FORM & Oil Change

[SAJN]

Well, it has been brutally cold here the last week or so, so I have not been able to run all electric for quite a while - FORM. Yesterday, I got the message that an oil change was due. I just had an oil change on 1/23 at 14,360 miles, and yesterday 2/24, I have 14,579 miles. So, after a month and a mere 219 miles, I need another oil change? I know, a lot of short trips don't allow the engine to warm up enough to burn off any residual gas. But this is crazy, and isn't the electric mode targeted for short trips? At any rate, it goes back to the shop again to see what they say.
Has anyone else experienced anything like this, and if so what was the follow up?

Also, on Sunday I slowed down for a car in front to turn, and when I stepped on the gas slightly, the trans banged in for the down shift. My wife even noticed as it resonated through the whole car. I am adding this on the ticket for the shop too. Are these 8 speed trans fairly bullet-proof?

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[huntb]

Same thing happened to me last winter. Changed the oil at 9288 miles and then was stuck in FORM and had to change the oil again at 10544. The 4xe just does not work in cold climates, it's awful. I've been in FORM for probably 90% of this winter again, I can't believe it hasn't forced me to change the oil again.

 

[vetygud]

EV and cold climates are a bad combo.

 

[cansberry]

It's probably just the computer getting tripped up by the cold. Did you check the oil yourself to see if it's still good? Also, does it get cold enough where you live to warrant the recommended cold weather oil weight? I can't imagine 219 miles of any driving condition would warrant a change, unless it's also so cold that the oil isn't flowing right.

 

[Tokenwasp]

Well, it has been brutally cold here the last week or so, so I have not been able to run all electric for quite a while - FORM. Yesterday, I got the message that an oil change was due. I just had an oil change on 1/23 at 14,360 miles, and yesterday 2/24, I have 14,579 miles. So, after a month and a mere 219 miles, I need another oil change? I know, a lot of short trips don't allow the engine to warm up enough to burn off any residual gas. But this is crazy, and isn't the electric mode targeted for short trips? At any rate, it goes back to the shop again to see what they say.
Has anyone else experienced anything like this, and if so what was the follow up?

Also, on Sunday I slowed down for a car in front to turn, and when I stepped on the gas slightly, the trans banged in for the down shift. My wife even noticed as it resonated through the whole car. I am adding this on the ticket for the shop too. Are these 8 speed trans fairly bullet-proof?

You don't have to change the oil. Just reset the oil life.

 

[Ol’ Timey Manual SWB Guy]

Yeah, I only got 550 miles from my factory fill before EV mode stopped working completely.

I mean, I could’ve just manually reset my oil counter, sure. But I’m the kind of guy who’ll change engine oil and diff fluid after a break-in period anyways. So I took the free oil change with the reset.

I think the OE algorithm needs a little work.

Related: my experience was that if you pre-heat the 4xe (even a brand new one that’s entered FORM mode) you’ll never get back to EV pre-heating. It’ll just burn gas every time, even while it’s attached to the EVSE (i.e., so a 4xe should just act like a big hair dryer). It’ll apparently stay that way until you either change the oil or lie to it and say that you’ve changed the oil.

But, I mean, that’s just a matter of improving the software. Tesla would do it OTA.

 

[SAJN]

It's probably just the computer getting tripped up by the cold. Did you check the oil yourself to see if it's still good? Also, does it get cold enough where you live to warrant the recommended cold weather oil weight? I can't imagine 219 miles of any driving condition would warrant a change, unless it's also so cold that the oil isn't flowing right.

Yes, I checked the oil. It was not low, and maybe a bit overfilled. It did smell of gas. I was not aware of a cold weather weight oil. Looking at the last oil change, it does not show the weight, only the part # 50022688AA. I did a google search and could not find what weight that is.

I am interested to see what the dealer says - if the oil needs to be changed or just reset it.

 

[Old Dogger]

Your engine oil should not smell of gas. That is not normal!

 

[mjg4xe]

Your engine oil should not smell of gas. That is not normal!

It actually is for a 4xe in FORM, which is ultimately why it locks you out of electric mode until you get the oil temp hot enough to burn off the gas in the oil. A lot of people get stuck in perpetual FORM in cold climates because they go on short drives and never get the engine oil hot enough to burn off the gas. I personally think the 4xe would have been better as a vanilla hybrid, but to each their own.

 

[Old Dogger]

It actually is for a 4xe in FORM, which is ultimately why it locks you out of electric mode until you get the oil temp hot enough to burn off the gas in the oil. A lot of people get stuck in perpetual FORM in cold climates because they go on short drives and never get the engine oil hot enough to burn off the gas. I personally think the 4xe would have been better as a vanilla hybrid, but to each their own.

WOW...that can't be good for the engine..

 

[alphawolff]

IIRC there's a PCM update for this. Excessive FORM causes the oil life monitor to drop quickly

 

[rossneill]

0 w 20 is cold weather oil 5 w 20 is only for warmer climates

 

[SAJN]

IIRC there's a PCM update for this. Excessive FORM causes the oil life monitor to drop quickly

I hope that is the case. Thanks for mentioning it. I will bring that up with the service advisor.

 

[Tokenwasp]

But, I mean, that’s just a matter of improving the software. Tesla would do it OTA.

you mean Big Brother Overlords style!?!?!?

 

[SAJN]

Well, it has been brutally cold here the last week or so, so I have not been able to run all electric for quite a while - FORM. Yesterday, I got the message that an oil change was due. I just had an oil change on 1/23 at 14,360 miles, and yesterday 2/24, I have 14,579 miles. So, after a month and a mere 219 miles, I need another oil change? I know, a lot of short trips don't allow the engine to warm up enough to burn off any residual gas. But this is crazy, and isn't the electric mode targeted for short trips? At any rate, it goes back to the shop again to see what they say.
Has anyone else experienced anything like this, and if so what was the follow up?

Also, on Sunday I slowed down for a car in front to turn, and when I stepped on the gas slightly, the trans banged in for the down shift. My wife even noticed as it resonated through the whole car. I am adding this on the ticket for the shop too. Are these 8 speed trans fairly bullet-proof?

Well, all they did is reset the oil change monitor! I asked them to check to see if there was a PCM update for this, but it was not on the work order. Of course by the time I got there my service advisor had already left, so I didn't get any explanation. Guess I could call, but not sure if there is any point in doing that now. So now if it happens again, do I just reset the monitor or take it in every time??!!

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