Oil Analysis Results: 2.3L Initial Oil Change

[TractorFixer]

Inspired by Lake Speed Jr's YouTube video on new engine break-in, I sent a sample to be analyzed from my initial oil change at 1,117 miles. As anticipated, the copper and silicon levels were a bit high. However, the fuel dilution was higher than I expected at 1.5%, especially since I dont spend much time idling or short trips. For comparison, my '18 F150 3.5L had <0.5% after 6000 miles with similar driving conditions.

Full comments on the report:
"Like most new engines, the 2.3L EcoBoost in your Ranger is starting out with high copper and silicon levels . Both elements are almost certainly related to the normal break-in process, and they should edge closer to universal averages
with each oil change. These averages show what's typical for a mature 2.3 L EcoBoost after about 5,200 miles on the oil. Aside from copper, wear metals already look okay compared to averages. Fuel dilution was okay at only 1.5% of the sample, and a low/thin viscosity isn't cause for concern, either. No coolant was found."

I plan to do the next oil change at 5k and send another sample to be analyzied. Full report attached, thought others might find interesting as well.

See the full report: https://www.ranger6g.com/forum/attachments/oilanalysisranger-pdf.46129/

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[Hootbro]

Ha, thanks for sharing. I did something similar and dumped my factory fill at around 700 miles and sent off a sample to Blackstone last week that I am waiting on.

Plan is to change again at 2.5K and 5K miles and then do a every 5K mile OCI.

Poking around on the interwebs shows most with the 2.3L Ecoboost have high fuel dilution on the initial fill, but should drop on subsequent analysis intervals.

 

[CrudeBacon77]

Inspired by Lake Speed Jr's YouTube video on new engine break-in, I sent a sample to be analyzed from my initial oil change at 1,117 miles. As anticipated, the copper and silicon levels were a bit high. However, the fuel dilution was higher than I expected at 1.5%, especially since I dont spend much time idling or short trips. For comparison, my '18 F150 3.5L had <0.5% after 6000 miles with similar driving conditions.

Full comments on the report:
"Like most new engines, the 2.3L EcoBoost in your Ranger is starting out with high copper and silicon levels . Both elements are almost certainly related to the normal break-in process, and they should edge closer to universal averages
with each oil change. These averages show what's typical for a mature 2.3 L EcoBoost after about 5,200 miles on the oil. Aside from copper, wear metals already look okay compared to averages. Fuel dilution was okay at only 1.5% of the sample, and a low/thin viscosity isn't cause for concern, either. No coolant was found."

I plan to do the next oil change at 5k and send another sample to be analyzied. Full report attached, thought others might find interesting as well.

See the full report: https://www.ranger6g.com/forum/attachments/oilanalysisranger-pdf.46129/

Isn’t the first recommended oil change at 10k? Any benefit to doing it earlier?

 

[jeffers]

Isn’t the first recommended oil change at 10k? Any benefit to doing it earlier?

NO! Ford uses a synthetic blend. After you do an oil change put full synthetic in it, then maybe you can go 10K. You can maybe go 5K on the original oil.

 

[Hootbro]

I am generally a follow the manual type guy, but no way I would run any DI motor 10K miles on a oil change interval. Max would be 5K miles for me.

 

[TractorFixer]

Isn’t the first recommended oil change at 10k? Any benefit to doing it earlier?

The benefit is to remove wear metals and contaminants that accumulate in the oil from engine break-in and the manufacturing progress.

 

[Robo]

I have often read that in modern engines, you want to leave the factory oil in for the first 10k because it contains special additives in it that help to properly break in the engine. But, who really knows unless you hear it directly from the engine engineers.

 

[hand-filer]

The only additional compounds in the factory oil are trace amounts of assembly lubricant.
Change it anytime you want prior to the manufacturer recommendation.
At a minimum I would recommend going by the servere service schedule.
I'll be draining it at around 1,000 miles. I've been doing this for the last 30+ new cars, trucks and bikes that I've purchased.
Don't drive it like you stole it but don't baby it either during the break-in period.

 

[SomeGuy]

Just as an extra point of reference, I also did this but at 600 miles. Ended up with:

60 ppm silicon
31 ppm copper
4.7% fuel dilution

That fuel though - when I changed oil, the night before I was showing the truck off and a friend didn't close the door all the way. Almost didn't start in the morning because of low battery, so I left it idle while I filled the bed up with a big pile of weeds to take to the dump. Did that, and then changed my oil right afterward. Maybe 8 miles of actually driving - not sure if that idle period right before would have jacked the fuel dilution up.

Anyway, planning to do this again somewhere between 1,500 and 2,000 miles, will have a couple towing trips in by that point. Going to compare the two samples, and then probably go 5k on a change, after that.

 

[TractorFixer]

Just as an extra point of reference, I also did this but at 600 miles. Ended up with:

60 ppm silicon
31 ppm copper
4.7% fuel dilution

That fuel though - when I changed oil, the night before I was showing the truck off and a friend didn't close the door all the way. Almost didn't start in the morning because of low battery, so I left it idle while I filled the bed up with a big pile of weeds to take to the dump. Did that, and then changed my oil right afterward. Maybe 8 miles of actually driving - not sure if that idle period right before would have jacked the fuel dilution up.

Anyway, planning to do this again somewhere between 1,500 and 2,000 miles, will have a couple towing trips in by that point. Going to compare the two samples, and then probably go 5k on a change, after that.

That's interesting, thanks for sharing another data point. Makes wonder how much fuel dilution varies over time and different driving conditions.

 

[Hootbro]

Attached is my initial factory fill taken at 608 miles. Similar numbers on the copper and silicon. Fuel dilution was lower. Seems the factor fill is a little on the low side and just out of grade at a heavy 20W.

https://www.ranger6g.com/forum/threads/2024-ranger-xl-4x4-oil-analysis-2-3l.11384/

 

[GLW]

So the vehicle heath oil life remaining indicator in the ford pass app is not correct?
I would hope the engineers at Ford know the importance of engine oil.

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