oil leak on new car

GotWood

GotWood

Sayer of Fact
Joined
Jan 12, 2007
Location
Maiden, NC
We picked up a new Ford Fusion a couple months ago and today was time for the first oil change. Well actually, the manual says up to 10k miles, bit that seems too far. Anyway, as I go to change the oil I notice a leak between the motor and trans so I assume its a rear main leak. This car has 5k on it, I'll take it back to Ford next week and let them change the oil and check the problem. I'll be very surprised if they want to do anything about it, so what are my options. A brand new car leaking oil in my driveway is not acceptable.
 
Oh they will fix it no worries. Then they will tell you how important it is to fill out your customer satisfaction survey all 5s I think it is.
 
I know this was a problem with Edges when they updated the body style. I know there was a lot of failed fixes...so be sure to get a description of what they're actually doing to correct the issue. There were quite a few Edges that wound up with a new engine/trans combo. All I ever heard was there was a tolerance issue which allowed for the leak.
 
GotWood said:
Well actually, the manual says up to 10k miles, bit that seems too far
Click to expand...

Think about this:

Manufacturers have every reason in the world to tell you to change the oil often and unnecessarily. They have no reason at all to tell you to drive it for too long between intervals.

If Ford says you can drive it 10k between changes, then you can drive it 10k between changes.
 
Big recall for this. Sold 6 sockets last week for it....
 
shawn said:
Think about this:

Manufacturers have every reason in the world to tell you to change the oil often and unnecessarily. They have no reason at all to tell you to drive it for too long between intervals.

If Ford says you can drive it 10k between changes, then you can drive it 10k between changes.
Click to expand...
This is the way I see it. We had an 11 malibu that had an oil life indicator and it went over 10k miles a few times. Didn't bother me I was following manufacturer recommendation.
 
catfishblues said:
I thought Ford didn't have recalls?
;-)

Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
They just arent front page like cheby.... @GotWood i will get details when i get back. All i know is i sold 6 13mm magnetic socket to pull the flywheels on the fusion, flex, explorers for a recall getting ready to hit. I think at this point is case by case...
 
shawn said:
Think about this:

Manufacturers have every reason in the world to tell you to change the oil often and unnecessarily. They have no reason at all to tell you to drive it for too long between intervals.

If Ford says you can drive it 10k between changes, then you can drive it 10k between changes.
Click to expand...

This s good point and I generally agree... however my Mazd5 is supposed to go 7500 between changes... but the oil is clearly nasty by 5000. After the first couple at 7500 I switched to 5000 anyway, the way I see I plan to have the car a lot longer than the powertrain warranty, and it the damage done by the infrequent changes won't show up until much later.
 
Jeep recommended 8k miles for the first change on our '11 Liberty, and Ive had it done every 8 since then. It started leaking after the first oil change. I had read where the 3.7's had problems leaking from the seals and valve covers. Luckily the oil leak was from the filter not being properly tightened, but if anyone has seen the location of these filters they would understand. This is the first vehicle I have ever owned that I still take it somewhere to have the oil changed.
 
shawn said:
Think about this:

Manufacturers have every reason in the world to tell you to change the oil often and unnecessarily. They have no reason at all to tell you to drive it for too long between intervals.

If Ford says you can drive it 10k between changes, then you can drive it 10k between changes.
Click to expand...

It goes against what we have all been programmed to believe and follow since we've been driving, 3k was the standard for many years, it was Jiffy Lube that made it a marketing tool.
Most manufactures have had 7500 mile service intervals for several years (Toyota being one of them) I've never followed that, always did 5k, never had an issue until the '07 Camry we had, 3500 miles you better add a quart, or it might not make 5k. Only Toyota I've ever had that used oil, regardless of miles, was a known issue, and only the worst ones were repaired with new engines ( 2AZ engine is not rebuild able )

JUICED COUPE said:
This is the way I see it. We had an 11 malibu that had an oil life indicator and it went over 10k miles a few times. Didn't bother me I was following manufacturer recommendation.
Click to expand...
There were many that went 15k+ on ORIGINAL oil fill from new, The oil life monitor cost GM A LOT OF $$$$ because of its inaccuracy, a lot of timing chains and tensioners, and a lot of engines on warranty, on top of all the other under designed crap they pushed out.
 
I still use the oil life monitor in my 05 Silverado, it usually runs 8-9k on 15,000 mile mobil-1 synthetic oil. Dodge recommends 3k on our 08 Charger, so I try to change it every 3k but it often goes closer to 4.
 
Toyota reccd 5k on our Corolla we just had our freebie first service and they put the next interval at 5k. Our '03 2.0 jetta was 5k interval too but it would be out of oil before it was due....
 
I've read that during assembly Ford sprays a rust inhibitor on the fly wheel and that the heat causes it to come off once in service. I'm still going to the dealer for my oil change and have them note the leak, then check again at next change.
 
Infamous1 said:
Toyota reccd 5k on our Corolla we just had our freebie first service and they put the next interval at 5k. Our '03 2.0 jetta was 5k interval too but it would be out of oil before it was due....
Click to expand...

My 97 Runner, and 07 Camry were 5k interval from manf. my older stuff ( 78 Celica, '82, 84, 87 4x4 trucks all stated on air cleaner housing 7800 miles for "normal use" 3-5k for off-road and commercial ) 85 and 90 Runners, were 7500 in the manual,

current '11 Camry is 10k ( maint. req. light still comes on at 5k ) I've done that ONCE, and it's driven me crazy over 5k miles. 40k on the car now, so we'll see. this one does NOT use oil
 
Infamous1 said:
Toyota reccd 5k on our Corolla we just had our freebie first service and they put the next interval at 5k.
Click to expand...

That's not Toyota. That's the dealership.

Are you paying for the oil changes, or is maintenance included for the warranty period?
 
I pay for all oil changes, no freebies. There are "free" regular maintenance options but that's the Keith Hawthorne Advantage, which you pay more for. They already tried to charge me $40 to put air in the tire on day 3
 
I didn't even think about that @shawn the first is free and I will do them from now on. I should read the manual I guess but its hers so meh. The newest thing I have is my buggy haha so I do all my own service( the free oil and filters are actually listed as a benefit at work).
 
one of the reasons oil change intervals were changed, is everything has gone from conventional oils to synthetics. with all of the emission standards they have put on cars also makes them run cleaner which in turn lets the oil last a little longer.
i will always change my oil @3000 regardless of recommendations (unless it was a diesel)
 
@transman731 brings up a good point that I dont belive I have seen yet. Manufacturer's recommendation is only truly valid with the oil they specify.

And as an engineer, I won't hate on anyone for changing their fluids too often. You're generally not hurting anything except your wallet. The exception is break in fluid, just follow the recommended interval the first time. And changing more often with lower quality fluids doesn't cut it for many systems anymore.
 
Our '97 Saturn SL2 had an infinite oil change interval....

that is, it was infinitely changing.

Had to add a quart of oil every 750ish miles to match what magically vanished. Basically it always had fresh oil...
 
RatLabGuy said:
Our '97 Saturn SL2 had an infinite oil change interval....

that is, it was infinitely changing.

Had to add a quart of oil every 750ish miles to match what magically vanished. Basically it always had fresh oil...
Click to expand...

Had the same problem with a dodge intrepid. I didn't change the oil for two years, just the filter every 5k or so.
 
Back
Top