First Oil Change?

[Omicron]

My new 2014 Ram 1500 now has 1500 miles on it, so I'm beginning to think it needs an oil change. Manual makes no mention of recommended mileage, or oil change after X number of break in miles, and just wants us to rely on the oil life meter. Past experience with new cars has always been to change the oil on a new engine between 1-2K miles, then go to a normal interval after that.

What do you all think? When should I get this done?

 

[jsl6v8]

I've always changed mine around 500 miles in on a new vehicle then followed the normal schedule.

 

[Burla]

Good plan.

 

[Brakelate]

I've always changed mine around 500 miles in on a new vehicle then followed the normal schedule.

+1. Just so I know what is in it. And in case there happened to be any foreign matter floating around during assembly (gasket bits, metal shavings, who knows what).

And you can get that little tiny stupid factory filter off there and go with a "Man's Sized" unit.

*Refresh with the "New Posts" button up top of the page; We are having a very similar discussion currently in another thread here.

 

[Brakelate]

Here:

http://www.ramforum.com/f44/oil_filter_joke_right-46509/

 

[mtofell]

I just turned 1000 miles on my new 2500 6.4 Hemi and am going to do it soon. I'm also going to do the rear diff. I remember reading about that once. There are a lot of metal shavings and other junk that gets in there during break-in. FWIW when I did my 06 Duramax rear diff at 25K is was a crappy milky white color and was FULL of shavings. Never had any other issues and changed it one other time after an additional 75K miles and it looked much more normal than the first time.

 

[Brakelate]

Wow. I thought I was pretty nuts about doing service stuff. I never even considered a "break in" rear diff change.

My 1500's pumkin covers have never been off, and it's on the original trans fluid (still looks, smells new). LSD is tight and no whine or anything at all at over 100k miles.

But, on my Samurai and other hammered-on vehicles, I too have seen fine graphite-like fine metallic goo on the diff drain plugs.

That Milk Shake was from water contamination, FYI . You launching boats on a shallow ramp or shoreline?

Hmmm, I've been stream crossing and river dunking in the P-Wagon. Now you have me thinking I should at least take a look at it and make sure no moisture got in there.

Arghhh. One more thing to do.

 

[Arctic-Rodz]

I doubt its like a motorcycle where you have to change the brake in oil @ 600miles.

vehicle engines are typically "broken in" at the factory when they test the motors after they are built.

I did switch out the OEM oil @ about 4k miles though and went full synthetic Mobile 1. Im closing in on 10k miles now and going with Amsoil with the Amsoil filter and will be going 10k miles between changes.

 

[parttimer]

My first was at 3k and oddly, my fuel economy went up after.

Sent from my LG-E970 using Tapatalk 2

 

[NYCruiser]

I changed mine at 4k miles. Indicator was at 48%.
Owner's manual says no break in is required and just follow the indicator, so do whatever you are comfortable with.

I plan to let this change run down to about 20% and then send a sample in for analysis. I'm using Penzoil conventional oil as recommended in the manual with a K&N filter.

I've always found that best fuel economy is right after oil change in all my vehicles. I had a jeep that I used to use the fuel economy as an oil change indicator. LOL

 

[Mojo]

I did my first oil change at 3000 miles. The factory fill looked like it was in great shape. I am still waiting for the used oil analysis from Blackstone labs. I used Red line oil with a royal purple filter. I also recommend buying a oil catch can. The amount of oil it catches is disturbing to say the least.

 

[Livinalittle]

I just turned 1000 miles on my new 2500 6.4 Hemi and am going to do it soon. I'm also going to do the rear diff. I remember reading about that once. There are a lot of metal shavings and other junk that gets in there during break-in. FWIW when I did my 06 Duramax rear diff at 25K is was a crappy milky white color and was FULL of shavings. Never had any other issues and changed it one other time after an additional 75K miles and it looked much more normal than the first time.

I was taught the same. Both diffs around 20000km or so (12000miles) I'm a little overdue on mine but it's winter. I'll hold off until the snow is melted.

