I have just had the "change engine oil" message come up.  I remember reading some stuff that this is not only based on time or mileage since the last oil change but might be doing something fancy to determine the condition of the oil as well?  My next scheduled service is September and it has only done 12,000 miles since the last one so a bit early to get this message.  Its never come up before so thought maybe the technician didn't reset things after the last time but that would make it 26,000 miles which is longer than the recommended interval.

 

I don't do huge mileage but it is about 90% long motorway journeys so driving style shouldn't be a factor.  I normally fill up the adblue about once a year every 6000 or 7000 miles but the last time it was needed a bit earlier at 5,500 miles, not sure if this is linked?  MPG is fairly consistent between 58 and 62 so nothing really obvious going on.

 

I'll probably just book it in earlier than normal and get it done but wondering if anyone can shed light on why the message would come up like that.

1 hour ago, south_bound said:

My next scheduled service is September and it has only done 12,000

😲

12,000 is way more than enough on a wet belt engine.

3 hours ago, south_bound said:

My next scheduled service is September and it has only done 12,000 miles since the last one so a bit early to get this message.  Its never come up before so thought maybe the technician didn't reset things after the last time but that would make it 26,000 miles which is longer than the recommended interval.

I have the Focus 2.0 EcoBlue and it has had 3 oil and filter changes in it's 34000 mile life

Yes I accept that I should change the oil and filter more regularly than the recommended 18,000 miles or 2 years.  Up to now I have gone with every two years which has equated to about 14-15,000 miles but but think I should increase the frequency going forward, especially if I decide to keep the car longer term.   

 

I have read about people doing just an oil change mid-way between official services, would you recommend that as a way to go?  Would it be reasonable to just pump the oil out of the filler hole for these intermediate changes and leave the filter to be changed only every 2 years bearing in mind my driving pattern being mostly long journeys?

Can't understand people doing an oil change without the filter.  Like having a shower then putting your dirty underwear back on!

4 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

Can't understand people doing an oil change without the filter.

I think when the Mk4 Focus 1.5 Diesel came out the Service Schedule was for an Oil only change every year and an Oil and Filter every two years.

In reality I think that the Oil Life Indicator would illuminate before these dates anyway. 

16 hours ago, Tizer said:

I think when the Mk4 Focus 1.5 Diesel came out the Service Schedule was for an Oil only change every year and an Oil and Filter every two years.

In reality I think that the Oil Life Indicator would illuminate before these dates anyway. 

This brings me back to my original question, what is the oil life indicator message based on if it isn't time or miles since last change (reset)?

43 minutes ago, south_bound said:

This brings me back to my original question, what is the oil life indicator message based on if it isn't time or miles since last change (reset)?

I don't know for sure, I would imagine that as well as time and mileage it would take into account the number of short journeys and regenerations.