service light

Topic: service light (Read 1622 times) previous topic - next topic

service light

April 10, 2006, 08:21:42 PM

when the service ligkt comes on,what is it calling for.not the the check engine light.it blinks on for a few then goes out???

service light

Reply #1 – April 10, 2006, 11:03:41 PM

the SERVICE light on the digital cluster?

service light

Reply #2 – April 10, 2006, 11:06:51 PM

The SERVICE light on the digital cluster comes on every 7,500 miles just to let you know to change the oil.

service light

Reply #3 – April 10, 2006, 11:47:20 PM

Start the car, then press and hold both the TRIP and the RESET TRIP buttons. You should hear three beeps, then the light will go out and stay out for another 7500 miles...

service light

Reply #4 – April 10, 2006, 11:50:13 PM

please don't wait for the light to change the oil :( lol

service light

Reply #5 – April 12, 2006, 04:13:33 PM

hey thanks for the replys,i'll use the steps for the light.as for oil changes,i get them every one every two months since the car has
high miles plus i add a can of restore with it just to be safe.

service light

Reply #6 – April 13, 2006, 01:02:44 AM

Quote

please don't wait for the light to change the oil :( lol

Hell if I did that I'd change my oil once every two years...... I change it every 3 months because I don't drive it much.

service light

Reply #7 – April 13, 2006, 10:06:12 AM

Quote

I change it every 3 months because I don't drive it much.

I just did a 3 month oil change on the Mustang. It moved 305 miles since the last one......

service light

Reply #8 – April 13, 2006, 03:00:03 PM

Just curious as to why you guys change oil based on time instead of usage.

service light

Reply #9 – April 13, 2006, 05:37:32 PM

Oil degrades after time because short trips and low mileage create acid in the oil because the water in the crank case can't evaporate. Then the oil starts to eat the bearings. Since the Tbird is my second car which I just use for fun/shows I change the oil every 3 months to keep it from going bad. The oil may look clean but it more than likely is garbage.

service light

Reply #10 – April 13, 2006, 06:36:02 PM

Do the factory manuals put dates along with the milage on the service plan pages? I know most suggest 5000-7500mi intervals, but not sure about dates.

For me, I think there are enough additives in oil today to neutralize the acids. As for water(a very small amount), I know it will sit on the bottom, but you'd think it would evaporate upon the engines next heat cycle.

service light

Reply #11 – April 13, 2006, 06:36:14 PM

service light

Reply #12 – April 13, 2006, 06:56:30 PM

The manual does indeed have time intervals. Not sure what Ford called for when it comes to these cars because like most, I ignore Ford's advice and let it go no more than 3,000 miles or three months between changes.

Most modern cars call for 3k/3 month intervals (for severe duty - anyone that drives in a city or lives in an area that temps drop below freezing should follow the severe duty schedule), though some newer cars have active oil life monitoring and can go up to 15k miles.

As for the additives, they break down with time as well as with mileage, so they will not protect the engine. You'll likely be safe going well beyond three months, but an oil change is cheap insurance on a car you want to keep. Oil molecules break down with usage, too - not just from gas/carbon contamination, but the actual molecules get pulled apart. As I'm sure Oldraven could tell you, a propane fuelled engine will have crystal clear oil right through 3k miles (it will not get black), but it still needs changing.

service light

Reply #13 – April 13, 2006, 07:09:48 PM

I had a ASE certified tech school teacher always harp on me for changing my oil every 3k miles. He said the factory oil change intervals were plenty safe, and most people on the road shouldn't worry about changing oil until 7500miles. I now change oil every 5k in my dd's, but 2500 in my built car. I think at 3000 it's wasting good oil. Why would *insert automaker's name here* engineers want engines to fail?

service light

Reply #14 – April 13, 2006, 08:39:54 PM

Same reason they make 'em to rust, break and otherwise degrade - because if their cars lasted forever you'd never buy a new one :D

So if changing your oil every 3k is wasting good oil, why do you change it every 2500 in your built car? Why not go to 5000, like your DD, or even 7500? Hell, why not 12k?

I change it every 3k/3 months in my Thunderbird because I want to keep it. I change it at the same intervals in the Volvo because the aftermarket warranty requires it. As for the Dakota, I changed it once when I bought it two years ago, and that's it. The thing burns/leaks it fast enough that it's always got at least a quart of fresh oil mixed in with the tar every couple hundred miles. I change the filter every 5k miles, though (which mesans I've done it three times since the original oil change when I bought it).

I guess another reason I got into the habit of changing it so often is that I've always gotten my oil free and my filters at cost, so an oil change cost me $2. The Volvo, however, must have its oil changes done at a retail shop in order to keep the warranty valid.

BTW, I'm an ASE certified master tech with an additional four years of GM ASEP training. I've had hundreds of courses and several instructors over the past ten years and every one of them stressed the importance of 3k/3month intervals

The funny thing is that while most people change their engine oil religiously the tranny, rear end, colling system and brake system all get ignored. I'll bet the majority of board members here have their original tranny fluid, rear end fluid and brake fluid. A tranny is just as expensive (if not moreso) than an engine, but people neglect them. Go figure...