The YouTube Ford Tech Makuloco makes the case for a 3000 mile oil change on the Ford.Ecoboost

[DavidJones]

He made a video early on (in the Ecoboost's life) explaining how all turbo DI engines coke up and the Ecoboost F150 was no different. That hasn't turned out to be the case (find me a confirmed case). Sadly that video is still out there and has probably cost Ford a LOT of sales. He's probably a great mechanic, but based on that one video, I file his stuff under "hack". My 2.7 Ecoboost gets an oil change at about 7500 miles.

 

[2heeldrive]

I am surprised that the oil sump is only 6 quarts (including the filter) on a 3.5 Ecoboost.

 

[B1974]

I've had my 2013 F150 3.5 ecoboost since new, 113k km or about 70k miles on it now. I change my oil every 5000km, was using 5w30 RGT but now use M1 0w40. I set the oil life monitor to 60% on the fresh oil change.

I've only had one oil related problem with this truck and that was due to a cheap Luberfiner oil filter that had a rubber ADBV that went bad causing timing chain noise at start up. Key is to use a thick 5w30 full synthetic or 0w40 and a good quality oil filter with a silicone adbv for 3000 mile oil change interval.

 

[bdcardinal]

Are the turbo lube feed screens part of the "normal" maintenance routine?

Does the fact that the screens get plugged indicate the engine oil filter is often in the bypass mode? (I assume those feeds are downstream of the engine oil filter).

Normal maintenance, no they are not. Whenever a turbo is replaced it is required to change them. We generally do them whenever we remove one of the lines just to CYA.

 

[Tdog02]

My 2.7 ecoboost is running well. I have almost 145,000 miles on it and have always subscribed to 5-6k OCI. I change my own oil. Would I push it longer if I had no mechanical ability? and had to pay way more for an oil change? The answer is probably I would. I have heard of synthetic oil changes running around $100 at service centers or dealerships. Even with the supply chain issues and inflation I don't think I've ever gotten close to $45 to change the oil and filter. My work truck is a chevy trail boss and the dealership charges us $120 USD for an oil change. I need to start my own side business.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

I generally like his videos. However I take some exceptions to the statements he makes:

- he implies that "they" created the SP oil spec due to Ford EB engines. The API didn't just do this for EB engines; it's a market driven thing because of all GTDI engines

- further, though we know the frequency of the OCIs for this vehicle, we don't know the details about the lubes and how it was done? Was this done at home with high-end syns? or was this Expedition taken to a local quick-lube and low quality bulk drum oil used?

- he states that if you don't do OCIs often enough (following the IOLM) the oil "filter will get plugged real quick"; that's rubbish. He clearly doesn't understand the concept of soot particle size and the role of anti-agglomerates in the add pack

- he uses the term "extended oil changes" referring to the factory IOLM intervals. Most of us consider "extensions" to be PAST the IOLM.

- the engine does have 224k miles on it. Yes; it would be nice if it lasted longer, but is this anecdotal example a reason to condemn all OCIs simply because the engine didn't go to 500k miles, or whatever he believes is reasonable?

- he mentions that the engine didn't look too bad, but the turbo inlet screens are in very bad shape which led to failed turbos. So why condemn an entire engine if only some components need replacement???? That's a bit of hysterical over-reaction, is it not? Maybe the owner wanted a new engine rather than just new components? Don't know ...

- he mentions that one of the turbo's failed, and the initial shop only changed the turbo and didn't check the inlet screens for both turbos; that's not the fault of the engine or lube when a supposedly skilled mechanic does a half-ass job. This is probably the root cause of the engine demise; that the turbo oil inlet screens were clogged. This engine could have lasted a lot longer if the turbo lube screens were changed out. Don't blame the oil for a lack of mechanical maintenance. He states that the EB turbos have coolant leak issues and states the oil screens should always be replaced when ANY work is done on the turbos ...

