2010 Ford Edge - 3.5L Duratec

[MacLeod]

Hi guys, just bought a 2010 Ford Edge 3.5L Duratec V6 and have a few questions.

Naturally the recommended oil is Motorcraft 5W20. From searching and reading, this seems to be a regarded around here as a very high quality oil. That sound about right? I cant find any results searching for 3.5L Duratec but does anyone know how these engines are wearing and what other oils guys are running?

2nd is how about Motorcraft oil filters. Ive got free oil changes at my Ford dealer for 3 years which Im sure theyll be using Motorcraft filters. Are these high quality as well or would I be better served bringing a Mobil 1 with me for them to use?

3rd would be intervals. Ford recommends 7500 miles. That just seems insanely long to me. My free oil changes are only every 7500 miles so I was thinking of doing one myself at 4000 then taking it in for the free one at 7500 and so on. Assuming I use Motorcaft oil and filter, is 7500 as insane as it sounds to me?

I live in the southeast so I dont get extreme heat or cold at least not for more than a day or two.

I drive about average. I tend to baby my cars and drive them like theyre made out of glass. This is the nicest car Ive ever owned so I will probably drive this like Im a 85 year old blue haird woman. haha

I have a pretty solid commute. 25 miles one way, mostly freeway. Id say overall Im about 60% freeway and 40% stop-and-go. The one demanding thing I do is car audio competitions in which the engine is idling with the AC running for several hours at a time in the summer.

I doubt Ill keep this car for 250,000 miles but 125-140,000 is definitely a possibility so while I doubt I need $20/qt oil, I do want a very high level of protection.

I appreciate any thoughts or input.

 

[tig1]

I would switch to M1 5-20EP at your first oil change. This oil works great in Fords that call for 5-20. MC seems to be a fine oil, but the M1 will provide a very clean and long lived engine for you. After the warranty 10-12K OCI is no problem for Duratechs.

 

[Nick R]

I would stick with the MC 5W-20 blend with a MC filter changed every 6,000 to 7500 miles.

 

[tomcat27]

I'm a little a-retentive and would change at 5k if using the MC. but that's just me and not supported by UOA - so I am probably breaking the spirit of this site.

 

[CROWNVIC4LIFE]

Originally Posted By: tomcat27
I'm a little a-retentive and would change at 5k if using the MC. but that's just me and not supported by UOA - so I am probably breaking the spirit of this site.


Me also...I figure Motorcraft is cheap enough to change out at 5K miles...I sleep better doing it that way.

 

[Oregoonian]

I like your plan...especially doing an initial oil change at 3000 and then letting your dealer go every 7500.

You'll be OK with Motorcraft Blend (Is it MC Blend or Conventional/dino?) 5w20 and the MC filter with OCI's at 7500

Once your past the warrenty...possiblty a switch to a full synthetic (MC. Valvoline SynPower, or other good full syn) would extend your OCI's to 9000 to 10,000. A that time I would switch to a Purolator PureOne or Bosch Preminum filter.

Congrats on your new vehicle...
____________________________________________
2003 Ford Focus SE 2.3L / 83K
Valvoline MaxLife 5w30 / OCI 7000+/-
Purolator PureOne Oil Filter / PA 10241

 

[ChiTDI]

I'd use your plan all the way through the warranty or at least while it's free. Then go to another oil of your choice. I'd use Schaeffer's 7000 for the high molybdenum content. Stick with the MC filters for the duration.
Tell us what you end up doing and how you like the car. We're leaning that way maybe in a year.

 

[5sfe91]

Motorcraft Blend and OLM

 

[MacLeod]

Thanks for the advice guys. Still up in the air. Im definitely NOT doing 7,500 mild OCI's. I just wouldnt be able to sleep at night especially since Im probably going to need this thing to last 150,000 miles at least.

Im down to 2 plans: 3,750 mile OCI's with MC 5w20. Ill do the one at 3,750 then get the free one at 7,500, then do my own at 11,250 then the free one at the dealer at 15,000 and so on.

Or I could just do 3,000 mile OCI's with Mobil 1 5w20 and do them all myself.

I feel stupid not using free oil changes but I admit I feel better about running Mobil 1 as opposed to MC. I dont really think I would need a synthetic at 3,750 mile OCI's though. Plus I feel all manly doing my own oil changes.

Im at 2500 miles now so Im running out of time to make up my mind. Im as bad as a woman in making a decision.

Originally Posted By: ChiTDI
Tell us what you end up doing and how you like the car. We're leaning that way maybe in a year.


Just drove this thing to Texas and back (2200 miles total) and this thing rode like a dream! Im a pretty big dude and it had plenty of room for me, the wife, baby and all our gear. It was extremely comfortable. Its a 15 hour drive out there and it was only the last couple hours I started to get uncomfortable but for 13 hours I felt like I was driving a couch.

Averaged 21-22 mpg on the way out with 250 miles on it but on the way back I was getting 24-25! I figure it broke in on the drive back (cruise set at 72 mph)

Bottom line is I love this thing and highly recommend it.

 

[scudpilot]

My wife has an 07' MKX with your motor and I change the oil every 5000-7500 miles depending on driving type. Use MC syn blend 5w20 and MC 400S filter. Fantastic combo. No need to use anything else more expensive. Has 35,000 miles on it and never burns a drop of oil. Costs me about $19.00 to do the change and it is a breeze to do.

 

[rshaw125]

I have the 3.5 in a 2008 Sable. I believe the 3.5 was a new design and is not related to the Duratec's. I run Pennzoil Plat. for 8,000 mile oil changes with MC or Purolator filters. Runs very well. I add zero oil over the 8,000 miles.

