The First Oil Change -New Owner Questions

[Bunion]

I thought I would post this here. I came to General Discussions first when I came to this site. I'm a new Ram owner.

I bought a new 2014 Ram Express 5.7. I love it but hate to fill it. You can relate.

My truck was brand new and had 10km (Canadian). It now has 3000km. I'm planning on doing the oil change somewhere between 4,500km and 5,000km myself. I'm looking for some advice from the members. I'm planning on using Mobile1 5-20. I want to change the oil every 5,000km. I know I can go longer but whatever. Here's a list of questions I have.

How much oil goes into a 5.7L MDS VVT Engine?

Is buying the oil filter at the dealership A wise idea so they have a record of it?

What filters are recommended?

Would you use Synthetic if you were going to change the oil every 5,000km?

What oil do you use?

What should be inspected on the truck at 5,000km?

Keep all receipts and....?

Whats important is to dot all the "I's". We all know that the dealers will look for any reason to void your warranty. I've done many oil changes and I don't want anyone other then me servicing the truck. Lets face it... they have high school kids change your oil.

So what advice do you have for new owners that want to service their own trucks?

Attached is what my dealership gave me.

 

[Phylodog]

It's definitely a good idea to keep receipts if you are under warranty. Chrysler replaced the rear end of my Rubicon under warranty to the tune of over $4700 but not before trying to get out of it. They asked if I had receipts for the required maintenance to the vehicle, specifically the gear oil in the axles. I had them but they were in e center console of my 2002 Ram when my step son totaled it for me. Fortunately I had purchased the axle, tranny and transfer case fluids from the dealership right after I bought it used to do a complete fluid change. I told the service manager that I had, he looked it up on the computer and printed out a new invoice that read $150 instead of $4700.

 

[Bunion]

It's definitely a good idea to keep receipts if you are under warranty. Chrysler replaced the rear end of my Rubicon under warranty to the tune of over $4700 but not before trying to get out of it. They asked if I had receipts for the required maintenance to the vehicle, specifically the gear oil in the axles. I had them but they were in e center console of my 2002 Ram when my step son totaled it for me. Fortunately I had purchased the axle, tranny and transfer case fluids from the dealership right after I bought it used to do a complete fluid change. I told the service manager that I had, he looked it up on the computer and printed out a new invoice that read $150 instead of $4700.

Oooook... Yea keeping receipts is the key. I kind of figured buying some stuff from the dealer is a good idea. I would not buy motor oil but filters and gear oil I would buy at the dealer. I can't see them charging to much extra for oil filters.

I got the extended warranty cause I know something will go after 60,000km and I don't feel like spending thousands. The extended warranty was $1700 on top of my price for the truck. I work in a quarry and my suspension takes a beating everyday, so I know something will break. The sales guy said at 99,000km to come in and get a full inspection done on the truck for $99 and that way all the problems will be fixed before my warranty runs out.

 

[NYCruiser]

You're going to get all kinds of answers on this here.

I plan to use conventional oil that is recommended in my owners manual (Penzoil) and follow the onboard computer for when to change. That is the oil that the computer is calibrated for. I just don't see any reason to out guess it.

I'm at 3K miles now and the computer says I am about 50% on my oil.

I'll probably keep my truck until the 100K drivetrain warrantee expires, then trade it.

 

[h2oman]

You can enter all of your maintenance at Chrysler. https://www.moparownerconnect.com

Start your own page with your vin. Anything the dealer does on your vehicle will automatically be entered. Then you can enter anything you do and you'll always have records. It will also track your schedules and tell you when services are needed. Also tells you of any recalls. Ram mobile apps for your phone as well.

 

[BossHogg]

Like everyone else has said, definitely keep all receipts and keep a log of all maintenance done regardless of whom performs the service.

I believe, unless something has changed recently, that Mobile 1 is not an approved oil for the 5.7L Hemi. It has to do with a long term test that has yet to be approved. If you are going to change your oil that often, then you are wasting money on a synthetic oil.

I change my oil based on the oil life meter or once every six months. I purchase Chrysler's oil change contract, for us it is around $70 for four changes and the contact has a life of two years, hence the reason I change once every six months.

I think you are being a little over-protective with the frequency of the oil changes.

 

[The Crow 1994]

To me, it looks like your dealership is trying to get more oil changes out of its customers than need be. If I remember correctly, my 2013 Ram 1500 user manual recommends not going any longer than 10,000 miles or a year between oil changes and using the OLM to notify you when to have the oil changed in your truck. I'm using a synthetic oil & filter (Pennzoil Platinum & Fram Ultra) and will go somewhere between 7,500-10,000 miles between oil changes. More than likely it'll be closer to the 10,000 mile mark.

 

[The Unabomber]

Like everyone else has said, definitely keep all receipts and keep a log of all maintenance done regardless of whom performs the service.

