how often for oil change?
Rookie
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 89
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RE: how often for oil change?
I get regular oil changes at 25,000 miles. I use a dual filtration system and SSO/0W30 Amsoil fulll synthetic. There are a total of 3 oil changes so far on the 5.7 and the odometer stands now at 64,500 miles on the 05 Hemi. I have to wait another 18,000 to change it again. Real world use and facts are what I need, not hype. Amsoil has been in all our vehicles for years, with no problems.
Professional
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 185
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RE: how often for oil change?
This is a cut and paste from a previous post of mine, so it may bore someone who read it before 
I remember reading the Consumer Reports article years ago where they tested different brands of oil on NYC taxis, and different intervals of oil changes. Here are some interesting facts from it.
"To determine whether frequent oil changes really help, we changed the oil in three cabs every 3,000 miles, using Pennzoil 10W-30. After 60,000 miles, we compared those engines with the engines from our base tests of the same oil, changed every 6,000 miles. We saw no meaningful differences.
The bottom line. Modern motor oils needn't be changed as often as oils did years ago. More frequent oil changes won't hurt your car, but you could be spending money unnecessarily and adding to the nation's energy and oil-disposal problems.
Even in the severe driving conditions that a New York City taxi endures, we noted no benefit from changing the oil every 3,000 miles rather than every 6,000. If your driving falls into the "normal" service category, changing the oil every 7,500 miles (or at the automaker's suggested intervals) should certainly provide adequate protection. (We recommend changing the oil filter with each oil change.)
We don't recommend leaving any oil, synthetic or regular, in an engine for 12,000 miles, because accumulating contaminants - solids, acids, fuel, and water - could eventually harm the engine. What's more, stretching the oil-change interval may void the warranty on most new cars."
As for me... the book for the 2008 Ram with the HEMI says to change the oil every 6,000 miles or every 6 months, whichever comes first. With the Lifetime Powertrain Warranty I have, there is no way I'm gonna go over that. I figure my old 5,000 oil change interval will work for me just fine again.
HEMI owners note; make sure you use the right oil (5W-20 for the ones with MDS). Don't let anyone at an oil-change place tell you that another weight is ok, insist on theproper weightand watch them pour it in! Some places have been known to use a cheaper weightbulk-oil and charge for something else (this is the reason BMW provides free oil changes).
Note: Since I wrote that, I did my first oil change in the Ram. The guys at the Goodyear service center did everything they could to talk me into using a different weight oil since they were going to have to send out for the 5W-20. I almost walked out when, after pointing out that my lifetime powertrain warranty would be void if I used the wrong oil, I was told by one guy "How are they gonna know what you put in it?"
I remember reading the Consumer Reports article years ago where they tested different brands of oil on NYC taxis, and different intervals of oil changes. Here are some interesting facts from it.
"To determine whether frequent oil changes really help, we changed the oil in three cabs every 3,000 miles, using Pennzoil 10W-30. After 60,000 miles, we compared those engines with the engines from our base tests of the same oil, changed every 6,000 miles. We saw no meaningful differences.
The bottom line. Modern motor oils needn't be changed as often as oils did years ago. More frequent oil changes won't hurt your car, but you could be spending money unnecessarily and adding to the nation's energy and oil-disposal problems.
Even in the severe driving conditions that a New York City taxi endures, we noted no benefit from changing the oil every 3,000 miles rather than every 6,000. If your driving falls into the "normal" service category, changing the oil every 7,500 miles (or at the automaker's suggested intervals) should certainly provide adequate protection. (We recommend changing the oil filter with each oil change.)
We don't recommend leaving any oil, synthetic or regular, in an engine for 12,000 miles, because accumulating contaminants - solids, acids, fuel, and water - could eventually harm the engine. What's more, stretching the oil-change interval may void the warranty on most new cars."
As for me... the book for the 2008 Ram with the HEMI says to change the oil every 6,000 miles or every 6 months, whichever comes first. With the Lifetime Powertrain Warranty I have, there is no way I'm gonna go over that. I figure my old 5,000 oil change interval will work for me just fine again.
HEMI owners note; make sure you use the right oil (5W-20 for the ones with MDS). Don't let anyone at an oil-change place tell you that another weight is ok, insist on theproper weightand watch them pour it in! Some places have been known to use a cheaper weightbulk-oil and charge for something else (this is the reason BMW provides free oil changes).
Note: Since I wrote that, I did my first oil change in the Ram. The guys at the Goodyear service center did everything they could to talk me into using a different weight oil since they were going to have to send out for the 5W-20. I almost walked out when, after pointing out that my lifetime powertrain warranty would be void if I used the wrong oil, I was told by one guy "How are they gonna know what you put in it?"
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 387
Likes: 5
From: Bel Air, MD
RE: how often for oil change?
I have used nothing but Mobil 1 since 1990 and I change oil every 7,500-10,000 miles. I've dropped oil pans at 100K+ miles that looked as clean as they did brand-new. Changing oil at 3K or 5K is a waste of time and money.