when will you do first oil change?

[pippin65]

just getting some thoughts as to your first oil change interval. what oil and filter you'll use. any feedback on DIY oil changes? easy? jacking point for a floor jack, etc...thanks

[dogo88]

just getting some thoughts as to your first oil change interval. what oil and filter you'll use. any feedback on DIY oil changes? easy? jacking point for a floor jack, etc...thanks

 

 

The manual says 12 months or 10,000 miles. I had it done at 10,000 miles (at 10 months). Check with Ford Owner advantage specials and you can get an oil change, tire rotation and fluids topped off for $29.99. So other than the fun of jacking it up, finding the oil and filter drains ( they are marked) and possible getting dirty, you can have your dealer do it.

 

Dan

[FFHdriver]

just getting some thoughts as to your first oil change interval. what oil and filter you'll use. any feedback on DIY oil changes? easy? jacking point for a floor jack, etc...thanks

The dealer did mine at 6 months and about 4500 miles. I used a MC filter and MC 5W-20 Synthetic.

[Fuze-ion]

You can't go wrong with the Motorcraft Filter and oil. I go Mobil 1, but I know it isn't necessary. I buy-it when it's on sale, and they usually give free Mobil 1 oil filters. I drive several different vehicles, so I don't go high mileage on any of them. I change mine once a year, every year at Thanksgiving weekend. I also wax the vehicle for winter over the same weekend. I do my Expedition over "Labor Day" weekend and the FFH over Thanksgiving. I really lead an exciting life !

[Scott A320]

I just did mine at 10,150 miles and one year. The dealership is inconvenient, so I patronized one of the national chail oil/lube facilities.

 

Upon arrival I asked the tech. if they can process the Fusion Hybrid. Unfortunately he mis-cast the vehicle on the invoice as a Ford Focus - and I didn't notice..... (having 4 hrs. sleep the previous night takes the blame!)

30 minutes later I checked-out and proceeded to run errands. After arriving home and filing the invoice the error leapt off the page! I visually checked the oil and returned to the station with two goals; verify the correct filter/oil type and procure a corrected invoice for potential future warranty issues. The afternoon crew verified compliance with specs but had to add .5 quart oil. Unfortunately they claim the system locks-out revisions to the original invoice for 24 hrs, so yet another visit will be necessary. I've always had good service with this chain, but will be more watchful in the future.....

 

The oil is synthetic thus I didn't see the need to perform the initial change sooner than factory requirements. No measurable quantity was consumed during the first year.

[akirby]

I just did mine at 10,150 miles and one year. The dealership is inconvenient, so I patronized one of the national chail oil/lube facilities.

 

Upon arrival I asked the tech. if they can process the Fusion Hybrid. Unfortunately he mis-cast the vehicle on the invoice as a Ford Focus - and I didn't notice..... (having 4 hrs. sleep the previous night takes the blame!)

30 minutes later I checked-out and proceeded to run errands. After arriving home and filing the invoice the error leapt off the page! I visually checked the oil and returned to the station with two goals; verify the correct filter/oil type and procure a corrected invoice for potential future warranty issues. The afternoon crew verified compliance with specs but had to add .5 quart oil. Unfortunately they claim the system locks-out revisions to the original invoice for 24 hrs, so yet another visit will be necessary. I've always had good service with this chain, but will be more watchful in the future.....

 

The oil is synthetic thus I didn't see the need to perform the initial change sooner than factory requirements. No measurable quantity was consumed during the first year.

 

The factory oil is a synthetic blend, not pure synthetic. And if you have a lubrication failure, having an invoice won't help anyway.

[Howie411]

Is it ok to wait till 12k miles/ 1year to get your tires rotated too? My car is about 7 months old now but only 4500 miles, haven't rotated the tires or changed the oil yet.

[Scott A320]

The factory oil is a synthetic blend, not pure synthetic. And if you have a lubrication failure, having an invoice won't help anyway.

 

Why not? It's incumbent on the owner to comply with factory required maintenance, but the work need not be accomplished by a dealership. Absence of compliance proof may absolve FOMOCO from culpability in the very unlikely event of a lubrication-dependent failure. Am I missing something??

[akirby]

Why not? It's incumbent on the owner to comply with factory required maintenance, but the work need not be accomplished by a dealership. Absence of compliance proof may absolve FOMOCO from culpability in the very unlikely event of a lubrication-dependent failure. Am I missing something??

 

Because the invoice doesn't PROVE that the work was actually done or that it was done correctly. Same with receipts for oil and filters - it only proves you purchased them, it doesn't prove that you used them or when.

 

The bottom line is if you change your oil and filters regularly then your engine won't have a lubrication related failure due to the oil or filter in the first place.

 

And if you do have a problem with the oil then the oil itself or the damage proves that something wasn't done correctly and it won't matter how many invoices or receipts you have.

 

I've never heard of a dealer asking a customer to produce receipts just so they can deny a warranty claim if you don't have them. At least not any Ford dealerships.

[dogo88]

Is it ok to wait till 12k miles/ 1year to get your tires rotated too? My car is about 7 months old now but only 4500 miles, haven't rotated the tires or changed the oil yet.

