted By: Gary Allan
Don't assume that it will be some linear extension of your first 1000 miles. I'm sure the software takes into account "time in country" as it moves forward.


I was thinking the exact same thing. As well as driving profile, environmentals, etc...

 

[The Critic]

I just changed out the factory fill on the Altima today at 2500 miles and there were no metal shavings to be found. Why bother with an early oil change?

 

[Gary Allan]

Originally Posted By: Patman
Originally Posted By: Gene K

Im planning:
1st 10,000 Miles
1,000 OCI (Already done)
3,000 OCI
6,000 OCI
After that I will go by the IOLM.
I will stick with the MC SB and switch to the GF5 version as soon as its available.
I will run an analysis or two just to calm my fears.


Sounds like a smart plan to me! I'm a big believer in the OLM systems, but I also believe they should not be followed right away as the first few oil changes need to be done a lot sooner to get rid of the break in material. I would not feel comfortable following the oil life monitor right down to zero until the third oil change at the soonest, and only if the UOAs told me it was safe.


That's more or less how I see it. Take it progressively half the distance to the goal line. It probably only takes 3 OCI's to flush the leftovers.

I guess if I didn't want it to be some anxiety factor, I'd say that I wanted to get to more sensible UOA's as early in the engine's life as possible to establish trends. Attempting to bypass the "trending down" part of it ...which is true. I would want UOA indications normalized as soon as possible.

 

[rationull]

Originally Posted By: The Critic
I just changed out the factory fill on the Altima today at 2500 miles ... Why bother with an early oil change?


Indeed!