Oil % Life.

[Vortech347]

So I watched this video. 

http://owner.ford.com/how-tos/vehicle-features/dashboard-instrument-cluster/intelligent-oil-life-monitor.html?fmccmp=myfordmag-site-MFPR0515OIL

Does this system work well?  Or do most of you stick to a specific mileage?  Anyone know possibly what the increments of 10% are in actual mileage when resetting?

 

[FoMoCoSHO]

If you are keeping the car long term I would choose a high quality oil (Amsoil) found here...

http://www.ecoboostperformanceforum.com/index.php/topic,5282.0.html

I am currently testing an exotic super lube called quantum blue found here...

http://www.ecoboostperformanceforum.com/index.php/topic,5087.0.html

It isn't for everyone, its expensive and of yet untested on our platform but I've done some extensive research and it seems to be the real deal. We will be keeping this SHO for a while so longevity is mission critical.

I would use oil analysis testing to find the correct intervals regardless of what you chose.

Personally , I would ignore that oil monitor and I'd start the testing a 5k intervals using no less than Amsoil.

 

[Frozen Taurus]

I do it at 8000 km for now, still have warranty left though. So I never really watch the oil meter at all

 

[ZSHO]

I find the oil life monitor to be somewhat obscure,believe the monitor is setup to analyze the oils life expectancy within a 10k interval,last oil change was performed at just over 3k with close to 70% oil expectancy,so basically believe every 10% increment will = 1,000 miles,just my thought in the matter,been feeling under the weather as of late and hope it made sense.  Z

 

[Vortech347]

I find the oil life monitor to be somewhat obscure,believe the monitor is setup to analyze the oils life expectancy within a 10k interval,last oil change was performed at just over 3k with close to 70% oil expectancy,so basically believe every 10% increment will = 1,000 miles,just my thought in the matter,been feeling under the weather as of late and hope it made sense.  Z

That makes total sense.  100% is 10k as the video stated.  LOL  I need to pay attention more.  I just got off the phone with a friend that is a Ford master tech and said the system is pretty cool how it keeps track of idle/WOT/temps,  ect.  He said just let its do its job and it'll be fine.  He also said 100%=10k.  I'll probably just put it at 80% and see how it turns out. 

Thanks gents.

 

[ajpturbo]

If 100% = 10k then there would be no need to keep track of idle and wot....you are contradicting yourself...mileage will change based on how the engine is operating...thats the whole idea..there is no mileage correlation for the %

 

[Vortech347]

Under light use, without adjustments for higher heat/WOT/extended idle. That is where it starts.  At first I didn't know if 100% meant 3k, 5k, 7500, or 10k.  Didn't state it in the owners manual.  I figure if I've got a car with a kick ass tech I should use it instead of my dry erase white board. My last daily was an 04 Marauder which had zero tech.

 

[JDW1]

Cant you adjust the life meter, 5k, 7.5 and 10k? 

 

[Vortech347]

Cant you adjust the life meter, 5k, 7.5 and 10k?

From what I have looked, no.  You can adjust the % in increments of 10.  So figuring 70% of 10k is 7000, you would just reset your oil life to 70% for a 7000 change (unless the computer deducts things faster from things like excessive idling/WOT/towing/high heat cycle, ect....)  Its a cool system.  I'm learning more about this car every day.

 

[ZSHO]

I guess there's a reason why dealers still place that little sticker on your windshield after an oil change.lol  Z

 

[ajpturbo]

Cant you adjust the life meter, 5k, 7.5 and 10k?

(unless the computer deducts things faster from things like excessive idling/WOT/towing/high heat cycle, ect....) 

It does take driving conditions into account thats why mileage is irrelevant but u keep trying to make a correlation ..there is no base value

 

[Vortech347]

Cant you adjust the life meter, 5k, 7.5 and 10k?

(unless the computer deducts things faster from things like excessive idling/WOT/towing/high heat cycle, ect....) 

It does take driving conditions into account thats why mileage is irrelevant but u keep trying to make a correlation ..there is no base value

That is a base value.  The very moment you are in your driveway and set it to say, 80%, its starting the algorithm at 8k and if it comes sooner that is because of deductions the car has made along the way. 

 

[SHOdded]

How it's SUPPOSED to work:

The IOLM does not use oil quality sensors – it is entirely software-based and uses actual engine operating conditions to calculate the oil change interval by using an algorithm. This algorithm takes into account the following factors by analyzing various engine sensor inputs.

• Driving Habits • Idle time • Temperature

The IOLM adjusts the oil change interval according to how the customer operates their vehicle. It uses the engine operating conditions to precisely calculate service intervals. The customer’s actual engine oil change interval will depend on the following operating conditions:

• Normal commuting with highway driving – up to 10,000 miles
• Trailer tow/high load driving – 5,000 to 7,500 miles
• Short trip usage, extreme temperatures – 3,000 to 5,000 miles

But how it seems to ACTUALLY work:

I know how it is supposed to work, but out of experience, it ALWAYS worked on mileage basis (maybe time). Even in our extreme summer months (120+ Fahrenheit), Oil life percentage was consistent with the normal commuting schedule (1% oil life per 100 miles driven). Since Ford recommends 5000 mile (8000 km) service intervals where I live, I reset the oil life to 50% & ALWAYS get the reminder at EXACTLY 5000 miles regardless of the extreme summer or mild winter months. As a matter of fact, even regardless of driving style as in the summer we have the habit of long engine idling & frequent long duration remote starts to cool down the interiors, and again the "IOLM" always goes by mileage.

Like AJ said, UOA is the only way to kinda quantify how YOUR vehicle responds to YOUR driving style.  I personally believe that most of the worry is a) when the vehicle is new and still "breaking in" (5-10K), and b) at every startup.  So if you are really really OCD, you would do the UOAs (i.e., get to know your vehicle), then settle into a routine accordingly.  But even I don't do all that.  I follow (more or less) Ford's recommendations for NORMAL/SEVERE DUTY as per the manual.  If you choose to do an extended drain interval, then definitely get a UOA or two done to confirm.  First with the normal interval to confirm there is still plenty of oil life left, then the extended interval.

 

[FoMoCoSHO]

I think Ford is full of crap on this. On our AWD Fusion Sport it was always around 10K whether MrsFoMoCoSHO or I were driving it.(She drove it for a while, then I took it) I assure you we drive much differently.

Same thing on the SHO's....Doesn't matter when I took it in if I reversed the math it seemed it it wanted to be at 10K. When I swapped out the factory fill for the QB at 4K, it showed 60% OL left.

I'm testing the QB at the 10K interval....this will be the first time I've pushed the oil that far in a SHO. Usually its 5K ish even with the Amsoil. With the E-85 shenanigans and normal EB PCV/oil dilution I'd rather be safe than sorry. IMHO any tuned EB should go with a severe duty oil change schedule.(Every fluid for that matter)

 

[SHOdded]

Totally agree.  Hope the QB comes through with flying colors, FoMoCo.  Would be a just return on your continuing to push the frontiers in that regard

 

[ajpturbo]

Pretty common for amsoil signature series to have plenty of life left at 10k according to uoa on aftermarket turbo and supercharged coyote mustangs with 600hp..the stuff is really robust ....im running 7-10 k on my sho...its really wasting the product if u dont use it fully