2008 Ford Focus Maintenance interval

On Oct 29, 12:35 pm, "Mike Hunter" <mikehunt2@lycos/com> wrote:
> You are correct, the mileage/times you referenced applies to ALL Ford Motor
> Company vehicles sold in the US since 2007.
>
> "C. E. White" <cewhi... DeleteThis @mindspring.com> wrote in messagenews:ge9udp$fi$1@registered.motzarella.org...
>
> > "Dioclese" <NONE> wrote in message
> >news:5qydnSq5qpA17pXUnZ2dnUVZ_tninZ2d@earthlink.com...
> >> In the maintenance manual provided with the vehicle, stored in the
> >> glovebox, has something I found interesting.
> >> In regards to oil changes, other than the standard service mileage
> >> interval requirement in which oil changes are required, a sentence
> >> indicating the the oil and filter is required to be changed every 3
> >> months.  Said 3 month interval for oil change requirement is noted
> >> earlier in the manual amongst other gibberish that the owner may
> >> overlook.
>
> > The maintenance manual for a 2008 Focus does not make this claim (see
> >http://www.motorcraftservice.com/pubs/content/~WO8FOC/~MUS~LEN/41/08f...
> > and/or see my response below)
>
> >> I took the Focus to the Ford dealership for the oil change as 3 months
> >> had expired.  A sticker on the upper LH corner of the windshield from the
> >> previous oil change indicated was also due by its date of next service..
> >> The sticker was placed there by the Ford dealership service department..
>
> > Ford Motor Company did not put this sticker on the car. The dealership did
> > this in an effort to sell you unnecessary (or an least excessive)
> > services.
>
> >> The service manager that deals with regular interval maintenance
> >> indicated to me that per the mileage, the car wasn't due for an oil
> >> change till 7500 mile mark.
>
> > At least the Service Manager was honest. The Ford Motor Comapny schedule
> > calls for 7500 mile or 6 month oil changes for normal service (see below).
>
> >> I bought the vehicle used at 925 miles on the odometer.  The Focus had
> >> 2100 miles on it.  Since taking possession, 3 months had expired.  I
> >> interjected that the maintenance manual also says 3 months as well.
>
> > It does not - see above or below.
>
> >> The service manager said that its quite common for owners to go strictly
> >> by the mileage interval for oil and filter changes.  And, he said, he
> >> doesn't know of any occurence of Ford voiding a warranty due to the 3
> >> month interval requirement on oil and filter changes being overlooked by
> >> the owner of the vehicle.  He further went into the expense of oil and
> >> filter changes every 3 months.
>
> > Where is this Ford dealer. The Service Manager seems unusually honest. He
> > probably will be looking for work soon if the dealership owners find out
> > he is telling you the truth about oil change intervals.
>
> >> I told him the Mobil 1 oil and Fram oil filter were in the trunk, change
> >> the oil and filter.  I paid $7.50 for the labor, and my maintenance
> >> manual was updated in a section for unscheduled maintenace by the service
> >> manager.  As I was driving out, I noticed a new sticker on the upper LH
> >> side of the windshield which indicated need for service in another 3
> >> months...
>
> > Too bad the mechanics are placing a sticker in the window that does not
> > conform to the actual Manufacturer's requirements. You should pull it off
> > and throw it away. At the same time, I'd throw away the Fram Filter as
> > well. You can get a Motorcraft filter for a similar price and it will be a
> > much better filter. And if you are using Mobil 1, you definitely don't
> > need to do 3000 mile oil changes, or even 5000 mile oil changes.
>
> > You are mistaken about Ford Motor company requiring a three month oil
> > change requirement. The following was copied directly from the pdf of the
> > 2008 Maintenance Guide:
>
> > From Page 5:
>
> > Maximum Oil Change Interval
> > *Normal Schedule: 7,500 miles or 6 months, whichever occurs first.
> > *Special Operating Conditions: 5,000 miles, 6 months, or 200 hours of
> > engine operation, whichever occurs first
> >  see appropriate schedule on page 42.
>
> > From page 42:
>
> > Special Operating Conditions
> > Items Needing Special Attention
> > If you operate your Ford/Lincoln/Mercury primarily in one of the more
> > demanding Special Operating Conditions listed below, you will need to have
> > some items maintained more frequently. If you only occasionally operate
> > your vehicle under these conditions, it is not necessary to perform the
> > additional maintenance. For specific recommendations, see your Ford or
> > Lincoln Mercury Dealership Service
> > Advisor or Technician.
>
> > *Towing a trailer
> > ....
> > Every 5,000 miles or 6 months Change engine oil and replace oil filter
> > ....
> > *Extensive idling and/or low-speed driving for long distances as in heavy
> > commercial use such as delivery, taxi, patrol car or livery
> > ....
> > Every 5,000 miles or 6 months Change engine oil and replace oil filter
> > ....
> > *Operating in dusty conditions such as unpaved or dusty roads
> > ....
> > Every 5,000 miles or 6 months Change engine oil and replace oil filter
> > ....
> > Use of E85 50% of the time or greater (flex fuel vehicles only)
> > ....
> > Every 5,000 miles or 6 months Change engine oil and replace oil filter
> > ....
>
> > So unless you are using your car in one of the above manners, MOST OF THE
> > TIME, you only need to do routine oil changes every 7,500 miles or 6
> > months, whichever occurs first. And if you are operating under the special
> > operating conditions MOST OF THE TIME, then you still only need to change
> > your oil every 6 months or 5,000 miles. Nowhere can I see that Ford Motor
> > Company is recommending 3 month oil changes for a 2008 Focus.
>
> > Ed
>
> > .

There are two different schedules for maintenance on the PDF that a
previous poster had. While the schedules are the same for all vehicles
(except heavy duty vehicles), other parts of the service schedule may
be different.

Jeff