First oil change

[DamnRam1500]

Hey guys and gals, I'm due for my first oil change on my 2016 Hemi 5.7L. The dealership is trying to tell me it has synthetic oil from the manufacturer and I should spend $89.99 ont heir oil change. If it is synthetic should I run it for 6000 miles vs 3000?

Is this true and is there a synthetic oil only requirement or can I use conventional oil? I could not find a specification in the owners manual for synthetic vs conventional just 5w20.

I know the benefits of synthetic and I used to run Mobil 1 5w30 only in my 4.7L Grand Cherokee and did my own oil changes.

Unfortunately now I am on a budget but don't have the time or weather to change my oil this week or the $89.99 to do it.

Can I use conventional oil for now and switch to full synthetic later?

Should I buy my own Mobil 1 5w20 and bring it to the dealership and have them use it?

 

[blrmkrl83]

You can use conventional oil as long as it has the MS-6395 certification. I wouldn't change oil at 3,000 miles either. For the 1st change I would agree with that but after I would go with at least 5,000 unless you're in the "severe duty" use or reaching the time limit. You could go a little longer with synthetic, but don't go past the mileage and time limits. Your truck should have an oil life monitor that will let you know when it's time for an oil change .

 

[Hootbro]

If you can swing a new truck payment , you can swing the dealership oil change pricing.

IMHO, only reason to have the dealership do the servicing is that you are trying to build a relationship with them. Bringing in your own oil is a "cheap Charlie" way of going about that if they even allow it to begin with.

If absolute bottom dollar is what you are going for, go to a independent shop for the oil change if doing it at home is not an option.

 

[DamnRam1500]

Thank you, I did not know it had an oil life indicator. I'll look through the menues again.


I've never gone over 3000k miles 3 months on conventional oil before. Is it really ok for 5k 5 months?

If I can get my garage cleaned up I might just do my own synthetic change.

 

[Hootbro]

Conventional oils adhering to current API specs can easily do 5K miles with no problem so long as manufacturer recommended weights, spec and change interval is adhered to.

 

[SyN]

DamnRam: As others have said above.
You can use either Conventional or Synthetic oil within your New 5.7L.
You can switch back & forth as many times as you want.
The Only true advantages synthetic has over conventional shows to be cold weather pumpability & extended drain intervals. Today's top tier conventional oils Are quite remarkable.

Today's top tier conventional oils can easily reach 5K-7K miles. No reason to drain good oil @ the 3K mile mark. Especially if you are on a budget. Follow your OLM. (Believe it or not your oil life monitoring system is pretty intelligent). It factors in a few algorithms as well as mileage.

Today's top so called synthetics can easily reach 10k miles & still show plenty of TBN left.
Though a lot depends on your driving style & habits---->This plays a MAJOR part into your OCI.

Use which ever type of oil You can afford & follow your OLM. Doing this you have No chance of voiding your warranty nor causing any type of engine failure due to oil.

My advice would be run PYB or Quaker State if you are going too run Conventional. You can normally find either on Sale within many auto parts stores @ any given time. Beleive it or not there are millions of autos on the road today with well over 100K-300K miles on them--->while runnng these 2 oils. I know many owners do not want to hear that!

Sounds like since you're on a budget and you don't want to do it yourself out in the weather you're kind of stuck paying the $89. Unless they will use the oil that you take them?
I honestly don't think I have ever even come close to paying that much for an oil change.

Good Luck in your Quest!

 

[R.L.K.]

All the above info is true and I agree .
I'd change it yourself if possible , 3k is a good time to get out the breaking in ( initial fill ) regardless of type imo .

The manufacturer should have put in Penzoil 5w-20 the conventional yellow bottle .

If you can find it PZ platinum is a good oil to use and it meets factory specs as well .

Hope this helps

 

[blrmkrl83]

From the 2016 owners manual:
MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE
Your vehicle is equipped with an automatic oil change
indicator system. The oil change indicator system will
remind you that it is time to take your vehicle in for
scheduled maintenance.
Based on engine operation conditions, the oil change
indicator message will illuminate. This means that service
is required for your vehicle. Operating conditions
such as frequent short-trips, trailer tow, extremely hot or
cold ambient temperatures, and E85 fuel usage will
influence when the “Oil Change Required” message is
displayed. Severe Operating Conditions can cause the
change oil message to illuminate as early as 3,500 miles
(5,600 km) since last reset. Have your vehicle serviced as
soon as possible, within the next 500 miles (805 km).
Your authorized dealer will reset the oil change indicator
message after completing the scheduled oil change. If a
scheduled oil change is performed by someone other
than your authorized dealer, the message can be reset by
referring to the steps described under “Electronic Vehicle
Information Center (EVIC)” or “Driver Information Display
(DID)” in “Understanding Your Instrument Panel”
for further information.
1500 Models Only
NOTE: Under no circumstances should oil change intervals
exceed 10,000 miles (16,000 km), twelve months or
350 hours of engine run time, whichever comes first. The
350 hours of engine run or idle time is generally only a
concern for fleet customers.

