Change engine oil message

[JcsMI]

I have a 2010 Ram 2500. I bought it earlier this year. I changed the oil at 181,400 miles. But now at 183,700 its saying on the dash to change engine oil. How much do I have to worry, abide by or pay attention to this? I did use the stp blue bottle for oil which is supposed to be compatible with this oil.

 

[Badger 13]

Did you reset the oil change indicator ? This shows how to do that.

OIL LIFE RESET DODGE RAM (2008-2012) #mechanic #automotive #mopar

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[Wild one]

Easiest way to reset it,is Key on,but don't start truck,press the gas pedal to the floor 3 times in a fairly short period of time,then key off. That's an industry standard and works on 90% of the vehicles sold in North America

 

[62Blazer]

You simply did not reset the oil change indicator. The vehicle does not know you changed the oil unless you tell it by resetting the indicator. So as far as it knows the oil hadn't been changed since the last time the indicator was reset. There is nothing in the engine that tests and analyzes the engine oil and says it needs changed. It's simply going off a time and mileage counter. But to clarify, on some vehicles the mileage the light comes on can vary as it's basically running through a calculation of how "hard" the engine is being driven.
But in any case, I wouldn't worry about the light. Just reset it now to get it to turn off. Keep track of your mileage and decide how many miles you want to go before changing it again. Then just reset it again at that time.

 

[EdGs]

I don't think the oil reset is smart enough to know how hard the engine is driven. In my '15, it is a straight 10,000 mile interval, and the "change oil soon" message pops up 500 miles before, IIRC.

Later models might calculate based on running parameters, but which ones, I have no idea.

 

[mikeru]

I don't think the oil reset is smart enough to know how hard the engine is driven. In my '15, it is a straight 10,000 mile interval, and the "change oil soon" message pops up 500 miles before, IIRC.

Later models might calculate based on running parameters, but which ones, I have no idea.

That just proves you drive like a grandma.

I've read that 5th gens use an algorithm which takes into account how the vehicle is driven. Not sure if or when that applied to 4th gens.

 

[mands0807]

I don't think the oil reset is smart enough to know how hard the engine is driven. In my '15, it is a straight 10,000 mile interval, and the "change oil soon" message pops up 500 miles before, IIRC.

Later models might calculate based on running parameters, but which ones, I have no idea.

Ed, I don't think any ECM is smart enough to calculate oil change intervals based on driving styles(abuse). If that were the case, every Hyundai Sonata in Florida would have the change oil light come on at 1k miles . I think it might be more based on the model of the truck. My '18 Sport says every 5k

 

[turkeybird56]

OP, ignore that idiot system. Reset it, note to yerself how many miles driven!!! When U hit 5K, time for oil change. Use good quality oil and good oil filter and stay up on the intervals

Reset the oil idjut system now and reset it next time u do oil change.

Caveat: change every 5K or after a year.

All above IMHO only.

 

[EdGs]

That just proves you drive like a grandma.

I've read that 5th gens use an algorithm which takes into account how the vehicle is driven. Not sure if or when that applied to 4th gens.

In the words of Mike Ditka, "Not this Grabowski". (and my last name IS Grabowski, lol)

If the Gen 5 does that, that's a good thing.

 

[Wild one]

In the words of Mike Ditka, "Not this Grabowski". (and my last name IS Grabowski, lol)

If the Gen 5 does that, that's a good thing.

I think Grandpa Ed might work

 

[EdGs]

I think Grandpa Ed might work

LOL. I am, 7 times over. 22, 20, 19, 18, 16, 10, and 3.

The Wife says I'm going through an old age crisis, because I don't drive like it.....lol

I just have a lot less patience than I used to.

 

[turkeybird56]

LOL. I am, 7 times over. 22, 20, 19, 18, 16, 10, and 3.

The Wife says I'm going through an old age crisis, because I don't drive like it.....lol

I just have a lot less patience than I used to.

Patience, I have 5 seconds a day, lmao. I have to save up if I need a longer time period.

 

[62Blazer]

Ed, I don't think any ECM is smart enough to calculate oil change intervals based on driving styles(abuse). If that were the case, every Hyundai Sonata in Florida would have the change oil light come on at 1k miles . I think it might be more based on the model of the truck. My '18 Sport says every 5k

The ECM definitely has the ability to calculate engine change intervals based on whatever algorithm is written in the system. I spent 12 years as an automotive testing engineer at a proving grounds, and that was something I was involved in. I'm not saying all vehicles do this as some are strictly based on a mileage (i.e. I happen to have a Sonata also and it just goes off miles only), but some do alter the mileage based on how the engine was run. The ECM constantly monitors parameters like load on the engine, throttle position, temperatures, etc... that can all be plugged into a equation. My previous '03 Chevy 2500 was like this as the mileage when the oil change light came on would drastically differ. For example if I was towing a lot during the summer the light would come on at a much lower mileage than it would during the winter when I would rarely ever tow or haul anything.

Just to clarify, I have no issues if people want to ignore the light and change the oil more frequently. Obviously doesn't hurt anything. Just personally I usually go by the change oil indicator and have ever since that option became common. My last truck was 16 years old with over 150k on it with a decent amount of towing when I traded it in and ran perfect. Wife's previous vehicle also had 150k on it when traded with no issues, and currently have a car with 125k on it with no issues. That's just my personal preference.

 

[CamperMike]

I don't think the oil reset is smart enough to know how hard the engine is driven. In my '15, it is a straight 10,000 mile interval, and the "change oil soon" message pops up 500 miles before, IIRC.

Later models might calculate based on running parameters, but which ones, I have no idea.

The Gen 4 does at least somewhat track how it's driven. If I'm towing my travel trailer, it definitely shortens the OCI! Otherwise, it's generally 10K for me.

 

[EdGs]

The Gen 4 does at least somewhat track how it's driven. If I'm towing my travel trailer, it definitely shortens the OCI! Otherwise, it's generally 10K for me.

Must've been done after the '15 MY. Mine is strictly 10k miles.

I followed it up to my lifter/cam failure, and guess I just got lucky. Not following it anymore.

 

[62Blazer]

Must've been done after the '15 MY. Mine is strictly 10k miles.

I followed it up to my lifter/cam failure, and guess I just got lucky. Not following it anymore.

Some vehicles will alter the oil change interval, but they will have a maximum mileage allowed before triggering the light regardless of the calculations. Meaning that under the absolutely best conditions the calculation is not triggering the light but it will at 10k for example. If your light constantly came on at 10k I would suspect that is what is happening.
I'm not saying 100% that is the case on that vehicle, but I know for a fact that most vehicles with calculated oil change intervals were setup like that.
As another note, doing more frequent than really need oil changes isn't that big of a deal financially for the average vehicle owner. You are talking 15k miles per year on average and maybe putting 100k miles on it. So a few extra $50-$100 oil changes isn't a ton of money. But if you are talking about a company with a fleet of 50 trucks that are racking up 50k miles a year, those extra oil changes can really add up.