What Kind Of Oil Does My Ford Need?

When you purchase a Ford at Woody Anderson Ford in Huntsville, Alabama, you can expect to enjoy many years of trouble-free driving. However, to keep your investment running like new, it’s important to follow the recommended maintenance and service schedule as detailed in your owners manual. Some routine service items include tire rotations, braking system checks, battery inspections, and filter changes.

One of the most important maintenance jobs is a regular engine oil and filter change. To ensure the job is done properly and to the highest standards, you should always use a trusted Ford service center, such as Woody Anderson Ford. We use original equipment manufacturer parts and fluids, so when we change your Ford’s engine oil, you know you’ll be getting the right filter and the correct grade of oil for your car.

What Kind of Oil Does My Ford Need?

Engine oil is graded by a numerical code, which refers to the viscosity, or thickness, of the oil. The viscosity of engine oil changes with temperature, so multigrade oils were developed to operate in a range of temperatures. The oil is thinner when it’s cold and thicker when it’s hot. When choosing a multigrade oil, you’ll see a code, such as 5W-30.

For these oils, the W stands for winter, and the number before it is the viscosity of the oil at low temperatures. The second number is the oil’s thickness at a normal operating temperature. Some of the more common grades for normal motoring are 5W-20, 5W-30, and 10W-30 because they’re thin enough to flow when cold and sufficiently thick to perform well in high temperatures.

There are three main types of engine oil. Conventional oil, made from crude, is fine for everyday driving, such as your daily commute or running errands. However, it’s prone to break down under extreme conditions and needs to be changed more often. Fully synthetic oil works extremely efficiently, can go longer between changes, and can extend the life of your engine, but it’s more expensive. A synthetic blend oil is a combination of the two.

The grade of oil recommended for your Ford will be in your owners manual. If you have an older car, you could choose to use cheaper conventional oil, but in later model Fords, you should use a Motorcraft synthetic blend or fully synthetic oil. The technicians in our Woody Anderson Ford service center will be happy to answer any questions you have about your Ford’s engine oil.

Why Is a Regular Oil Change Important?

If the engine is the heart of your Ford, the engine oil is the lifeblood that keeps it running at its healthiest for as long as you own your vehicle. The oil helps keep the engine at the right temperature and lubricates the moving components to reduce friction and keep them working together smoothly.

With every trip you make, your oil slowly degrades and gets contaminated with dirt and particles, making it less efficient at dissipating heat and reducing abrasion. When your oil is changed at the correct intervals, your Ford will keep running efficiently, use less fuel, and generate fewer harmful emissions. Crucially, this inexpensive and quick service job extends your engine’s life and saves you money.

If you think you’ll save a few dollars by delaying your oil change, you’ll end up spending more in the longer term. As your oil becomes contaminated and the filter gets clogged, you’ll be using more fuel. The moving parts will be subject to more friction, making the engine run hotter and causing premature wear of components. This can shorten your engine’s life and lead to costly repairs in the future.

How Often Should You Change Your Oil?

In the past, when car engines weren’t very efficient, it was recommended to have your oil changed every 3,000 miles. However, with Ford’s modern engine technology and the development of synthetic blends and fully synthetic oils, you can drive much farther between engine oil changes. If your vehicle is a 2008 model or later, Ford recommends changing the oil every 7,500 miles. For older models, the recommended oil change interval is 5,000 miles under normal driving conditions.

If your vehicle usage is particularly light, you may be able to drive up to 10,000 miles before changing the oil. If you subject your car to severe use, you might need to change your oil every 4,000 to 5,000 miles. Examples of severe usage include driving in extreme temperatures or mountainous areas, hauling heavy loads, going off-road, or frequently sitting in traffic. If you make short trips frequently, the engine doesn’t reach its operating temperature, which can reduce your oil’s life span.

Many later Ford vehicles feature an Intelligent Oil-Life Monitor, which determines when your oil should be changed based on how you use your vehicle. This saves you from having to remember when to change your oil. Your car will display a message on the information screen when an oil change is due.

Why Choose Us for Your Oil Change?

You could try and save money by taking your Ford to your local lube shop for an oil change. However, they deal with all makes of vehicles and may not know the exact specifications of your car. How do you know they’ll put the correct oil in? Using the wrong oil can be a costly mistake and could invalidate your warranty.

At Woody Anderson Ford, our factory-trained technicians know your car inside and out. You can be sure you are getting the highest quality service. And with The Works synthetic blend oil change, our technicians also conduct a vehicle checkup, rotate your tires, inspect the brakes, top off the fluids, test the battery, and check the filters, belts, and hoses.

It’s Easy To Schedule an Oil Change

When your Ford is due for an oil change, contact us at Woody Anderson Ford in Huntsville, Alabama, or use our online service appointment form. You can also schedule a Quick Lane service for the best routine maintenance services.

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