- he also mentions that the engine had 2 quarts of oil in it, because the failed turbos were letting oil burn out the combustion process. If the oil was THAT low, is that not the fault of the owner to check the oil levels even occasionally ???

- As we know, there are lubes that don't clean well, and lubes that do clean exceptionally well. Perhaps if this engine was run with oils with esters and ANs, the coked oil on the turbo oil screens would never have happened in the first place


Bottom line is this ... He's making a blanket statement with assumptions based on a lot of missing info. While short OCIs never killed any engine, the IOLM OCI was not necessarily the root cause of this engine failure. There are too many unanswered variables to make that giant leap.

Excellent points!

Many of these entertainers need to come up with something to drive traffic to their YT page. Sensationalism is what is it.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

@dnewton3 is correct. He made some very broad generalizations. SP wasn't developed bc of the Ford Ecoboost either lol.

I'm not in favor of short or long drains. It's dependent on the oil used, engine type, how it is used etc. I think for 90% of the public that doesn't care about oil, sure, change it sooner rather than later.

I wonder if he's making that assumption simply because the LSPI and chain wear testbed is a modified ecoboost engine?

 

[pghvolvo]

My first Volvo turbo (oil cooled) came with a 3750 mile oil change scheduled. The the next generation Volvo turbos (water cooled) went to 5K mile oil changes but I still continued doing 3K mile oil changes. Even today both my 10 Prius and my old 97 Volvo 960 get less than 4500 mile oil changes with full synthetic. I owned turbos from 81 to 2009 and would never go longer than 3000 -3500 miles with an oil change on a turbo or supercharged engine.

 

[Jetronic]

Are the turbo lube feed screens part of the "normal" maintenance routine?

Does the fact that the screens get plugged indicate the engine oil filter is often in the bypass mode? (I assume those feeds are downstream of the engine oil filter).

No the particles get created near the screens, where the oil gets hot from exhaust

 

[Navi]

That is a good question. If my oil report from Blackstone seems to look great...is the oil report missing something crucial?

 

[OVERKILL]

That is a good question. If my oil report from Blackstone seems to look great...is the oil report missing something crucial?

Well, we know it's missing accurate fuel dilution figures.

 

[1BadManVan]

As long as it isn't Ford Boss Me.

Ford Tech Makuloco makes good videos.

Lol, I agree, ford boss is a complete goof. I commented on one of his videos recently because he hates so hard on Mobil 1, keeps complains how low moly it has compared to other oils. I attempt to explain the tri nuclear moly used in it and he went off and threw a tantrum about it lol.

 

[SubieRubyRoo]

I generally like his videos. However I take some exceptions to the statements he makes:

- he implies that "they" created the SP oil spec due to Ford EB engines. The API didn't just do this for EB engines; it's a market driven thing because of all GTDI engines

- further, though we know the frequency of the OCIs for this vehicle, we don't know the details about the lubes and how it was done? Was this done at home with high-end syns? or was this Expedition taken to a local quick-lube and low quality bulk drum oil used?

- he states that if you don't do OCIs often enough (following the IOLM) the oil "filter will get plugged real quick"; that's rubbish. He clearly doesn't understand the concept of soot particle size and the role of anti-agglomerates in the add pack

- he uses the term "extended oil changes" referring to the factory IOLM intervals. Most of us consider "extensions" to be PAST the IOLM.

- the engine does have 224k miles on it. Yes; it would be nice if it lasted longer, but is this anecdotal example a reason to condemn all OCIs simply because the engine didn't go to 500k miles, or whatever he believes is reasonable?

- he mentions that the engine didn't look too bad, but the turbo inlet screens are in very bad shape which led to failed turbos. So why condemn an entire engine if only some components need replacement???? That's a bit of hysterical over-reaction, is it not? Maybe the owner wanted a new engine rather than just new components? Don't know ...

