How Long Has It Been Since Your Last Ford Oil Change?

Periodically changing your oil keeps your engine running smoothly and it also keeps your vehicle warranty valid. So if it’s been more than six months since your last Ford oil change, then it’s probably time to have it done. Let’s take a look at how often you should change your oil and the top reasons for keeping your motor oil fresh.

Never Leave It Longer Than 7,500 Miles

In the past, it was often recommended to have your oil changed every 3,000 miles. But with modern Ford vehicles and the durability of modern synthetic oil, there’s really no need to have motor oil changed quite so often.

These days, you should have your oil changed every 5,000 to 7,500 miles, which usually works out to every six months. This coincides nicely with the recommended intervals for having your tires changed and brakes serviced.

Keep Your Warranty Valid

Most drivers gain peace of mind from their vehicle warranty. If this is the case for you, then keeping your warranty valid is a very good reason to regularly change your oil. Be sure to check the requirements laid out in both your owner manual and warranty, and stick to the recommended schedule, always using a type of oil approved by Ford.

Maintain Good Performance

Your motor oil serves to lubricate the mechanical parts of your engine, ensuring that the valves, pistons, camshaft, and other parts all work together smoothly. By minimizing friction, motor oil also keeps the engine from overheating.

But over time, motor oil begins to deteriorate and fill with tiny bits of debris, eventually becoming a sludge that can no longer properly lubricate and disperse heat. This is why frequent oil changes are so important for maintaining good engine performance.

Keep Your Engine Clean

Various additives in modern motor oil, such as detergents and dispersants, gather up dirt and contaminants in the engine and sweep it along to the fuel filter. During an oil change, this filter is replaced. If it isn’t replaced, the collected debris and grime in a clogged up fuel filter is forced back into the circulation of oil through the engine. This is another important reason to get your oil changed without fail.

Save on Costly Repairs

Eventually, deteriorating motor oil is no longer able to serve its essential functions. When this happens, your engine will begin to overheat, often causing it to blow a gasket. When a gasket blows, you’ll see white smoke in your exhaust and you’ll no longer be able to drive your car. And a blown gasket is usually a very expensive repair job.

Avoid Complete Engine Failure

As the heat in a poorly-oiled engine rises, if the gasket doesn’t blow, then parts within the engine will start to warp and seize up. This is a disaster. A seized-up engine can rarely be fixed and needs instead to be replaced: an operation so costly that it’s often cheaper to buy a new car.

Get your oil changed today at Koons Woodbridge Ford and avoid all of these potential problems. We’re one of the region’s most trusted dealerships, providing a local one-stop shop for all things Ford.

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Tags: Auto Service, Ford, Ford Dealer, Ford Dealership, oil change, service, Woodbridge VA
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