My whole life, I’ve always changed my oil every 3,000-5,000 miles with my gas cars. But now that I have a hybrid, I’m wondering if it’s different since many miles are on the electric motor. What’s everyone doing for oil changes on these?
I just wait until the car tells me to. I do my own changes with high-quality synthetic oil and a good filter.
Jody said:
I just wait until the car tells me to. I do my own changes with high-quality synthetic oil and a good filter.
Same here. For me, it’s about every 7,500 miles when the monitor shows ~20% oil life left.
Jody said:
I just wait until the car tells me to. I do my own changes with high-quality synthetic oil and a good filter.
Yep, but if I don’t hit that mileage within a year, I change it anyway.
Jody said:
I just wait until the car tells me to. I do my own changes with high-quality synthetic oil and a good filter.
Last oil change was just over 10,000 miles. Changed it as soon as the truck told me to. I usually go to a quick-change place, and they always put the sticker for 3,000 miles, but I’ve noticed they list 5,000 for the hybrid.
Jody said:
I just wait until the car tells me to. I do my own changes with high-quality synthetic oil and a good filter.
Not great advice. Manufacturer-recommended oil intervals aren’t really about engine longevity.
@Quinn
Who said they were? Maintenance is key, but if you drive it rough, no amount of oil changes will save it.
Jody said:
@Quinn
Who said they were? Maintenance is key, but if you drive it rough, no amount of oil changes will save it.
Manufacturers’ intervals don’t really have much to do with engine life. Best way to know when to change is by getting an oil quality test.
Manual says 10k miles. I usually get around 15,000 km before oil life is below 10%.
Fun fact: About 70% of oil discarded in 2023 still had over 3,000 miles of life in it (or so I read somewhere, probably on Ford Authority). Ford’s recommended intervals haven’t changed much since the 60s. They don’t benefit from you extending the intervals but definitely make money if you come in for oil changes sooner.
This question comes up often.
Options:
- Every 5,000 or 10,000 miles
- Every 6 or 12 months
Whichever comes first, but don’t exceed 10k miles, 12 months, or 350 engine hours.
Here’s a rule of thumb:
- Conventional oil: every 3-4k miles
- Synthetic blend: every 5-6k
- Full synthetic (like in the hybrid Maverick): every 10k.
Remember, in a hybrid, the engine doesn’t run constantly, which extends oil life. Just don’t go over a year between changes.
@Lane
Some argue hybrids might need shorter oil change intervals because of frequent start/stop cycles, which are hard on an engine.
Quinn said:
@Lane
Some argue hybrids might need shorter oil change intervals because of frequent start/stop cycles, which are hard on an engine.
That’s true for conventional engines, where oil settles and the engine has to reach temp again. In hybrids, acceleration from a stop is often battery-powered, easing wear.
@Juno
Good points. Engines are stressed at start-up, but so is towing at max capacity. Opinions vary.
Quinn said:
@Juno
Good points. Engines are stressed at start-up, but so is towing at max capacity. Opinions vary.
You don’t hear much about hybrids failing early, and many go over 200k miles.
@Juno
You’re saying Atkinson cycle engines in hybrids never fail?
Quinn said:
@Juno
You’re saying Atkinson cycle engines in hybrids never fail?
Not from going beyond 5k oil changes.
Quinn said:
@Juno
You’re saying Atkinson cycle engines in hybrids never fail?
Not from going beyond 5k oil changes.
Ford’s recalls might disagree. Replacing a long block isn’t easy.
@Quinn
That’s a manufacturing defect, not an oil change issue.