- he mentions that one of the turbo's failed, and the initial shop only changed the turbo and didn't check the inlet screens for both turbos; that's not the fault of the engine or lube when a supposedly skilled mechanic does a half-ass job. This is probably the root cause of the engine demise; that the turbo oil inlet screens were clogged. This engine could have lasted a lot longer if the turbo lube screens were changed out. Don't blame the oil for a lack of mechanical maintenance. He states that the EB turbos have coolant leak issues and states the oil screens should always be replaced when ANY work is done on the turbos ...

- he also mentions that the engine had 2 quarts of oil in it, because the failed turbos were letting oil burn out the combustion process. If the oil was THAT low, is that not the fault of the owner to check the oil levels even occasionally ???

- As we know, there are lubes that don't clean well, and lubes that do clean exceptionally well. Perhaps if this engine was run with oils with esters and ANs, the coked oil on the turbo oil screens would never have happened in the first place


Bottom line is this ... He's making a blanket statement with assumptions based on a lot of missing info. While short OCIs never killed any engine, the IOLM OCI was not necessarily the root cause of this engine failure. There are too many unanswered variables to make that giant leap.

#Checkmate

 

[Navi]

You have to keep everything in perspective. The Ford Boss and the Ford Tech are mechanics. They are not scientists, engineers or experts on public speech. They do their best to present in these videos based on their experience. Sometimes the things they say may not come out right or may not be thought out because their job is mechanics but not presentation. So you have to look at the videos as an alert and knowledgeable citizen and think the videos through.

 

[Hall]

Just remember folks, every one of you that watched his video in order to either critique it or agree with it just made him a little bit richer.

 

[Hall]

So when I run multiple analysis of 10k OCI's and everything comes back in great shape, what am I missing?

Shhhhh ! You can't speak of that, ever !! 10k mile oil changes are bad, bad, bad. Do an oil analysis to prove it's bad..... Oh wait, you did, and things are fine.

 

[Furious]

You have to keep everything in perspective. The Ford Boss and the Ford Tech are mechanics. They are not scientists, engineers or experts on public speech. They do their best to present in these videos based on their experience. Sometimes the things they say may not come out right or may not be thought out because their job is mechanics but not presentation. So you have to look at the videos as an alert and knowledgeable citizen and think the videos through.

Difference between Ford Boss and Ford Tech is one has ego trips and thinks he knows everything and everyone else is wrong while the other doesn't.

 

[Oilblivion]

@Jimmy_Russells, @JavierH19, @2strokeNorthstar, @JGmazda, @FranklinJL, @userfriendly, @fantastic, @chris719, @Slow Car Sport Mode

 

[fantastic]

You have to keep everything in perspective. The Ford Boss and the Ford Tech are mechanics. They are not scientists, engineers or experts on public speech. They do their best to present in these videos based on their experience. Sometimes the things they say may not come out right or may not be thought out because their job is mechanics but not presentation. So you have to look at the videos as an alert and knowledgeable citizen and think the videos through.

He knows exactly what he's stating just look at his title of the video below.

"This is Why You Never Run Extended Oil Change Intervals on The Ford Ecoboost Engines!"​

This is their title & they are directly telling their three quarters of a million subscribers to not follow the Oil life monitor based on this one example.

IF they specialized in this engine & tore down 100's a month or 1000's a year then I would give them the benefit of the doubt. This one example or just a few examples is not enough evidence to blame the oil nor should they be promoting it as such.

 

[SubieRubyRoo]

Key is to use a thick 5w30 full synthetic or 0w40 and a good quality oil filter with a silicone adbv for 3000 mile oil change interval.

Even when there’s over 2 Billion (yes, with a B) miles of data from a single oil manufacturer over the past decade that objectively proves the first and third points of your statement false?

Stop the drama, a handful of likely negligence-related failures mixed with people’s emotions still does not allow engine oils used in a 3.5 EcoBoost to react magically different than every other engine and require what you said.

Sure, turbos are hard(er) on oils than N/A. But not as bad as it appears you’re claiming. Proper OCIs are still mostly driven () by driving style and operating conditions rather than a static recommendation by the manufacturer.