[Boblink]

Hi, my 2015 2.3EcoBoost AWD MKC is a year old with "only" (due to unforeseen circumstances) a little over 3K miles.
The "idiot light" advise me that an oil change is needed and we are planning a 1,500 mile trip in a few weeks and thought that I would have the oil change when we get back (early next month).
I would appreciate your thoughts as to whether to change the oil before our trip or to wait until we get back?
Thanks,
Bob

 

[blankster]

The change interval is the oil life indicator or 1 year. Due to lack of driving and/or short trips I would change it now. Low use and or mostly short trips is considered severe use. Its cheap insurance plus it demonstrates to Lincoln that you are properly maintaining the vehicle should an engine related issue come up in the future.

 

[mmoretti]

My dealer advised 7500 mile oil change which was hard for me too, I would think 5000 minimally. Mine was done at 7500 and I now have 8900 miles. Not supposed to need another one until 14K but I'm not comfortable with that with a winter full of short trips for me. I'm going to start having it done at 5K I think regardless of dealer, and will have it changed in spring when I will probably be at around 12K.

 

[bkrell]

My last three cars (2 Hondas and a Mustang GT), I gave up my compulsion to change oil every 5,000 miles max and go with the oil life monitor. But the car that I had before that that caused me not to risk it in the first place was a 2.3l turbo SAAB 9-5. But the PCV system was terrible, which led to all the problems. Going w/ the oil life monitor in the cars I've owned since then hasn't failed me yet.

 

[DoJo]

I've always considered oil changes as cheap maintenance. I will say though that I have never used a full synthetic lube which is more expensive.
I change about every 3000 miles and rotate the tires at every other oil change.
I have 15,000 miles on my car and most of my trips are 10, 40 and 100 miles on 2 lane highway.

My last car had Mich. tires on it and when I traded, they had 65,000 miles on them and still had good rubber. I trade every 4 to 5 years and haven't bought a set of tires since I owned a '98 Bonneville which I drove for 9 years.

It has been my experience that tires wear better on an AWD with frequent rotation. As for oil changes, my dealer always has a $25 deal. The 2yr/24,000 mile free oil changes from Lincoln is kind of a farce since the offer is under the assumption that you use 100% synthetic and change at 10,000 miles.

 

[blankster]

I thought Lincoln provides 2 years of maintenance. My 2016 includes that.

 

[t2015MKC]

^^ Indeed Lincoln does as long as "you" follow the manufactures recommendations. If "you" decide to do more then that's on "your" dime.

I will follow the manufactures recommendations to keep the warranty intact.

 

[dk4500]

BobLink...yes, as posted, having driven only 3k miles in one year, especially when you are breaking in a new engine definitely merits an oil change. Plus, Lincoln gives you 3 free changes in the first 2 years, so it costs you nothing, and to me that's a no-brainer.

 

[Dogs2]

On the cars that we drive to and from work, I have always changed the engine oil every 5000 miles using only fully synthetic oil (Mobil 1). On the other two cars that we own, I only change the oil on an annual basis as they are driven less than 5000 miles annually.

 

[Boblink]

Thank you for the advice guys, I had the oil change today so I'm all set.
On a semi-related question, what mileage is the "oil life indicator" set at (5K, 7.5K, 10K) and can you change/override it or is resetting it to zero the only option available?
Thanks again guy,
Bob

 

[bkrell]

Most oil change indicators these days log a set of engine parameters and other info to decide how fast the oil is degrading. They aren't simply mileage dependent. For instance, I do a lot of highway miles in my cars (probably 99%) and in some of my past cars I just freaked out when it went out past 11k miles and gave in and changed the oil, regardless of the monitor.