I use synthetic because I plan on getting 200,000 miles out of mine. It really isn't a necessity though. I had an 01 Suburban I bought with 130,000 miles on it. I had the oil changed every 5,000 miles at Walmart. Had 242,000 on it when I traded. Engine still ran like new. I drive a lot of highway miles though. Even cheap oils are good, they're just not as good as high dollar stuff.
Don't forget to reset the indicator if you change your own oil. Probably not a bad idea to do it if you have someone change it either, just in case they don't.

 

[dzltek]

The dealership I got my truck from gave me the first 4 oil changes for free. Basically the first two years maintenance. I have 4300 miles on mine and oil life indicator is still in the 50-55 percent range even after all the towing I do with it. But my front tires are starting to show signs of needing rotated. Soooo, I may do my oil change early since I'm needing the tires rotated.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ExpressRules]

I have used Pennzoil conventional in mine and change every 6000 miles. The garage I use charges just under $30 for oil and filter plus checking all other fluids, tires, etc. In my opinion using a synthetic may be helpful if you are always driving extreme conditions of heat and cold or like to disrespect your vehicle by flogging the crap out of it constantly. I'm sure there are quite a few fellow members that will take exception to my statement, but I stand by it based on my personal experience of driving (legally) for over 40 years in many cars using conventional oil in all.

For those of you thinking I trade every few years, no, I ran my 1988 5.0 Mustang 5 speed until 2009 with 0ver 220K on the clock and the only reason it was retired was because someone ran into the back of it while parked in front of my home. Trust me, I didn't hesitate to get into it from time to time, but I also took care of it.

Off the top of my head I can think of 12 vehicles I have had over that time and all have run over 100k with all running when I departed from them.

Find yourself a good local garage and develop a relationship with them I've been going to the same one for over 30 years.

 

[DamnRam1500]

Wow, thank you all so much! This is such a wealth of great information.

I had no idea the oil life monitoring system was so advanced. I guess I should read the owners manual a little more thoroughly.

I can't stand how dealers ulcharge everything. It is a lease so i was going to have the dealer service it when I can't do it myself.

All my previous vehicles (jeeps) I serviced myself.

I will check the Oil Life and see what it says.

I may change the oil now jus because of "break in" time and then run a good quality conventional oil like the ones listed above. I will also monitor the oil life in the future and base oil changes off that vs the old 3/3 rule.


Thank you all so much! I really appreciate your time and input!

 

[SyN]

If this is a lease truck instead of something that you will keep for years beyond after pay off?

I wouldn't even think of running synthetic oil. I would not overthink anything just put whatever's cheapest in it and drive it until your lease is up. (Just Me)! I definitely wouldn't even think of spending $89 for an oil change if it wasn't actually my RAM. Unless you had plans on buying it after your lease is up. If that is even an option.

If this was a Ram that you had future plans of keeping for many years past payoff --->I would definitely put a lot of thought into your maintenance routine. Otherwise use what is on sale @ follow your OLM.

But with that said I have no idea what your lease contract states as to routine maintenance for the RAM. I would follow it and then give it back to them.

 

[Burla]

Just go to oilstop man, or find a local coupon.

 

[DamnRam1500]

It is a lease but I plan on taking care of it. I might buy it at the end depending on how much I like or hate the new ram when it comes out and depending on what mods I do to this one such as Bilstein leveling kit etc.

 

[Burla]

If you leased a vehicle, I suggest you go back and read the lease before modding. 4 gens have been out a while, I wouldn't tie myself to that truck when 5th gens are likely on the horizon. Keep your stock items, you may be putting them back. Is this your first lease? Interest rates are going up as well, the last thing you will want is a high rate on a used truck, unless you can save the payoff in cash.

 

[DamnRam1500]

This is my first lease but my family as well as my inlaws have always leased vehicles until recently when both my parents and my wife's parents all bought out their leases.

I fully plan on keeping all original parts to put the truck back to stock if I don't keep it. I'm not going crazy with mods either, everything is DIY bolt on type stuff. Obviously buying out the lease needs to be a logical decision vs leasing or buying a new one in 34 months.

It will all depend on what's logical financially at that time as well as if I even like the 5th gen Ram.

 

[Burla]

Damn I just looked it up, it is Zero % for 72 months on a new Ram right now, Bankrate is like 7.5% for a used truck. If those are the same facts when your lease is up, it would likely be cheaper to upgrade then finish paying for that truck. Any idea on what the pay off will be and the MSRP?

Sounds like your a smart guy, you will figure it out.

 

[DamnRam1500]

Thank you,

If that is the case at the time then it would make more sense to upgrade when the lease is up. My pay off is about $22k. It's only an Express model.

 

[02Steve15]

I have the first 12 oil changes and tire rotations factored into my monthly payments. Once I run through those, I plan on going to full synthetic. I do my oil changes at twice a year, about every 3500-4000 miles so I can run through my oil changes on my plan before my plan expires (6 years).

 

[kevperro]

Oil is easier now than ever to get right. Use any MS-6395 certified product and follow the Oil Life Monitor.

It is reported that Pennzoil conventional is the factory fill but I wouldn't worry about it. Oil is much more complicated than what is used as the base stock. Suffice to say that anything that meets the spec will operate with virtually identical performance as long as you maintain filters and change according to the OLM.