Hello all,

Firstly apologies if this question or similar has been asked before. I did try searching but the forum would not let me and kept telling me to come back after so many seconds.

So, purchased first ever Focus a few months back. Focus St line X 1.5TDCI. First ever Diesel as well so that is taking a bit of getting used to.

I had some problems pretty soon after purchase with the dreaded DPF and Oxygen sensors. Dealer had to take it back and did a good clean up. So far so good and liking it very much.

My main question is this. When I bought the car originally, when I was having a snoop, I saw that Oil Life was at 56%. I had to look up what that meant at the time. So as I knew there was new oil in it, I assume it had not been reset.

When it went back to the garage for the work on the DPF, they had to do a full refill of new oil. I had mentioned the monitor to the mechanics but when I got it back again, it had not been reset. I had intended to do it myself but it just went totally out of my head. Anyway, had a glance today and it is down to 18%. Now I know that is not an accurate reading, I would expect its probably up in the 80% range, but I am wondering, what happens when it drops below a certain level. Will there be any issues? What should I expect?  It is about 8 weeks since the last service. 

I assume it is too late to reset the monitor now, although I probably have done less than 700 miles since the oil change, so wondering if a reset might not be a bad idea?

I would value any opinions on this. 

Thank you. 

You will get messages on the screen in the car:

Quote

• Change Engine Oil Soon: This indicates the vehicle has about 5% oil-life left, and the oil and filter should be replaced soon.
• Oil Change Required: The vehicle has no oil-life remaining, and the oil and filter should be replaced now.

No one will die. 🙂

You could reset the oil life monitor now and just remember that it is over reading by ~ 20%. Most of us don't rely on the oil life monitor as it is only a calculated number, it isn't measuring oil quality. It's ok (and good practice) to change the oil before the monitor starts getting angsty. 

As 2011 oil warning is simply a timer (reset by pressing full throttle and brake together) what is this percentage bit what does it actually mean - is it just a fancy way of giving a time reading?
I can't imagine any sensor being available to actually detect oil dilution due to post injection/multiple regens so would like to know what all of this means?
If @OscarStone oil has done 700 miles and it's time then a reset would be OK and put the next service date on the calendar?
Thanks

10 minutes ago, Shearers said:

I can't imagine any sensor being available to actually detect oil dilution due to post injection/multiple regens so would like to know what all of this means?

It is quite easy for a proper oil quality sensor to detect the quality.  The electrical properties of oil change as it gets contaminated and diluted, so a sensor just compares that to a base figure in the PCM.

However...Ford were too tight to fit these sensors to most of their engines.  So it's a largely pointless figure on Fords, just based on time alone.  Some Ford engines do use a quality sensor though.

Many thanks to all who responded, I really appreciate it. 

I think I am just being over anxious about everything.

Biggest financial layout on a car I have ever made and went from a really reliable (age related issues aside) Astra, that never let me down, and was nice and simple, to this car. I really like it and am nice and comfortable now, but I think I might be googleing potential problems a bit too much!

There's 9 months or 12000k until next service so I think I am alright. I might do the reset anyway just to save me looking at any lights I do not need to. 

Thanks again. Its very likely I will be back here to annoy you all about something else!!

Please do hang around.

If you are over anxious now, reading about all the problems that other people have on here should be right up your street. 🙂

PC, as a certain Mrs Doyle from Fr. Ted once said, "maybe I like the misery"...😉