This doesn't count as a hijack, does it? It's still oil lol

 

[Omicron]

Got it done today. Initially the (young woman) service writer came and found me with the question "... are you sure you want to do this already? The truck only has 1500 miles on it...?" but the older mechanic agreed and said that while Chrysler might not be recommending the "early" oil change, it's still a very good idea on a new engine, and 1500 miles was about the right time to do it.

Thanks to all who contributed to this thread.

 

[mtofell]

That Milk Shake was from water contamination, FYI . You launching boats on a shallow ramp or shoreline?

Totally makes sense.... I never thought of that. I bought the truck at about 1.5 yrs old and I bet the previous owner sunk the rear diff. I always did wonder about that. Maybe I won't be so worried about it then. Thanks!

 

[noclass]

Wow. I thought I was pretty nuts about doing service stuff. I never even considered a "break in" rear diff change.

My 1500's pumkin covers have never been off, and it's on the original trans fluid (still looks, smells new). LSD is tight and no whine or anything at all at over 100k miles.

But, on my Samurai and other hammered-on vehicles, I too have seen fine graphite-like fine metallic goo on the diff drain plugs.

That Milk Shake was from water contamination, FYI . You launching boats on a shallow ramp or shoreline?

Hmmm, I've been stream crossing and river dunking in the P-Wagon. Now you have me thinking I should at least take a look at it and make sure no moisture got in there.

Arghhh. One more thing to do.

when you do your power wagon diffs don't just suck it out. Pop the cover off and clean the magnets on the locker sensor. I've seen them not want to work because the fine metal deposits( normal ) collect on them and then the sensor can't read correctly you get flashing lights

 

[Bunion]

I did my first oil change today.

In Canada, we go by KM. 5,000km is 3,000 miles I think. My truck came with a service booklet. It was honestly really interesting what they recommend.

So, the book said 5,000km. I changed it right at 5,000km. I really wish I had done it sooner. The oil was black. I bet they use the cheapest oil. The filter was on there pretty tight as well but that's normal.

I'd say to change it. If you're going full syn then why not.

I used Mobil1 5w20 with a mopar oil filter. You will read so many things about oil on here that your head will explode. Use what you want.

 

[The Crow 1994]

I did my first oil change with 5989 miles on the odometer. I still had over 50% left on the OLM, but I wanted to change over to synthetic oil sooner than later.

 

[JJP71584]

I complained about mileage to Dodge when I got my Ram and they told me that mileage would go up after the first oil change so I got it sooner rather than later and mileage went up...I was told that the Hemi doesn't "break in" until about 5k which is consistent with the mpg boost i saw with mine...

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[Arctic-Rodz]

I did my first oil change at 3000 miles. The factory fill looked like it was in great shape. I am still waiting for the used oil analysis from Blackstone labs. I used Red line oil with a royal purple filter. I also recommend buying a oil catch can. The amount of oil it catches is disturbing to say the least.

speaking of oil analysis. ive been wanting to have mine checked as well. Ive only done 1 oil change on my truck and its closing in on 10k miles.

Im running mobile 1 as of 4k miles or so.

Where do you get the sample from? Straight from the drain plug? Catch Can?

how much oil sample do they need?

 

[hemihustlin]

speaking of oil analysis. ive been wanting to have mine checked as well. Ive only done 1 oil change on my truck and its closing in on 10k miles.

Im running mobile 1 as of 4k miles or so.

Where do you get the sample from? Straight from the drain plug? Catch Can?

how much oil sample do they need?

Its easiest/best to do it when doing an oil change. Ideally the vehicle should be driven to operating temprature before dropping the oil, and when you take your sample you dont want to take it right after opening the plug nor do you want to take when there is hardly any coming out either. This is to have a good representation of the oil that is in circulation.

For people with clean and well running engines like most of us here whether you take the sample from the first oz to the last drop it will most likely be all the same. Its when you have a contamination or other problem that you are tryin to track down that you should be more diligent about sampling.

Also the sample container is provided, and you fill out the little quiz that comes with it; what oil, what engine, how many miles, etc
Oh and its about 2 or 3 oz