Is the in car oil monitor accurate?

[B17drvr]

It is just a timer. Change your oil every 5000 miles If you are not tracking it. If you do a track weekend, change it again.

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[sarahestelle]

I just had an oil change in july, and I’m getting messages, texts, and emails to get an oil change. I barely have 6000 miles on my car after two years. (don't judge lol). There’s no way I need another oil change already.

 

[gtstang462002]

It is just a timer. Change your oil every 5000 miles If you are not tracking it. If you do a track weekend, change it again.

It is more than a timer.

 

[smurfslayer]

It is just a timer. Change your oil every 5000 miles If you are not tracking it. If you do a track weekend, change it again.

What I understand from several of the techs I’ve interacted with concerning the Raptor ecoboost is that statistically, the engines with early failures all tended to use the oil life monitor or the ‘non severe use’ maintenance schedule, which is a 10,000 mile interval. Ditto the 9.75” rear. I’ve seen several F150 3.5TT engines over 200k miles so it can be done with proper maintenance. Ditto the 10R80, differential, transfer case - the default maintenance schedule is far too generous for any kind of performance use.

Which would you rather replace, 10R80 fluid, or the 10R80 internals? etc.
I send oil samples out to Blackstone labs, so I at least have some indication of what may be going on. YMMV.

 

[Frogdog1]

My oil life monitor is me. Never had an oil problem. Car makers can do what they want and I'll do what I think is best. That is always sooner than they say to have my oil changed.

 

[Katzenjammer]

Unfortunately when Ford does an OTA update it resets the oil life monitor to 100% life (at least it always does on my car) for some reason. So anytime there is an update, the OLM is useless until your next oil change (that's why I have the windshield tag to keep an eye on the miles still).

Well, that's dumb! Now I have to check mine.

 

[AZ_Ryan]

It is just a timer. Change your oil every 5000 miles If you are not tracking it. If you do a track weekend, change it again.

It is NOT just a timer. Did you read any of the previous posts?

 

[AZ_Ryan]

I just had an oil change in july, and I’m getting messages, texts, and emails to get an oil change. I barely have 6000 miles on my car after two years. (don't judge lol). There’s no way I need another oil change already.

Ummm yes you do. Always change your oil once a year regardless of mileage. That's oil 101.

Edit: I thought you were saying you hadn't changed your oil in 2 years. My bad.

 

[AZ_Ryan]

Unfortunately when Ford does an OTA update it resets the oil life monitor to 100% life (at least it always does on my car) for some reason. So anytime there is an update, the OLM is useless until your next oil change (that's why I have the windshield tag to keep an eye on the miles still).

That is not true. My OTA updates have not affected oil life percentage.

 

[JimC]

That is not true. My OTA updates have not affected oil life percentage.

It affects mine every time for some reason. Every update, reset to 100%. So for my car anyway it is true. Might not be for yours.

 

[b17drvr01]

It is NOT just a timer. Did you read any of the previous posts?

Yes. I know the perimeters it looks at. It is not analyzing an oil sample. I send mine off to Blackstone on every change.
I do the first change at 500 miles and then every 5000. On my vintage Mustangs I do every 3000.
The OLM in my F250is worthless as it goes to zero every 300 miles. Ford has no solution to fix it.
I just reset it and change the oil on that every 5000 miles. That works for me.

 

[sarahestelle]

Ummm yes you do. Always change your oil once a year regardless of mileage. That's oil 101.

I have been, but thanks for the lesson. Two months is a little much.

 

[MAT1955]

@gtstang462002 I basically agree as with most vehicles using the engine oil change monitor is probably fine. I'm a bit more OCD with my Coyote at 12:1 compression and driving it in a spirited manner a few times. So - I err on the side of caution as IMO using Full synthetic and oil filter changes a bit sooner rather than a bit later are IMO the best insurance we can ever get.

 

[AZ_Ryan]

I have been, but thanks for the lesson. Two months is a little much.

My apologies. I read your post wrong.

 

[AZ_Ryan]

Yes. I know the perimeters it looks at.

Then why did you say it's just a timer?

It is not analyzing an oil sample.

No one has claimed it does.

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