my oil change alert came on the other day, so i checked my oil and it was at the full line....plus i just got my truck from the dealer 1400 miles ago....it is used but you would think they would change it....do i just need to reset it and go about my business until about 5000miles or what? also its a 2008 dodge ram hemi

 

Me personally i would change it and reset it. That way you know for sure that it's been done and when. No sense in doing any kind of damage over a $40.00 oil change.

 

I assume they detect the degradation of the oil itself and not mileage on the oil but IDK. Either way, as said above, change it and reset the trip.

 

Methinks it's mileage only. Them thar ECMs is pretty bright, but chemical analysis of the oil? I think not. There's a reset procedure somewhere.

Having said that, I'd have already changed the oil unless I KNEW it had been done properly and recently.

 

Follow Weed's link to the owner's manual and read it.

The warning is NOT based on mileage and does not detect degradation. Nor does it have anything to do with oil level. It uses a formula based on mileage, temperature, stop-start cycles, cumulative load, etc to calculate when it thinks it's time for an oil change.

Akinder09, you should know when your last oil change was. If it's time for a change, change it. If not just read the owner's manual and reset the warning and move on. (I'd tell you how but I forgot. )