14 Focus M1 Extended Dilema

[antonmnster]

At last year's Autozone closeout I found a jug of M1 Extended once-a-year 5-20 that I put in the other half's 82k Focus. It was $10! I'm at 88k, and I just don't know if I can stand the idea of leaving that very black oil in there for the winter. The partner loves the remote start, and will run it 20-40 minutes before leaving for work. The colder it is, the longer it runs. I can't blame him as the engine barely uses any fuel.

Dare I change it? I picked up a jug of Motorcraft 5-20 tonight, so I'm ready to go at a moment's notice. I even have a Blackstone bottle in the basement if I can stand to run the current oil out for a while longer...

What do I do??

 

[Rand]

if its a "dilemma" change it.

 

[PimTac]

The oil is made to go the distance as advertised but only if the engine will let it.

 

[GumbyJarvis]

IIRC Ford recommends a 10K OCI?
You're at 6k ish, and what you describe sounds like severe service, just change it before you get a Minnesota blizzard.

 

[GMBoy]

Change it.

 

[4WD]

You got your $10 out of it … change it before it gets colder

 

[geeman789]

Our Honda Pilot has remote start, and in the winter, it gets warmed up for 10 minutes twice a day. And, the winter trips are short. The oil turns very black quickly, and STINKS of gasoline after about 3-4000 miles, and there is sometimes condensation goop on the filler cap.

I would just change it out, and maybe shorten the oil change interval a bit. The fact that you are thinking about it seems to indicate you want to change it, so just do it !

 

[domer10]

I think you would be fine, only 6 k on it..but 20-40 minutes is a bit extreme, within 7-10 min it would perfectly warm. If that was the case you could get away with it. Even if you change it, I would change it again by March if you are letting it idle that long frequently.

 

[cos]

All that idling puts you into severe service, so definitely change it!

 

[Railrust]

I always look at it like...what's a little while longer? Are we talking another couple thousand miles? Another month?

I'd be ok with leaving it in there for another month or so, then I'd change it.

 

[demarpaint]

Originally Posted by Rand
if its a "dilemma" change it.

Exactly! If you get an oil related anxiety attack during the cold or after a snowfall and decide to change the oil, then what?

 

[Coastie05]

Change it and give yourself some peace.

 

[BAJA_05]

Another for the change it crowd before it gets extremely cold. Peace of mind goes a longgggggggg way.

 

[PimTac]

Originally Posted by antonmnster
At last year's Autozone closeout I found a jug of M1 Extended once-a-year 5-20 that I put in the other half's 82k Focus. It was $10! I'm at 88k, and I just don't know if I can stand the idea of leaving that very black oil in there for the winter. The partner loves the remote start, and will run it 20-40 minutes before leaving for work. The colder it is, the longer it runs. I can't blame him as the engine barely uses any fuel.

Dare I change it? I picked up a jug of Motorcraft 5-20 tonight, so I'm ready to go at a moment's notice. I even have a Blackstone bottle in the basement if I can stand to run the current oil out for a while longer...

What do I do??




1. Change the oil.

2. Buy him good quality thermal underwear.

 

[Duffyjr]

Yes please change it before I start loosing sleep over it. 6k on any engine under server service is plenty.

 

[4WD]

Guess "last years close out" means it's been in there a while too ?

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Wow! Running it for 20-40 minutes?! That's nuts.

I don't even run mine that long when it's -30F out!

 

[antonmnster]

I like to buy oil ahead, when I find a deal. So I'm ready to go when the urge strikes. I change generally twice a year - around Thanksgiving and then again around Easter. Right before the Cold Weather, and right after. I don't mind leaving it in longer when the temps are moderate or hot.

It got changed tonight. WM didn't have my usual oils, ended up going with Motorcraft 5-20. Not the finest, but I doubt it will cause any issues.

Wanted to get that done and get the Blizzaks on. (Snow tires on a Focus makes it pretty handy).

We leave for a road trip from Zurich to Rome and back in a week and a half, don't want these issues on my list in early December.

 

[pbm]

I also have a 2014 Focus and I do notice that the oil gets dark faster than in our 2016 Escape 2.5
(similar MZR engine except not DI). I have decided to use semi-syn or dino and change it sooner (approx. every 5K)
in the Focus because of the DI.....for this reason I would change the AE before winter...

PS: In other words...since I plan on changing the oil every 5K in the DI Focus....synthetic would be
a waste of money....