 

[bradepb]

I would find out what oil the dealer uses, most dealers here use the Motorcraft oil but they dont everywhere, If your dealer uses MC then let them change every 7500, then you do it at 3750 w/MC,
If they use cheap bulk conventional I would change it myself with MC oil and filter every 5000 and keep a log with reciepts for warranty purposes
us Ford owners have a great thing going with a great qaulity oil spec'd by Ford for our specific engines, pretty hard to beat that.
On another note IMO you would be fine doing 7500 on any oil meeting Ford spec with your usage

 

[demarpaint]

If it were mine, I'd pass on the dealer oil changes. Not worth the hassle, plus only the dealer knows what oil is in that bulk tank. No thanks!

My Jeep dealer offered me $8 oil changes as long as I own my Jeep. Friends that go there for oil changes leave their vehicles for an entire day, no loaner car, and the upsell is relentless. Imagine the upsell on the free oil changes? Especially after 7,500 miles.

MC oil and filters are fine for your Ford. I'm a bit more conservative and would probably do oil changes every 5,000 miles. Enjoy!

 

[addyguy]

Originally Posted By: MacLeod
Thanks for the advice guys. Still up in the air. Im definitely NOT doing 7,500 mild OCI's. I just wouldnt be able to sleep at night especially since Im probably going to need this thing to last 150,000 miles at least.

Im down to 2 plans: 3,750 mile OCI's with MC 5w20. Ill do the one at 3,750 then get the free one at 7,500, then do my own at 11,250 then the free one at the dealer at 15,000 and so on.

Or I could just do 3,000 mile OCI's with Mobil 1 5w20 and do them all myself.

I feel stupid not using free oil changes but I admit I feel better about running Mobil 1 as opposed to MC. I dont really think I would need a synthetic at 3,750 mile OCI's though. Plus I feel all manly doing my own oil changes.

Im at 2500 miles now so Im running out of time to make up my mind. Im as bad as a woman in making a decision.

Originally Posted By: ChiTDI
Tell us what you end up doing and how you like the car. We're leaning that way maybe in a year.


Just drove this thing to Texas and back (2200 miles total) and this thing rode like a dream! Im a pretty big dude and it had plenty of room for me, the wife, baby and all our gear. It was extremely comfortable. Its a 15 hour drive out there and it was only the last couple hours I started to get uncomfortable but for 13 hours I felt like I was driving a couch.

Averaged 21-22 mpg on the way out with 250 miles on it but on the way back I was getting 24-25! I figure it broke in on the drive back (cruise set at 72 mph)

Bottom line is I love this thing and highly recommend it.



I LOVE the way people on this site, with no facts to back them up, assume that if you change oil at 7500 miles, a vehicle won't last. We have lots of evidence on this site that it will. Plus, the manufacturers have tested it out that far, and they aren't going to take any chances!

But no, everyday folks on here know more than engineers, tribologists and people who have been testing this for YEARS.

MC blend will easily last 7500 miles in your vehicle. Lots of folks have been doing that intervals for years. Read up and learn!

 

[fsskier]

Sort of a followup to addyguys comments - I question the wisdom for changing oil more often then the manufacturer recommends.

From those of us that have often posted our OCI intervals and results:

A mixture of cars used by myself -daily towing duties, and my wife and adult childrens commuter cars:

All with Mobil 1 5W30 until 0W20 became available, 10k OCI's

86 TAURUS MT5 4cyl, 200,000 miles, frame rust,junked 20 yrs old
86 Escort, 250K miles, sold to a commuter!
87 Escort, 300k, still burned no oil, doors rusted out

Then I jumped up to 20k oci's, Mobil 1 5W30 for the first couple of changes, 0W20 for the last 10 years.

1994 Escort commuter, now at 300K miles, still in daily use.
1994 Lumina APV tow vehicle now at 300K miles, in daily use.
(both these cars got an annual oil change, it is often 22k or 23 k miles when I actually do it)

Interestingly, all these motors seem like new. Even while driving the Taurus to the dump after 20+ years with the subframes rusting out and pulling apart I wished I could put that lowly pushrod 4 cyl into a new car and start over and see how long it would last.

The last two cars I overhauled - at about 150k miles, were in the 1970's, when I changed oil every 3k miles!!! Those cars were running the "10w40" so popular at that time.

 

[Clarence_Iba]

I have an 09 Edge Limited. Love the car. Change every 5k with the MC FL-500s and 5.5 qts of MC Syn Blend 5w-20. No problems, no worries. Excellent car, great value.

 

[Ben99GT]

Originally Posted By: rshaw125
I have the 3.5 in a 2008 Sable. I believe the 3.5 was a new design and is not related to the Duratec's.


The 3.5 is a completely new architecture totally unrelated to previous Duratecs.

It has DAMBs and iVCT, so it may not be quite as easy on oil as the non-VCT, RFF 3.0L Duratech or the iVCT RFF 3.0L Duratech.

 

[MacLeod]

Thanks again guys. I think Ill stick to 3,000 mile intervals and do them myself with MC 5w20 blend and MC filter. I like the idea of NOT trusting what is in the dealer's bulk tank. And using MC oil and filter should keep me golden should I ever need warranty work.

And to all those that got their dress over their head, I NEVER said 7,500 mile OCI's will wear out a car faster. All I said was that it would keep me up at night. Since I was 12 I had the "3,000 mile interval" philosophy drilled into my head and so after 25 years, going nearly 3 times longer would drive me crazy.

I have been lurking and reading on these forums for about 3 years now and from what I can tell, the majority on here do 4-5K intervals. So I dont think Im too far of base wanting to stick to 3K especially considering itll cost me a grand total of $20 every 3 months. Ill spend more than that in Coke machines in 3 months.