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These days, most drivers should have their car’s oil changed every 7,500 to 10,000 miles. However, this recommended interval differs by model and the exact type of oil used. Your personal driving conditions might also influence how rapidly your motor oil degrades. Let’s look in detail at how frequently you should visit your local Ford dealership to refresh your engine’s oil.
How Often Should Your Ford Get an Oil Change?
Check Your Manual and Warranty
It’s always wise to check for the recommended oil type and servicing interval in your owner’s manual. If still valid, your vehicle’s powertrain warranty will also stipulate a required schedule for changing your oil. It’s best to stick to these recommendations to keep your vehicle in optimal condition and also to keep your warranty valid.
Consider Your Regular Driving Conditions
When you check your owner’s manual and warranty guidelines, you’re likely to read a separate optimal schedule for both normal and severe driving conditions. Severe conditions refer to any type of driving that puts the engine and oil under more pressure, causing the oil to wear down and degrade more rapidly, thus necessitating more frequent changes than usual.
If you regularly drive along very dusty, dirty, salty, or muddy roads, more particles are likely to get into the oil, contaminating it and making it degrade faster. Frequent short drives of under five miles can also put the engine and oil under more strain, as short trips don’t give the oil enough time to warm up to the optimal lubricating temperature. Towing trailers and driving long distances at low speeds also count as severe conditions.
Schedule Routine Servicing at Your Ford Dealership
Some drivers are unsure as to whether or not their usual driving conditions are severe or not. To help figure this out, you can periodically check your oil to see if it’s darkening in color and filling up with contaminants. Many modern vehicles also have an automatic oil life monitor, which can also help you keep abreast of the condition of your oil.
Additionally, you can ask a trusted technician at your local dealership for their two cents. With a wealth of expertise and experience, a good technician can work out the optimal schedule for you and your vehicle. They can then put a reminder on the sticker inside your driver-side window and also contact you with reminders whenever a scheduled servicing visit is coming up.
Have your oil refreshed today at Jordan Ford of San Antonio, TX. Founded in 1919, we’re proud to be the city’s longest-standing dealership for Ford vehicles.
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