bubbabud

If you have doubts about the OLM do as I did pull a sample and send it in to be analized [I used Blackstone lab] include the OLM reading at time of sample [mine read 48% with 5,446 miles on the oil] the report said that based on the sample sent that the OLM was very close to spot on. I plan to run the next sample to about 20% and test again. note I have had two tests done at about 5,500 miles one with Motercraft syn blend 5w30 and one with motercraft full syn. 5w30 with no decernable differance in expected oil life so I switched back to the syn blend.

boosted150

Mobil 1 5w30. I alternate between M1 and Pennzoil Ultra full synthetic, based on what's cheapest. M1 is $24 for 5 quarts right now, so that's what I'm using.

I used the Motorcraft Semi-synthetic 5w30 (what the truck came with) for the first 5,000 miles hoping that would break in the engine better before I switched to M1.

shazam

I intend to go as long as the manual and OLM allow, pay for a test including tbn and tan and see if I can rely on the monitor. I have kind of an unusual driving pattern, very short trips in colder weather, so it will be a true test. Its easy to make a monitor that happens to suggest a likely change interval that they could just as easily put in the manual.

For what its worth, my monitor is ticking off one percentage point evey 55-60 miles or so under these kinds of short haul cold weather (but garaged truck) conditions.

They have a web site discussion of the OLM somewhere at Ford. They describe the algorithm as based on a combination of hours of operation operation temperature and rpm. I wouldn't be surprised if they had a few other factors thrown in there.

Ford has quite a few oil change intervals recommended in their manual, and they aren't all gathered in the same part of the manual. Their extended maintenance plans seem to imply a once every 5K interval OLM notwithstanding.

mechanicboy

When I change my oil I reset to 90%. I did the first change at 5k miles, the second at 12,500. I have yet to do a third at 17800 miles. I think I will change at 20,000 or when the monitor says too, which like I said is actually 10% ahead of the game. I'm pretty particular when it comes to old changes ad never do extended oil changes even with a 8qt oil system.

Oh, and I used motorcraft syn-blend 5W-20 and motorcraft filters on all my fords. I also have a 01' Lincoln LS 5speed and I just sold my 06' fusion to my brother.

h2ouup2

This is what I'm talking about. Mine would tick off at different rates based on my driving habits. It's pretty cool how they have done this.

karl contreras

I change mine to my olm, I drive a ton, roughly putting on about 1100k a week on it, with 95% of that being highway, I changed my oil twice now, and I'm just a few K away from 30000 and the olm says 56% oil life left. I run synthetic amsoil, and my service guy said that just go by the olm, it's the best way to know when to change your oil.