PREMIUM MAINTENANCE PLAN QUESTION

[cjm83]

Hey all,

I am wanting to get the opinion of some the Ford experts in here regarding purchasing a premium maintenance plan after I take delivery of my order.

I am going to get a maintenance plan.. Most likely a 10yr, 100k mile premium plan with 5k intervals. My main question is, should I opt for the full synthetic oil option for $500? I have ordered a Powerboost. Is synthetic oil significantly better for the truck?


Secondary questions... Within the Premium Maintenance plan will it cover all scheduled maintenance items in the maintenance book that comes with the truck?


Thanks.

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[cjm83]

anybody??

 

[EricR]

After nearly 40 years of doing almost all of our car maintenance myself, I decided to treat myself and bought the Premium Maintenance plan for our 2021 Lariot PB.

The 5K interval with the factory fill semi‐synthetic seemed best for my budget and purposes.

Yes IIRC, all maintenance schedule items are covered. It is also good to know that if you go with the 5K interval it bumps your maintenance into into what Ford calls the "Severe Duty" schedule. IIRC, air & cabin filters are changed sooner, spark plugs at 60K (vs 100K) etc.

We mostly boondock when out with our travel trailer out here in the sometimes dusty West. So for my budget, I chose the Severe Duty schedule with 5K oil changes over full synthetic.

Full synthetic will never hurt. Though IMHO, changing it at short intervals (3‐5K) is pouring perfectly functional oil down the drain. So I spent the $500 elsewhere on our setup.

Premium maintenance (regardless of interval chosen) covers expendable parts such as shocks and brake pads/rotors. It's also nice getting new wiper blades every 6 months (though I find I have to specialty ask for these).

 

[UGADawg96]

The lack of responses may be that most folks don't get the maintenance plan compared to the extended warranty.

 

[FaaWrenchBndr]

@cjm83

I wouldn’t get a maintenance plan, but I’ve never had anyone change my oil. I’ve always done it myself, 43 years and counting.

If I were to do this as you’re asking, I would get the synthetic option. It adds $25 to each change factored over 100k. That’s about what a dealer will upcharge.

 

[cjm83]

@cjm83

I wouldn’t get a maintenance plan, but I’ve never had anyone change my oil. I’ve always done it myself, 43 years and counting.

If I were to do this as you’re asking, I would get the synthetic option. It adds $25 to each change factored over 100k. That’s about what a dealer will upcharge.

Thanks for that insight. I change my oil in my Honda as well. But that is a 12yr old car that has no warranty. Its my assumption that if I were to change my own oil in a vehicle with a factory warranty it could void it?? Maybe that is not accurate tho?

 

[cjm83]

The lack of responses may be that most folks don't get the maintenance plan compared to the extended warranty.

Makes sense. I will have both. I like prepaying for the service intervals. It makes the cost of ownership on a vehicle seem less... even tho it really isn't. lol Its nice scheduling service and not having to get out the credit card.

 

[Ricksc]

You can change your oil and no issue with warranty. Just save receipts and use recommended oil.

 

[cjm83]

After nearly 40 years of doing almost all of our car maintenance myself, I decided to treat myself and bought the Premium Maintenance plan for our 2021 Lariot PB.

The 5K interval with the factory fill semi‐synthetic seemed best for my budget and purposes.

Yes IIRC, all maintenance schedule items are covered. It is also good to know that if you go with the 5K interval it bumps your maintenance into into what Ford calls the "Severe Duty" schedule. IIRC, air & cabin filters are changed sooner, spark plugs at 60K (vs 100K) etc.

We mostly boondock when out with our travel trailer out here in the sometimes dusty West. So for my budget, I chose the Severe Duty schedule with 5K oil changes over full synthetic.

Full synthetic will never hurt. Though IMHO, changing it at short intervals (3‐5K) is pouring perfectly functional oil down the drain. So I spent the $500 elsewhere on our setup.

Premium maintenance (regardless of interval chosen) covers expendable parts such as shocks and brake pads/rotors. It's also nice getting new wiper blades every 6 months (though I find I have to specialty ask for these).

Thanks Eric. Thats helpful stuff.

What is IIRC short for?

So standard oil without the upcharge is a semi-synthetic? and the extra $500 gets you full-synthetic? Am I understanding that correctly?

I noticed in the 5k interval, its 20 service visits. So 2 a year for the 10yr life of the service plan. Thats about right on track for me as I'm estimating around 10k miles a year being put on the truck. Could be less though. My current 2020 Jeep that I have had for 5yrs has only 37k miles.

So couple more questions in regards to that... Would 2 oil changes a year, 1 every 6 months be fine? Additionally, If I chose a different interval within the premium maintenance plan (longer intervals), does that bump you OUT of the "severe duty" schedule?? I like the idea of having all those other items done sooner.

 

[digitaltrucker]

Plan Brochure Premium

 

[EricR]

Thanks Eric. Thats helpful stuff.

What is IIRC short for?

So standard oil without the upcharge is a semi-synthetic? and the extra $500 gets you full-synthetic? Am I understanding that correctly?

I noticed in the 5k interval, its 20 service visits. So 2 a year for the 10yr life of the service plan. Thats about right on track for me as I'm estimating around 10k miles a year being put on the truck. Could be less though. My current 2020 Jeep that I have had for 5yrs has only 37k miles.

So couple more questions in regards to that... Would 2 oil changes a year, 1 every 6 months be fine? Additionally, If I chose a different interval within the premium maintenance plan (longer intervals), does that bump you OUT of the "severe duty" schedule?? I like the idea of having all those other items done sooner.

IIRC is: If I Recall Correctly.

Since I haven't read the plan contract in a couple of years it might be wise to verify what I say.

The plan brochure @digitaltrucker attached is a good start. The dealer you want to purchase from should be able to give you the plan contract to review in advance.

Yes, the Ford factory (& dealer) fill is the Motorcraft semi-synthetic.

I've always taken mine in due to hitting the 5K mileage point. Never due to the calendar - so I can't really speak to that.

Yes, only the 5k interval gets you severe. I chose 5K because we do a fair amount of towing, and are on dirt roads and the like. My take is most won't need 5K.

Also, not the plan expires when the miles or years purchased are reached. Whichever comes first.

 

[gadourym]

I have the 7500 interval plan with full synthetic. Almost 70,000 mile in, and the only thing I've paid for is tires. I had the spark plugs changed at 60,000 (per the service schedule). I do have to ask for the wipers each time, but they are covered.

 

[EricR]

Be sure to buy from Zeigler, Grainger, etc.

 

[JCsTruck]

How much is this plan?

 

[dochawk]

but I’ve never had anyone change my oil.

I've done it when they were offering to do it for less than the oil would cost me to buy (until I realized that I bought better oil & filters than they did!).

Also, initially to keep the warranty on my 2002 E-150, and later when I realized that because they bought the 5w20 semisynthetic in barrels, the quickielane (or whatever they called it) at the dealer near my mother in law charged less for the service than I could by five quarts of it! [it was difficult to find back then, with limited option]

What is IIRC short for?

"If I recall", iirc.

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