Do I need to change motor oil more frequently? - Ford Forums

chenripp · 07-02-2008, 16:30

I changed the motor oil in early March. Mobil #1 5w-30 extended life.
This product lasts for 15,000 miles or 1 year as indicated.

Yet when I checked the oil recently, I found the oil has already become
dark brown (fresh oil is light brown). I drove only 5000 miles a year.
Does this mean the oil has worsened and I need to change it soon?
What causes the oil to wear so soon?

- '04 Sable SHO 95k miles

thefonz · 07-02-2008, 18:57

Oil changes, IMHO, should be three to five thousand miles.

**tbird100636** · 07-03-2008, 07:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by chenripp

I changed the motor oil in early March. Mobil #1 5w-30 extended life.
This product lasts for 15,000 miles or 1 year as indicated.

Yet when I checked the oil recently, I found the oil has already become
dark brown (fresh oil is light brown). I drove only 5000 miles a year.
Does this mean the oil has worsened and I need to change it soon?
What causes the oil to wear so soon?

- '04 Sable SHO 95k miles

I myself only do 5,000 mi. a year (don't ask, actually less now) and I do mine every 3 months. It doesn't always come out dark. I use the regular Mobil 1 Synthetic. It depends on how hard you drive, and how much idling you may do, outside temps., how much highway driving, etc.

SHOZ123 · 07-05-2008, 15:15

I'd switch to a synthetic, use a good filter and change once a year.

widman · 07-05-2008, 16:11

3 month oil changes are a waste of money and oil.
I use good group II oils in vehicles that are mostly on dirt roads and change every 6 months or 4000 miles. I only drive the BMW on pavement (mostly) and only 5000 to 8000 miles a year. Synthetic once a year........

**tbird100636** · 07-05-2008, 23:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by widman

3 month oil changes are a waste of money and oil.
I use good group II oils in vehicles that are mostly on dirt roads and change every 6 months or 4000 miles. I only drive the BMW on pavement (mostly) and only 5000 to 8000 miles a year. Synthetic once a year........

Well I prefer to waste my money myself. I have gone up to 5 months per change.

RogerB34 · 07-08-2008, 17:28

Mobile 1 is a grade IV synthetic and that's what you paid for. Dark doesn't mean "worn out". Oil filters will take contaminants down to 20 microns where 100 microns is the diameter of a human hair. Follow the Ford manual recommendations if not satisfied with color. Conventional API M ok as is SynBlend if changing more often. I use a SynBlend (MotorCraft 5-20, Walmart) and change annually as low mileage and temperate year round climate. Meets Ford recommendations.

**360ci** · 07-08-2008, 19:58

I change oil twice a year in my taurus. It works out to once every 10 000kms or 6000miles and the oil is Amsoil XL rated for 12,500km. it's still not dark brown at 10 000kms, but I change it every 6 months or so irregardless. My Dodge durango tows frequently and I abuse it every chance I get and change its synthetic oil & filter every 6000kms.

I just don't like the thought of trying to get an oil filter off after one year. I do my changes outside so once in early spring and once in the fall work out fine on my '99 Taurus. 5W20 all year round.

chenripp · 07-11-2008, 16:39

Just curious what causes the motor oil to become 'dark' prematurely only
3 months after the oil change with ~1000 miles.

The car ('04 Sable GS SHO) has rental history and I feel it has been
abused ( ~90,000 miles within 2 yrs). The engine doesn't sound quiet.
My guess is the cylinder wall or the piston ring could be worn so during
compression some gas/air mixture may be leaked into the motor oil
compartment and contaminate it. Or the worn parts (like cranking shaft)
may generate excessive heat, which also causes the motor oil to darken.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RogerB34

Mobile 1 is a grade IV synthetic and that's what you paid for. Dark doesn't mean "worn out". Oil filters will take contaminants down to 20 microns where 100 microns is the diameter of a human hair. Follow the Ford manual recommendations if not satisfied with color. Conventional API M ok as is SynBlend if changing more often. I use a SynBlend (MotorCraft 5-20, Walmart) and change annually as low mileage and temperate year round climate. Meets Ford recommendations.

**360ci** · 07-11-2008, 17:39

Not all oils are created equal. Better oil will lubricate with smaller molecules and allow less combustion gases to escape. The longer you drive over the recommended oil change interval allows the by-products of combustion to build up in the oil and the oil then carries it throughout the engine increasing wear as the by-products become so heavy the oil can no longer do it's job effectively. High speed driving (75mph+) will cause oil to darken quicker. Any performance model will tend to be abused more so than a similar non-performance equivalent model. Rental cars are not always maintained correctly, it's imperative that you have all previous maintenance records so you can know what to expect.
I rented a Nissan Versa with the 4 speed auto. it had 19 000kms on it and was only on its second oil change. The service light came on before I even left the rental lot and I asked about it. The guy at the front desk was honest with me and said the car was 1400kms overdue for an oil change as recommended by Nissan. The first oil change was performed at 9,400kms meaning that that the initial oil in the engine was filled with metal particles. A good rule of thumb is to change the oil within 2000miles to get the machining oil/particles out of the engine. As costs are of top priority with rental companies they don't care about changing the oil until Nissan phones and tells them it's a couple weeks over due. I put 418km on the car in the time I had it before they took it in for an oil change upon my return. I find they stretch the boundaries of regular maintenance to the extreme schedule. It's sad really, but ex-rental cars are a good price for a reason.