Oil change after only 1,200 miles???

[BrantW]

Hey guys,

So here's the deal: I got my 2020 (brand new) late last December (before COVID hit obviously), and since then have only put 1,200 miles on it. I work from home already, but have been driving my wife's car since COVID, and the Raptor unfortunately sees very little action right now and just sits in the garage. So the combination of that totals about 1,200 miles. However, my oil life remaining is showing 7% now, and I know that takes time into consideration, which is on track to be at about 0% exactly one year after purchase. How important is it to go by this even though I only have 1,200 miles on it?

Thanks for your advice!

 

[GordoJay]

It depends a bit on how you've been driving it. Mostly short trips? Change it. Mostly long trips? You could push it. Best would be to get the oil tested if you really want a good answer. I'd change it if it were me. We always take my truck now because I upgraded, my wife downgraded, and I'd rather drive mine.

 

[DFS]

Such a small price for peace of mind on a fairly expensive truck. Change the oil knowing it’s been taken care of either way.

 

[smurfslayer]

IIRC, the maintenance schedule is up to 10k miles or 1 year. So you’re coming up on the chronological interval to get service. It’s not so much the oil, as oil doesn’t go bad or expire over time, but you do have collateral maintenance items that need to be looked at.

Def. get serviced in time, preserve the warranty and have someone else put eyes on the truck to be sure nothing’s overlooked.

 

[JohnyPython]

If it’s the factory fill, I would change it out to a full synthetic.

If it has been changed to full synth, then I would just change the filter, top up the oil and reset the monitor. I doubt there’s any oil degradation.

Of course, I would look at other maintenance items - wheels, filters etc.

I would try to drive it more just too keep the juices flowing. Fuel stabilizer and a battery tender maybe.

For regular use, I change oil/filter at 5k miles.

 

[CoronaRaptor]

Most definitely change the oil, unless you are not driving it at all and just starting it up every month. But for warranty purposes I would change it regardless.

 

[Todd Turbo S]

I’ve always been advised to change the oil every 5k miles or after one year, which ever comes first. I have three vehicles that doesn’t see 5k a year and I’ve always changed the oil annually, in fact all fluids based on time and not miles, such as the brake fluid every two years.

two of my vehicles, similar to yours, see’s less than 1k miles a year.

From what I’ve read, it’s that the oils can break down after a year, which is why, at a minimum, you should changed the oil annually.

 

[isis]

Mine sees very few miles as well and is mostly short trips. I change it every year when it tells me to. They rotate the tires too. It’s cheap insurance.

 

[Bluto]

Super cheap to have it done if only to maintain the warranty. Over time the oil oxidizes and breaks down, even if not run. It's probably still good but why take the chance of them not honoring a cam phaser warranty claim because of lack of oil changes.

 

[WraptorBoy]

IIRC, the maintenance schedule is up to 10k miles or 1 year. So you’re coming up on the chronological interval to get service. It’s not so much the oil, as oil doesn’t go bad or expire over time, but you do have collateral maintenance items that need to be looked at.

Def. get serviced in time, preserve the warranty and have someone else put eyes on the truck to be sure nothing’s overlooked.

The Raptor supplemental says, at least for 2019, to change it at 5K miles. But the non-raptor shows 10K in the main manual.

Hey guys,

How important is it to go by this even though I only have 1,200 miles on it?

Thanks for your advice!

9/2019, 6K miles. My indicator popped up at ~5K miles. I changed it then. I went to Ford and got the recommended oil (from the manual) from them. Though, I changed it myself.

Oil is the most important and simplest form of maintenance you can do. I would probably do it. I wouldn't sweat over it though.