What parameters are oil life % based on?
09-08-2014, 08:26 AM
#1
Snow Engineer
Thread Starter
What parameters are oil life % based on?
Is it just KM based milestones? I changed at 26% since my 5 km winter commute might be considered extreme given I'm in Canada.
09-08-2014, 08:45 AM
#2
Senior Member
From Ford's literature: IOLM uses an algorithm to calculate your oil change intervals based on actual engine operating conditions.
"Intelligent" implies that it isn't just a mileage calculation, and that's the case. You can safely go until it tells you that you need a change.
"Intelligent" implies that it isn't just a mileage calculation, and that's the case. You can safely go until it tells you that you need a change.
09-08-2014, 09:17 AM
#3
Snow Engineer
Thread Starter
From Ford's literature: IOLM uses an algorithm to calculate your oil change intervals based on actual engine operating conditions.
"Intelligent" implies that it isn't just a mileage calculation, and that's the case. You can safely go until it tells you that you need a change.
"Intelligent" implies that it isn't just a mileage calculation, and that's the case. You can safely go until it tells you that you need a change.
I'm going 10,000+ Kms since I changed it last Oct, including a winter of 5x5km/week in 15-30 below. and it's still 26%?
I'm not 100% that the dealer actually put in synthetic when I bought it used last year so I am gonna err towards caution.
09-08-2014, 09:27 AM
#4
Senior Member
Many on the forum seem to change it early, some very early. Lots of "it's so cheap to do, I don't want to take the risk." I see it (not that anyone else has to see it that way) as pretty clear - Ford designed the vehicle to tell you when the oil needs to be changed. They did this for a reason, they could have just counted off miles and/or time, but they didn't. I wont' change mine until it says so, that's what I also do on my 2010 Fusion Hybrid.
Also - the system doesn't care what oil you used to do the calculation, it looks at your usage, how you drive. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe...rticle7012349/
If you have a receipt from what the dealer did you can check the part number to see what oil they used.
Also - the system doesn't care what oil you used to do the calculation, it looks at your usage, how you drive. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe...rticle7012349/
If you have a receipt from what the dealer did you can check the part number to see what oil they used.
Last edited by Ricktwuhk; 09-08-2014 at 12:07 PM.
09-08-2014, 10:19 AM
#5
Snow Engineer
Thread Starter
I, too, don't change oil that often anymore. I used to but not anymore. 10k is a pretty good number for oil life and the manual does say to change it more often in extreme conditions and a chronic not fully warming of the engine enough in the winter qualifies as that. So basically, been almost a year since my change. My GF has same driving conditions as I do plus less KMs, and her CRV indicated her oil life of her 0-20 synthetic was at 0% 4 months ago.
09-08-2014, 10:43 AM
#6
Snow Engineer
Thread Starter
Ok, doing my homework (sorry, I just thought this would be offhand knowledge around here) I dig up that you can't really find what the parameters being used in the algorithms (probably not available from Ford) are and there is a lot of conjecture/opinions.
But basically, IOLM does not look at your actual oil at all. It is software based and that's pretty much a bean-counter indicator.
But basically, IOLM does not look at your actual oil at all. It is software based and that's pretty much a bean-counter indicator.
09-08-2014, 12:06 PM
#7
Senior Member
I'd be very impressed if such an on-the-fly oil analyzer is in my truck. Do you have a source for this information?
I, too, don't change oil that often anymore. I used to but not anymore. 10k is a pretty good number for oil life and the manual does say to change it more often in extreme conditions and a chronic not fully warming of the engine enough in the winter qualifies as that. So basically, been almost a year since my change. My GF has same driving conditions as I do plus less KMs, and her CRV indicated her oil life of her 0-20 synthetic was at 0% 4 months ago.
I, too, don't change oil that often anymore. I used to but not anymore. 10k is a pretty good number for oil life and the manual does say to change it more often in extreme conditions and a chronic not fully warming of the engine enough in the winter qualifies as that. So basically, been almost a year since my change. My GF has same driving conditions as I do plus less KMs, and her CRV indicated her oil life of her 0-20 synthetic was at 0% 4 months ago.
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09-08-2014, 01:02 PM
#8
Senior Member
I would not just assume everything is all hunky dory just because the oil life "monitor" is happy.
I am a fan of the "trust but verify" mentality. I have a Blackstone report from some yellow bottle Pennzoil I used from 7,046 to 10,316 miles on the odo (3,270 on oil) where the TBN remaining was a "2.0". According to Blackstone, virgin YB Pennzoil 5w-20 has a TBN of "8.8" and "1.0" is the safety threshold... so that means if it is used up at a relitively linear rate, that oil would used up by the time it had 4,000mi on it, and "0.0" by 4,500mi.
Are you a 5.0L? Her CRV also does not have an 8qt sump and that is where some of the longer run time is coming from... I believe they also assume you will be using an oil at least equivalent to the factory fill. (which is a very good oil) As I indicated showed above, a sub-par oil will still need more frequent changes... being that similar if not the same oil is what many quick change places use by default, I really hope this extended drain "just do what it says" does not come to bite Ford or its owners in the butt.
I am a fan of the "trust but verify" mentality. I have a Blackstone report from some yellow bottle Pennzoil I used from 7,046 to 10,316 miles on the odo (3,270 on oil) where the TBN remaining was a "2.0". According to Blackstone, virgin YB Pennzoil 5w-20 has a TBN of "8.8" and "1.0" is the safety threshold... so that means if it is used up at a relitively linear rate, that oil would used up by the time it had 4,000mi on it, and "0.0" by 4,500mi.
I'd be very impressed if such an on-the-fly oil analyzer is in my truck. Do you have a source for this information?
I, too, don't change oil that often anymore. I used to but not anymore. 10k is a pretty good number for oil life and the manual does say to change it more often in extreme conditions and a chronic not fully warming of the engine enough in the winter qualifies as that. So basically, been almost a year since my change. My GF has same driving conditions as I do plus less KMs, and her CRV indicated her oil life of her 0-20 synthetic was at 0% 4 months ago.
I, too, don't change oil that often anymore. I used to but not anymore. 10k is a pretty good number for oil life and the manual does say to change it more often in extreme conditions and a chronic not fully warming of the engine enough in the winter qualifies as that. So basically, been almost a year since my change. My GF has same driving conditions as I do plus less KMs, and her CRV indicated her oil life of her 0-20 synthetic was at 0% 4 months ago.
09-09-2014, 09:53 AM
#9
Senior Member/Vietnam Vet
If you want reminders at 6,000 or 8,000, you can always reset the OL to 60%, 80%, etc yourself. I was always good with 10K until reading all the fuel dilution, combustion by-products, etc, so now I prefer 6K oil changes and just set the reminder for that.
09-09-2014, 11:09 AM
#10
The EB has a Torque Management system. I would change the oil early than later.