I've had my 2013 Citadel for just over 10,000 kilometers (bought it used with 16,000 kms) and I haven't seen the oil change indicator yet. I was going to get it changed anyway. Do I need to update anything in the EVIC once I change the oil? I don't want the indicator coming on in a few more weeks after I've changed the oil.

 

My first oil change indication didn't start coming up until 9500 miles (~15,300km)... I think the manual says not to go more than 10k miles before an oil change...

You can reset the oil change indicator by turning the key on (but not starting) and pressing and releasing the gas pedal 3 times (within 10 or 15 seconds or something like that)...

 

harv1234,

Oil consumption can vary depending on your driving style. As your Owners Manual advises and @jsawhite has indicated, your oil change interval should never exceed 16,000km or 12 months. The indicator light will illuminate when the system determines an oil change is required.

For reference, I have attached the instructions found in your Owners Manual that outlines the steps required to reset the oil change indicator light.

 

You could just check the oil life %'age in the EVIC if there is one. I believe there should be one in the 2013. Heck, my 2007 base model pontiac G6 has an oil life %'age indicator in it's EVIC. That should tell you where you're at as far as this oil.

Typically, the oil change indicator starts to come on at 20% of oil life left. I usually change the oil in my vehicles when it's around 50%. Once it gets there, I've found that the % life starts to drop quickly so I realistically only have about a thousand or 1500 after it hits 50% before it's down in the 20-30% range anyway. So, when it gets to 50% or so, I start looking at the forecast and find a nice day to plan on doing it myself.

Full synthetics will last longer, FWIW, but I still don't drive a car over about 5500-6000 miles before I change it. For the Durango, that'll be about 2x a year and for my other car, it's usually quarterly.

 

There isn't an oil life indicator, it's all hidden from the driver.

I ended up waiting almost 9000 miles before I finally got too anxious about it and took it in for an oil change. I also had a couple of BSR fixes that needed to be done under warranty and it was getting annoying having to deal with them.

 

Wow, that's surprising, but I just pulled up the 2013 owner's manual and confirmed that you're right. My wife's old car (2006 Chevy Colbalt) even had an oil life indicator. Seems kind of ridiculous that Chrysler wouldn't have one on a 2013 Durango especially since it's got an oil change indicator to begin with.

 

Thanks all. I know I can reset the indicator with the brake pedal sequence once the light is on. What I want to know is what happens when I change the oil before the indicator comes on. Will the sequence still reset the counter?


BTW - Those old engine oil life by % indicators were nowhere near accurate.

 

wow I'm old fashion i believe in the 3000 mile oil change ..a fresh oil change is like giving the engine a bath..don't knock me it's just habit I have..I would totally agree with mcfar159..my opinion is 5000 max on an oil change ..

 

My oil will still look brand-new at 3000 or 5000 miles, heck it looks new at 8000 miles. If I changed mine every 3000 miles I would be changing it every 3-4 weeks. Today's engines and lubricants are just night and day different/improved over even 10 years ago.

 

I hit 6500 miles and said to hell with it and changed it.