Oil Change Required problem

[frugal]

Yesterday, the "Oil Change Required" messaged came on.

 

My C-Max has 4625 total miles on it and the oil was changed at the dealership on October 3, 2013 at 4251 miles.  So it's been 38 days and 374 days.  I've checked the oil and it is clean and appears to be at the correct level.

 

For reference, the production date of the car was August 20, 2012 and I took delivery October 22, 2012.

 

Even if the dealership failed to reset the maintenance counter, it still shouldn't have triggered the message unless it also has a time based component recognizing that a year has passed.  I doubt that many of you have a C-Max over a year old with less than 5000 miles on it.

 

My best guess is that there's a clogged oil sensor somewhere.  I'll try to get it into the dealership tomorrow to have it checked out, but I thought I would check first to see if anyone here has seen something like this.

[fotomoto]

I got an early (3500 miles) free oil change at the dealership and they didn't reset it because about 6,500 miles later I got an early indicator around the 10k mark on the ODO.  7 months ownership so my wasn't based on time either.  I changed and reset the oil monitor at 10K (August) and currently am at 17k.  I do a lot more :shift:  than you. 

[wab]

It does a time or miles whichever comes first.

 

"C-MAX full hybrid vehicles are equipped with an information display

which indicates the proper oil change service interval; the interval is up

to one year or 10000 miles (16000 kilometers). When ENGINE OIL

CHANGE DUE or OIL CHANGE REQUIRED appears in the information

display, it’s time for an oil change; the oil change must be done within

two weeks or 500 miles (800 kilometers) of the ENGINE OIL CHANGE

DUE or OIL CHANGE REQUIRED message appearing. The oil life

monitoring system must be reset after each oil change. See Engine oil

check in the Maintenance chapter."

 

Your dealership didn't reset the "Oil Life Monitoring System"

 

Here's how to do the reset

 

"Resetting the Oil Life Monitoring System

Note: Reset the oil life monitoring only after an oil change.

1. Turn the ignition key to the on position. Do not start the engine.

For vehicles with push-button start, press and hold the start button for

two seconds without pressing the brake pedal. Do not attempt to start

the engine.

2. Press both the accelerator and brake pedals at the same time.

3. Keep both pedals fully pressed.

4. After three seconds, the Service: Oil reset in prog. message will be

displayed.

5. After 25 seconds, the Service: Oil reset complete message will be

displayed.

6. Release both the accelerator and brake pedals.

7. The Service: Oil reset complete message will no longer be

displayed.

8. Rotate the key to the off position.

For vehicles with push-button start, press the start button to turn the

vehicle off completely"

[frugal]

Thanks for the response, but If it's a time based message, why:

• Did it not display the "Change Engine Oil Soon" message first?
• Did it wait 1 year and 17 days?

 

The description of the "Oil Change Required" message in the manual is:

Displays when the engine oil life is depleted and requires a change.

 

I still am concerned about a possible sensor problem so I'll take it into the dealership so they can take a look.

Edited November 11, 2013 by frugal

[wab]

This does bring up a good question.

 

When does the FIRST 1 yr clock start?

The very first time the motor is started?

When the cars goes through make ready at the dealer?

 

　

Our dealer didn't reset the Monitoring System when we had our free oil change.

"Change Engine Oil Soon" came on several miles after 10000.

 

[Laurel]

It does a time or miles whichever comes first.

 

"C-MAX full hybrid vehicles are equipped with an information display

which indicates the proper oil change service interval; the interval is up

to one year or 10000 miles (16000 kilometers). When ENGINE OIL

CHANGE DUE or OIL CHANGE REQUIRED appears in the information

display, it’s time for an oil change; the oil change must be done within

two weeks or 500 miles (800 kilometers) of the ENGINE OIL CHANGE

DUE or OIL CHANGE REQUIRED message appearing. The oil life

monitoring system must be reset after each oil change. See Engine oil

check in the Maintenance chapter."

 

Your dealership didn't reset the "Oil Life Monitoring System"

 

Here's how to do the reset

 

"Resetting the Oil Life Monitoring System

Note: Reset the oil life monitoring only after an oil change.

