Is it time for an oil change at your Ford dealer? Obviously, if your oil change light has come on or you’ve noticed a big puddle of oil in your driveway, it’s probably time. Here are some of the other, less obvious ways to tell.
How to Tell You Need an Oil Change from Your Ford Dealer
It’s Been At Least Six Months
Depending on the exact model you have and how old it is, as well as whether you’re using regular oil or synthetic, you’ll usually want to have the oil changed every six months to one year. If you have a newer model, you have synthetic oil, and you don’t drive under difficult conditions, you may be able to go as long as a year.
But if you do a lot of towing or hauling, if you drive in particularly dirty and dusty environments, or if most of your drives are short drives of 5 miles or less, you’re putting extra strain on the engine and you’ll want to change out the oil on time.
It’s Been Around 7,500 Miles
You’ll notice that your owner’s manual tells you to change the oil every X number of miles or Y number of months. That’s because some people will drive 5000 miles in just three months while others will take six or eight months to get there.
Check your owner’s manual to know for sure what’s right for you, but, in general, most modern Fords need the oil changed right around 7,500 miles. Once you have come to see us a few times, we’ll have a good idea of your engine and driving habits and will be able to give you even more specific advice.
There’s New Noises
You drive all the time, so you should be very familiar with the sounds your car makes. If you notice some strange new ones, and particularly any knocking or grinding, this could be happening because the oil is old. Basically, it is losing some of its protective properties and is no longer lubricating the way it should.
You Smell Burning in the Cabin
If there’s oil leaking within the engine, it won’t necessarily all go out onto the ground. Sometimes the oil leaks onto the engine itself, and then it burns away as the engine heats up. When this happens, you’ll smell burning.
If it’s time to swap out your oil for a fresh new batch, come see our experts at Jack Madden Ford in Norwood, MA today.
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