- #208 of 227
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Re: Oil Change (revisited) [fordwrench]
by gerardtn
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Jan 05, 2007 (8:01 am)
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Replying to: fordwrench (Jan 05, 2007 6:05 am)
I think there are two oil change indicators, the simple one that comes with the car, and an optional one that actually calculates rpm, heat, mileage, time.
the simple one is a 5k timer only, the other one comes as part of an option package and you pay extra for it.
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- #209 of 227
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Re: Oil Change (revisited) [gerardtn]
by coldcranker
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Jan 14, 2007 (12:48 pm)
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Replying to: gerardtn (Jan 05, 2007 8:01 am)
gerardtn, You might be thinking of GM's oil life monitor algorithms. I wish my Freestyle had that one, as it is a smarter formula that takes into account time spent driving with cool oil, and at low RPM (idling), etc., while the Ford Freestyle one just looks at 5,000 miles or 6 months, whichever occurs first.
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- #210 of 227
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Re: Oil Change (revisited) [coldcranker]
by saabturboid
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Jan 14, 2007 (3:13 pm)
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Replying to: coldcranker (Jan 14, 2007 12:48 pm)
There is an optional oil life monitor that calculates operating conditions, times, speed, temperatures, etc. My '05 SEL has this feature and the length of time between recommended changes varies each oil change based on the varying parameters. I've seen it as frequent as the low 3,000 mile range and as high as the mid 4,000s. Since mine is an SEL this is obviously an option package that is available on more than just the Limited. I'd suspect few if any SEs have this feature and probably have the more limited monitor you mention.
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- #211 of 227
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Re: Oil Change (revisited) [saabturboid]
by stevedebi
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Jan 15, 2007 (9:29 am)
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Replying to: saabturboid (Jan 14, 2007 3:13 pm)
"There is an optional oil life monitor that calculates operating conditions, times, speed, temperatures, etc. "
I didn't see that in my owner's manual. What is the source of your information that these items are calculated, rather than just "6 months / 5000 miles"?
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- #212 of 227
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Re: Oil Change (revisited) [stevedebi]
by barnstormer64
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Jan 15, 2007 (6:11 pm)
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Replying to: stevedebi (Jan 15, 2007 9:29 am)
I own a LTD with *all* the options . . and my "oil life indicator" is a simple 5k miles or 6 months, whichever is first.
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- #213 of 227
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Re: Oil Change (revisited) [saabturboid]
by coldcranker
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Jan 18, 2007 (8:20 pm)
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Replying to: saabturboid (Jan 14, 2007 3:13 pm)
I don't think Ford knows about this smart oil life monitor.
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- #214 of 227
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Re: Oil Change (revisited) [saabturboid]
by rick2456
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Jan 31, 2007 (6:00 am)
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Replying to: saabturboid (Jan 03, 2007 10:05 am)
I change my oil when the oil life monitor nears 0% life left, but as I use full synthetic oil, that gives me a extra margin of safety. At 3200 miles, I still had 23% oil life left, so it is obvious that the oil life monitor is based on hours, time, and mileage. Not sure what formula they use, but it works for me.
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- #215 of 227
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Re: Oil Change (revisited) [rick2456]
by tango_28
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Jan 31, 2007 (12:45 pm)
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Replying to: rick2456 (Jan 31, 2007 6:00 am)
There should be a sensor by the oil pan if it had a smart oil life monitor system.
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- #216 of 227
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Re: Oil Change (revisited) [tango_28]
by coldcranker
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Jan 31, 2007 (9:12 pm)
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Replying to: tango_28 (Jan 31, 2007 12:45 pm)
Actually, tango_28 is right. If you could get a Ph (acid/base) chemical transducer in the oil pan, you could tell when the oil becomes acidic, which is the first indication the oil additives are worn out and chemical etching of internal metal surfaces is occurring.
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- #217 of 227
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Re: Oil Change (revisited) [rick2456]
by coldcranker
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Jan 31, 2007 (10:47 pm)
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Replying to: rick2456 (Jan 31, 2007 6:00 am)
"Not sure what formula they use"
Here is what Ford does with their oil life monitor: They take 5,000 miles and subtract mileage since last oil change. Then they divide that result by 5,000 miles and multiply times 100 for percent. Then, they take 6 months and subtract the time since your last oil change, and divide the result by 6 months, times 100. They then choose the smallest percentage between the mileage method and the time method. That way, as you rack up miles to 5,000 or approach 6 months, the oil life monitor chooses whichever is expected to occur first, a mileage limit or a time limit.
GM's oil life monitor is a lot more advanced and thoughtfull, as it just takes into account how the vehicle is driven (cold, hot, idle time, counting revolutions, etc.).
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