service intervals: USA vs UK

[mwyatt82]

I was pondering why my 2014 S197 5.0 has 5k service intervals. Obviously Wisconsin winters are harsh but the services are just an oil and filter change. No plugs changed or other filters (cabin etc). I was wondering why on earth this is? I can't imagine it's because Americans don't care to change the plugs on their cars at every 10k miles or so. Just seems odd given my Alfa Giulietta and Fiesta 1.25 I had in the UK always had plugs changed etc and had intervals of 12-18k. My Mustang service book suggests plugs to be changed at 100k but presumably they be horribly grimy and my BHP would drop off? Strikes me as odd as surely they want to sell more consumables.

[mwyatt82]

5ohmustang said:

What does the dashboard say? It has a percentage countdown. Is it a GT or GT trackpack? If the latter you can use the regular gt oil instead of 5w50.

I just change mine whenever the percentage gets to 15%. I have never bothered to count the miles between service but I'm guessing 5-7.5k.

My oil change warning came on 3k after the last one I think they didn't re-set the indicator after the last change! I use the same Quicklane tied to my local Ford dealer every time. Mine is a Regular GT Premium.

[mwyatt82]

dvs_dave said:

Americans still have this weird 1950's idea that oil has to be changed every 3k miles. Any European car that in Europe has adaptive condition based service interval calculation, that function is disabled for the US version and it's fixed mileage or time that dictates service intervals. Any maintenance beyond an oil and filter change though is regarded as a critical design flaw worthy of a class action lawsuit. Try having a conversation with an average Joe about the neccesity of cam belt service intervals....it's like questioning their religion.

Keeps the dealers and jiffy lubes etc busy though.

My point about the above is what happens at those services. My understanding of a regular say 12k mile service in Europe was a change of plugs as well as oil and filter. My basic understanding is these get fouled up over many miles. I have looked through the book for my Mustang and it says 100k for new plugs which is mind boggling to my UK mindset. I just couldn't fathom it as I would imagine Ford would love to sell many more consumables, although i'd imagine 8 new plugs on a Mustang like mine every 10k could be pricey. Either way my nerdy self found it interesting.