I normally go 7,000, but i do wanna see results, so i think ill go 8k and send it in

 

Honestly it's a wash between doing it every 3 mo/3k with dino compared to 6 mo/6k with synthetic, cost wise. I've got 5 vehicles, 2 with high mileage. The dak is the only one running synthetic. I wont try synthetic in the high mileage ones (mustang, camaro) because I don't need them leaking more oil than they already do (rear main seals leaking on both). I'm not saving any money by using synthetic in the dak. It just lessens my work load.

 

Analysis isn't a bad idea. I just changed oil last week, so gonna be a while.

Full synthetic with a 10k mile interval is what my car calls for in the manual - so I just rolled with that for the Dakota also. If that little 4 banger can handle it, so can the 4.7

 

I use mobile 1 and change it every 6000 miles or 6 months once my wife patriot hits 3000 miles I'm gonna start doing the same.

 

Word I've heard, is it isn't the oil that is the problem, full synthetic really doesn't break down to any extent. The problem is the filter - they just can't hold the amount of crap that long mileage might bring in. Around here, country dealerships won't put synthetic in, since dirt roads mean more dust, leading to filter failure. Filters need to be changed every 3 months, no matter what. And with conventional filter placement (not remote) filter change without oil change doesn't make sense.

For most of us running asphalt queens (me included) with only occasional trips down a cottage road, much longer mileage can be attained.

 

Great info, where can we verify that?

 

Well I guess I've always known about Champion Labs cause my old man was a mechanic and used a lot of their stuff, but you can go to their website to see a list of companies they OEM for:

http://www.champlabs.com/

As far as who makes the Mopar Filter for dealers and who makes the ones on the Wally World shelf, I know Champion Labs website lists them as the OEM but I've heard from a couple Chrysler techs that the store bought ones are different and are made by Fram, I just can't find concrete proof of it...

 

There it is "We proudly manufacture and distribute the following brands of filters:" that's good to know when considering which brand to purchase.

 

It's amazing HOW FEW companies actually manufacture the products they sell. For example with this massive influx of Chinese winches that are flooding the market. I think I counted about two or three years ago that there were about forty different brands out there and I read an article in a popular off-road magazine that there were only two plants in China that made them.

Shocks are another example - I constantly see threads (especially on Jeep sites) where guys are contemplating whether to buy ProComp, Skyjacker or Rough Country shocks when the truth of the matter is ALL THREE and many more on the market are generic, white, twin tube shocks made by Tenneco (parent company of Rancho & Monroe) that just has a different sticker on them...

 

Great info on the filters hammer. I was just looking around this and a few other forums researching synthetic oil change intervals. Seems that those who have done analysis over the long haul have been good until 20,000 miles or so. Hell, I may be wasting resources changing mine at 10.