The oil change message never came on til after the oil was changed!
If these oil quality sensors actually exist, the dealer never changed the oil!

 

It's not sensing the oil quality. There is an algorithm based on driving (Miles, hours, RPMs, Injector pulses) and when you reach the set threshold, the message comes up. It only knows to reset the algorithm, when you perform the reset procedure. If you change early and don't perform the procedure, the truck will still think you have the original oil.

If you aren't operating under the 3/36k free maintenance or free oil changes then you might as well wait for the message or the 6/8000 interval (whichever is first). But you have to remember to reset the oil life 'monitor' even if the message isn't already displaying.

 

Then what the service writers told me is bull****!
You CAN reset the counter at any time?
How do you know it reset?

 

I changed my oil early at 1200 miles it's at 1300 miles now. Because of this discusion I decided to do the reset procedure. Well there was no feedback at all if anything was reset so I don't know if it worked.
Also, the manual states that "under no circumstances should the oil change interval exceed 8000 miles or 6 months whichever comes first" so my indicator should have been on when I bought it as it was over 6 months since it left the factory! 6 month seems a little short to me.

 

I'm so confused. My original numbers were a little off but the concept is the same. The indicator never came on before I had my oil changed at 5943 miles. I had the oil changed before going on a 1400 round trip vacation. At just shy of 8000 miles the message illuminated that I need an oil change. I was told that they reset the message and that the adjusted the sensor so it didn't take me to 6-8k miles before stating I needed an oil change since dodge recommends oil changes every 3k miles.
Going back to my original question, I'm hearing much debate but no definitive answer, can the sensor be adjusted or not? or can the sensor not be reset without the message being illuminated? or is the dealer just stupid.

 

I highly doubt if the sensor can be adjusted. Changing your oil at 3K is a waste and any shop telling you to come every 3K is a rip off. The interval applies to older less efficient engines. Vehicles made in the last 10-15 years can go longer. Newer engines even longer. I had a 2002 Hyundai Elantra that I traded in for the Durango and I changed the oil every 6000 miles and never had an engine issue or knocking noise. I used synthetic, sure, but it was an 02. BMW's are recommended every 15,000 miles, even models as old as 1996. Castrol even has a synthetic oil that they guarantee for 15,000 miles. So don't buy into that 3k crap. You'd be better off just paypalling that extra money to me for telling you the truth instead of giving it to some blood sucking shop for something you don't need!

 

Read up: http://articles.nydailynews.com/2012...il-car-service

https://www.google.com/webhp?sourcei...w=1280&bih=679

 

The only real answer we have so far is:
Oil should be changed when the message says so, or 8000 miles or 6 months whichever occurs first!

 

Two additional points:

1) The vehicle can't tell time so the 6 month limit is up to you.

2) If you do not drive the D hard, the message will appear at 7500 miles, allowing you a 500 mile buffer to get the oil changed.

 

Thanks! So I'm taking it that this sensor CANNOT be adjusted.