Is one long oil change interval a dealbreaker?

General Forum
1

I’m looking at buying a 2023 XLT 3.5 PowerBoost from a private seller. The truck has 31,450 miles on it, but here’s what’s bothering me: the last oil change on record was in April 2024, at 18,400 miles. That’s about 13k miles since the last change. They did use full synthetic, though.

Before that, the oil changes were at 7k and 14k miles. The truck looks great otherwise, but would this be a red flag for you if you were buying used?

I plan to do a fresh oil change as soon as I buy it. My main concern is whether the 5-year/60k Ford warranty could be denied because of that long interval. What do you think?

2

I always change mine every 5k miles as recommended. I drive a 2021 3.5 EcoBoost, so not sure if the PowerBoost makes a big difference, but 13k seems like a stretch to me.

3

I do mine at 5k intervals too. The dealer once told me every 7k is fine, but I just don’t feel comfortable waiting that long. 13k would make me uneasy.

4

Looks like the seller relied on the oil life monitor. It’s probably not as bad since the PowerBoost likely used some electric miles, but even then, 13k is pushing it for my liking.

5

Micah said:
Looks like the seller relied on the oil life monitor. It’s probably not as bad since the PowerBoost likely used some electric miles, but even then, 13k is pushing it for my liking.

I trust my oil life monitor, but I also drive a lot—5k miles every 3-4 months. It’s a good reminder, but I still keep track of mileage myself.

6

If you had a major engine problem, Ford might technically deny a warranty claim because of inconsistent maintenance. That’s always a risk, though—it’s hard to predict.

7

Ira said:
If you had a major engine problem, Ford might technically deny a warranty claim because of inconsistent maintenance. That’s always a risk, though—it’s hard to predict.

I’d worry about the turbos not getting proper lubrication after so many miles. Even if the quantity of oil is fine, old oil loses its ability to protect parts properly.

8

@Greer
Synthetic oil doesn’t really break down, but it can get contaminated and lose its detergent properties. Still, going that long between changes can clog the filter and restrict flow, which is risky.

9

Have you asked the seller about it? Sometimes oil changes don’t show up on Carfax, even if they were done.

10

Update: I spoke to the seller. They said the oil was actually changed in September and promised to send me a picture of the service sticker. Seems like it just didn’t get logged in the records. Thanks for all the advice!

11

@Teo
This is exactly why Carfax isn’t reliable. It doesn’t tell the whole story, but people treat it like gospel when buying used cars.

12

For EcoBoost engines, clean oil is critical. A good owner changes it every 3,000-4,000 miles, especially with turbo engines.