I believe, unless something has changed recently, that Mobile 1 is not an approved oil for the 5.7L Hemi. It has to do with a long term test that has yet to be approved. If you are going to change your oil that often, then you are wasting money on a synthetic oil.

Mobil 1 is one of the best options available IMO. It use to be factory fill until Penzoil was given the contract. My assumption would be due to cost they switched.

I personally run Mobil 1 Extended Performance in all of my stuff with the Mobil 1 Extended Performance Filter. ( has the gold cap on the bottles ) It's good for a year or 12k.

It's kept all my third gen and up Hemi's happy since 2006.

 

[Mojo]

I just did my first oil change on my 2014 1500 Lone Star at 3500mi. My OLM was at 62% and judging by the look of the oil I could easily waited until 5k. I'm sure the factory fill was with quality oil but I like knowing that I have a high quality synthetic oil in the truck. I used 7 quarts of 5w-20 Redline with a Royal Purple filter. I have been running Redline in my vehicles for the past few years with excellent used oil analysis results. For kicks I sent in the factory fill for a uoa so those results should be in soon.

 

[arod412]

Mojo... I'm planning on doing the same in the next couple of months. Definatly let us know of the results because I'm interested. One of the other guy on here BURLA is doing the se thing with redline. He knows all about the oils in these trucks and how they run so I trust him.

Angel

"worrying about MPG in a truck is like looking at a Prius tow rating"

 

[BossHogg]

Mobil 1 is one of the best options available IMO.

I agree with you but the question the OP asked had the context of self maintenance and warranty. Chrysler could deny an engine warranty claim if a non-approved oil was used. The last time I looked, the Mobile 1 label did not have the Chrysler requirement.

I wasn't attacking the quality of Mobile 1 and I'm sorry that you read that in my posting.

 

[Jonthefireman]

I recently traded in my 2009 Ram 1500 with close to 100k miles. I ran Mobil 1 with a Wix filter the entire time and always did my own changes at 5000 miles. I never had ONE issue with the truck, it performed flawlessly for 5 years in some of the hottest temps in the country.

 

[smiley]

Save receipts, use a synthetic and don't go over 10k, use a filter made for longer drains and you will be fine.


$miley

 

[arod412]

Not to be a pain but can someone define what is the Chrysler oil requirement? Besides the weight that you use (5w20 oil) is there something else you should look for?

I'm planning on getting redline and royal purple filter and changing it myself.

Angel

"worrying about MPG in a truck is like looking at a Prius tow rating"

 

[BossHogg]

Not to be a pain but can someone define what is the Chrysler oil requirement?

You can find this info in your owners' manual. Here is what it says:
"the manufacturer only recommends engine oils that are API Certified and meet the requirements of Chrysler Material Standard MS-6395"

Mobile has an answer to this (MS-6395) which you can find on their site:
Mobil 1 | Chrysler MS-6395 Specification

It isn't that Mobile 1 can't it is that it hasn't.

Interestingly, most of GM's new power plants come with Mobil 1 oil. My wife's new Equinox 4 banger requires Mobile 1 as did my 2005 GTO. I ran Mobile 1 in my 2003 Tahoe, sold it off for my RAM with 200K on it and the engine ran perfect.

Working in the automotive industry, I will say that Mobile didn't pay someone a while ago to get into the testing and approval process. Now they have to wait the two years of testing.

 

[The Unabomber]

Also note the manual states that it recommends, not requires.

I'd not lose sleep at night over running Mobil 1. It "exceeds" the ratings recommend by Chrysler.

 

[DublDee]

If this topic has anything to do with Oil and Oil changes, I agree with whatever Burla said....Oh wait he didn;t say anything yet....I agree with whatever he's gonna say then, Lol

 

[arod412]

I've talked to burla and he is onboard the redline train. I'm actually interested in some of the results of his oil test to see how the oil runs.

Angel

"worrying about MPG in a truck is like looking at a Prius tow rating"

 

[14RAM1500HEMI]

When my truck is ready for its first oil change I'm gonna use a good 5w-20 full Synthetic oil and the best oil filter out.

 

[BossHogg]

Also note the manual states that it recommends, not requires.

I'd not lose sleep at night over running Mobil 1. It "exceeds" the ratings recommend by Chrysler.

This doesn't sound like a recommendation to me; "and meet the requirements of Chrysler Material Standard MS-6395". I guess it could be argued in court but I doubt you could win it. Until Mobile 1 can publish it meets Chrysler's MS-6395, it doesn't exceed Chrysler's requirements, at least by labeling. There are other synthetics on the market that meet their requirement. I have a life-time warranty and I'm not taking any chances, I let the dealer do all maintenance.

Keep in mind, the context of this thread was about self maintenance and Chrysler warranty. Using a non-approved engine oil opens the door to an engine warranty denial.