 

Owner's manual lists 10,000 miles or 1 year. They do list a rotation at 5000 but I didn't feel like I wanted to do it then, all other rotations list out at 10,000. I wouldn't push the oil change interval past what Ford recommends. If folks want to do it sooner than what is recommended, it's only downside is the cost. And like I mentioned above Owner Advantage web site list specials for every quarter. The Works is oil change, tire rotation and fluid top off for $29.99. To me this is a no brainer.

 

Dan

[Scott A320]

Because the invoice doesn't PROVE that the work was actually done or that it was done correctly. Same with receipts for oil and filters - it only proves you purchased them, it doesn't prove that you used them or when.

 

The bottom line is if you change your oil and filters regularly then your engine won't have a lubrication related failure due to the oil or filter in the first place.

 

And if you do have a problem with the oil then the oil itself or the damage proves that something wasn't done correctly and it won't matter how many invoices or receipts you have.

 

I've never heard of a dealer asking a customer to produce receipts just so they can deny a warranty claim if you don't have them. At least not any Ford dealerships.

 

Thanks, that makes perfectly good sense! The odds of having a failure with proper oil maintenance must be extremely low, but your last sentence is the most comforting in my situation. (The service facility still can't change the invoice to reflect the actual vehicle! :headspin: )

[akirby]

Thanks, that makes perfectly good sense! The odds of having a failure with proper oil maintenance must be extremely low, but your last sentence is the most comforting in my situation. (The service facility still can't change the invoice to reflect the actual vehicle! :headspin: )

 

The engine itself will tell you if it was a maintenance problem as opposed to a mechanical failure. And they can't deny a warranty claim on one part because you didn't follow maintenance on another part.

 

If your engine is full of sludge then that's cut and dried and all the receipts in the world won't help.

[Scott A320]

If your engine is full of sludge then that's cut and dried and all the receipts in the world won't help.

 

Thanks! I guess the physical evidence would be quite damning in that case!

[bigrigmike]

Because the invoice doesn't PROVE that the work was actually done or that it was done correctly. Same with receipts for oil and filters - it only proves you purchased them, it doesn't prove that you used them or when.

 

The bottom line is if you change your oil and filters regularly then your engine won't have a lubrication related failure due to the oil or filter in the first place.

 

And if you do have a problem with the oil then the oil itself or the damage proves that something wasn't done correctly and it won't matter how many invoices or receipts you have.

 

I've never heard of a dealer asking a customer to produce receipts just so they can deny a warranty claim if you don't have them. At least not any Ford dealerships.

 

This may be sidetracking this thread a little but here is a story of someone that should have kept receipts: http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13042

 

Back on topic: I took my car to the dealership to get my oil changed at 2,000 miles just to be safe. I know it doesn't make much difference in today's cars but it made me feel better. I am not sure if they remembered to reset my oil life indicator because my car told me to change the oil about 8,000 miles later.

[akirby]

This may be sidetracking this thread a little but here is a story of someone that should have kept receipts: http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13042

 

Back on topic: I took my car to the dealership to get my oil changed at 2,000 miles just to be safe. I know it doesn't make much difference in today's cars but it made me feel better. I am not sure if they remembered to reset my oil life indicator because my car told me to change the oil about 8,000 miles later.

 

Let me clarify - I've never heard of Ford doing this. But to be honest I'm sure that even if he had receipts they would have found a way to deny the claim.

[sullied]

Let me clarify - I've never heard of Ford doing this. But to be honest I'm sure that even if he had receipts they would have found a way to deny the claim.

Well, this forum got pretty sidetracked. I figured I'd throw my 2 cents in as well though.

 

I'll be changing the oil in my Fusion Hybrid per Ford's recommendations. I do have a Civic Hybrid as well though that was recommended every 10K miles as well. I changed the oil in it every 5K just for the hell of it...no real reason. The manufacturer knows best...they designed the car and know what it needs to maintain its life. They do have a vested interest in the engine continuing to operate...fewer warranty claims means more money left as profit.

 

I do keep all of my service receipts, but not for the purpose of a potential future warranty claim. I keep them so that when I sell the vehicle, I can prove to buyers that I took care of the car as recommended by the manufacturer (or better). I'll be listing my Civic Hybrid for sale in a couple of days and I think it will help greatly that I kept all of the receipts.

[oldschool1962]

10,000 miles just as it's written.

 

As a side note and for what it's worth..............

 

 

For years and years......I was never one to use the Dealer Service Department for scheduled maintenance. As some have mentioned it's out of convenience or cost. Yet after years of this choice I decided to start using the dealerships. Less record keeping on my end since the dealer enters everything in a file for my car but also because of what the customer loyalty benefits that it can bring.

 

We were able to get to know the last three Service Managers (2 Honda and the current at Ford) very well and it paid off. Yes the service is a couple buck more but if you have any issues that are questionable when the warranty has just expired......they have stepped in and taken care of the issue. Even when the warranty was in force they took care of things that could have been disallowed.

 

This may not and has not been the case with all Dealership Service centers so I guess we have been lucky with the last three. Just food for thought before using the quick lube places. Everything has it's benefits and drawbacks. Just have to decide what fits your plans.

Edited June 10, 2010 by oldschool1962