1. Turn the ignition key to the on position. Do not start the engine.

For vehicles with push-button start, press and hold the start button for

two seconds without pressing the brake pedal. Do not attempt to start

the engine.

2. Press both the accelerator and brake pedals at the same time.

3. Keep both pedals fully pressed.

4. After three seconds, the Service: Oil reset in prog. message will be

displayed.

5. After 25 seconds, the Service: Oil reset complete message will be

displayed.

6. Release both the accelerator and brake pedals.

7. The Service: Oil reset complete message will no longer be

displayed.

8. Rotate the key to the off position.

For vehicles with push-button start, press the start button to turn the

vehicle off completely"

Thanks for posting this wab.  I was looking all over the place trying to figure out how to reset the oil service required.  We have less than 9000 kilometers/5000 miles on C-Max and she has had two oil changes with the most recent 6 weeks ago.  We kept getting the oil needs changing message today and I will take a guess that the techs forgot to reset things. They don't seem to be a very conscientious bunch unfortunately.

[Jhsdiver]

I just turned over 10,000 miles on my 2013 C-Max Hybrid and have not had any "oil change required" or "change oil soon" message pop up.  I have had it since June 2013.  My dealer says the message is engine hours related so it won't show yet.  I had a Mariner Hybrid previously and always got messages when the mileage limit neared.

[plus 3 golfer]

I just turned over 10,000 miles on my 2013 C-Max Hybrid and have not had any "oil change required" or "change oil soon" message pop up.  I have had it since June 2013.  My dealer says the message is engine hours related so it won't show yet.  I had a Mariner Hybrid previously and always got messages when the mileage limit neared.

Unless Ford changed the Oil Life Monitor the attached pdf should still apply.

oil life monitor.pdf

Edited February 10, 2014 by Plus 3 Golfer

[bemyax]

I just turned over 10,000 miles on my 2013 C-Max Hybrid and have not had any "oil change required" or "change oil soon" message pop up.  I have had it since June 2013.  My dealer says the message is engine hours related so it won't show yet.  I had a Mariner Hybrid previously and always got messages when the mileage limit neared.

I just passed 10,000 without a message. Did you finally get one? I'm tempted to take it in anyway, against general guidance. However, I'd like to be assured that it actually works.

[fbov]

There are two common reasons for hitting 10K without a "change oil" message:

- the oil won't need it until 10,500 or so

- someone already reset the oil change monitor, perhaps at an oil change.

 

Mine exceeded 10K as well, due to reason #2, an oil change at 5.6K with monitor reset. The Monitor Reset procedure is in the Manual under Maintenance, page 285 in the 3rd edition.

 

HAve fun,

Frank

[homestead]

Oil change required just came up on my car today.  Car has 8600 miles but just turned one year old.

Checked the oil, level was good and oil was just a little dirty.

[fotomoto]

I got an early (3500 miles) free oil change at the dealership and they didn't reset it because about 6,500 miles later I got an early indicator around the 10k mark on the ODO.  7 months ownership so my wasn't based on time either.  I changed and reset the oil monitor at 10K (August) and currently am at 17k.  I do a lot more :shift:  than you. 

 

 

Update:  in January, I changed oil at 20,000 but forgot about resetting the monitor.  It came on last week at 24,000 miles.   <shruggs>

[Singoffpitch]

My oil change required light came on two days before my restraint control module malfunctioned and made every warning light activate (it was about 5,000 miles after last oil change and car had about 38,000 miles). They replaced the module and had my car for 7 days to do the repair. When I got my car back 6 days ago, the oil change required light was still lit. I questioned the service center and he said the previous oil change probably hadn't reset it. I asked why they hadn't changed the oil since it was due. He said they didn't think about it. He then offered to do it, but said it would take 2-3 hours. They had already had my car for 7 days and I didn't have another 3 hours to wait at the dealership so I had to take it to another dealer today to get the oil changed. I had about 800 miles until I could get it changed today (5 days). It was on for just over 2 weeks total (including the 7 days at the service center) and about 1500 miles. What happens if you don't have it repaired within the above-stated 500 miles or 2 weeks?