Ford Motor Co.has extended its recommended engine oil change intervals from 5,000 miles to 7,500 miles under normal use for select new 2007 models, and for all new or redesigned models for 2008.
Pete Misangyi, Fords fuels and lubricants engineering supervisor, told Lube Report the change was due to improved engine oils and improved engines – a combination of those two. The company conducted fleet and lab tests with newer engine oils before increasing the change interval. Ford had lowered the recommended interval to 5,000 miles back in 1994, according to Misangyi.
The 2007 models with the longer recommended interval include the Ford Edge, Lincoln MKX and Lincoln MKZ, he said. All three feature Fords new 3.5-liter Duratec 35 V6 engine. According to Ford, the extended oil change interval in combination with fill for life automatic transmissions, fuel filter design and other service interval changes could save owners of the cars as much as $614 per year.
Severe duty was also upped to 5,000, Misangyi added. So that one went up from 3,000 as part of the same change.
Last year, Ford increased oil change intervals for diesel engines to 10,000 miles, up from 7,500 miles, under normal operation. Heavy-duty operation intervals remained at 5,000 miles. Diesel engines are an option for light trucks and SUVs in North America, but not yet for Ford passenger cars.
In 1998, GM announced that it would equip nearly its entire North American lineup with the GM Oil Life System (GMOLS) by 2003. The system automatically adjusts the oil change interval based on engine characteristics, driving habits and the climate in which the vehicle is operated, and then notifies the driver to get an engine oil change.