2014 Ford 6.7

On my Ford, in the DIC there is a setting you can pick for towing. There is not much of an explanation on how it works, other than saying it changes the distance to empty calculation.
I was just in the truck and the Distance to empty said 500 miles in the non towing mode. When I switch to towing mode(in the DIC), the Distance to empty dropped to 375 miles.
I have never remembered to change to tow mode when I tow, so I can't say what difference it makes.
I do wonder if setting the DIC to tow mode changes anything else such as when the oil change message appears.

The algorithm takes the type of driving into account. Short trips mean shorter oil life as it doesn't get hot enough to burn off pollutants. Long highway trips are much easier on the oil. With towing, I assume any too hot conditions might shorten oil life, but typically not stop and go, so not that bad.
With my truck, the default is about 10K miles, but I reset it to 70% which would warn me at about 7000 miles.

Gary66 wrote:
If your doing a lot of towing the computer is taking this into account ( assuming your using the Tow/Haul mode)and will prompt you to change the oil sooner than if you were normal driving.

Totally disagree! I get the longest oil changes when doing mostly towing. At or near 7,500 miles. When towing for hours on end the engine has very few regens and little wear compared to stop and go.

Double posting, sorry!

FishOnOne wrote:
It's obvious that the manufacturers don't require an early oil change during the break in period which I don't agree with; therefore I usually do the first oil change at 3,000 - 3,500 miles.

Well said. Agree 100%.

If memory serves me, my previous vehicle (Ford w/6.7L diesel) always showed the oil change reminder around the 7,500 mile mark. No matter what oil viscosity was used in it. (the 10W/30 or 5W/40 diesel oils).

Gary66 wrote:
If your doing a lot of towing the computer is taking this into account ( assuming your using the Tow/Haul mode)and will prompt you to change the oil sooner than if you were normal driving.

Most of the new trucks with integrated brake controllers know when a trailer is attached regardless of using tow/haul.

ib516 wrote:
I'm having trouble stretching the oci out as long as the computer says to go in my 2014 Cherokee Trailhawk and the 2014 Ram 2500 with the Hemi. Both say they will go about 9000 miles or so. I've been changing the oil at about 5000-6000 miles on each. That said, I've only done one on the truck and two on the Jeep.

I guess I should get off my wallet and send a sample of each into Blackstone to see how it is actually doing.

Blackstone testing should confirm your OLM limits of ~9k miles and build confidence, but it's hard to resist the urge to drain the used oil and put fresh oil back in. IIRC your Hemi takes a 0W40 weight oil and I definitely would test to ensure the viscosity stayed in grade.

In a weird kind of way I actually enjoy changing the oil on my truck. :h

Gary66 wrote:
If your doing a lot of towing the computer is taking this into account ( assuming your using the Tow/Haul mode)and will prompt you to change the oil sooner than if you were normal driving.

That's opposite of my Ram CTD. I don't need DEF so I regen more often. When towing the trucks running more constant at hwy speeds vs running around town with stop and starts.

I'm having trouble stretching the oci out as long as the computer says to go in my 2014 Cherokee Trailhawk and the 2014 Ram 2500 with the Hemi. Both say they will go about 9000 miles or so. I've been changing the oil at about 5000-6000 miles on each. That said, I've only done one on the truck and two on the Jeep.

I guess I should get off my wallet and send a sample of each into Blackstone to see how it is actually doing.

I don't follow the OLM on my Super Duty and prefer to change the oil a bit earlier even when using Shell Rotella T6 5W40 synthetic.

On my wife's '11 Ford Edge I would follow the OLM in which it would go 10k miles on a oil change and the oil was still a honey color.

I just changed the oil on my wife's new '14 Ford Edge Sport this morning at 3k miles, and then I'll change oil at another 5k miles and then I'll go with the OLM which as of this morning said 72% oil life remaining so I'm certain it will be on a 10k mile OCI also.

It's obvious that the manufacturers don't require an early oil change during the break in period which I don't agree with; therefore I usually do the first oil change at 3,000 - 3,500 miles.