FWIW - I read the CR article about the oil changes and after that changed my thinking about when to change the oil. My mother purchased a new V6 VW Passat in 2002 and I have performed all the oil changes on it since it was new. I change the oil every 10,000 miles with synthetic and the filter every 5,000. Today the car is my daughters and it has 118,000 miles on it and it. It runs great, uses no oil, and has had never had any engine issues. I know its not a Dodge Hemi engine, but I did the same with my 02 Durango 5.9 (75,000 miles), and my truck so far. It seems to work for me and it makes keeping track of oil and oil filter changes super easy - and saves me some money as a bonus.

 

Here you go.Lots of OCD fellas on this site.Oil analysis is really the only way to know.www.bobistheoilguy.com 3000 mile oil changes is way old school and just a waste of oil.

 

Hmmm - Oil Analysis $25. Oil Change $20ish

Think I'll just change the oil.

Isn't Bob the oil guy an Amsoil rep?

 

Just :My Opinion on oil...

I bought my 2001 Dakota Quad Cab from a friend who bought it new.He parked it with 124.k miles,because it was losing oil pressure. He took it to ***'s Quick Lube here in Georgetown S.C.every 3000. miles for an oil change. But when I took the valve covers off to find out what the problem was,it looked like someone ran hot candles through it. 1-1/2" inches of wax in some places.
My point is ,It don't matter how often you change you're oil "Within Reason"3.k-6.k" miles..When it comes to oil you get what you pay for.>If you use cheep oil,It will eventually bite you in the a$$.
Speaking of oil : I wonder how many oil changes America could have gotten with just the oil B.P. Dumped in the Gulf so far ?

 

As far as I know Bob the Oil Guy is not a Amsoil anything.They are a number of Amsoil dealers posting about all kind of things.A oil analysis is to chart a pattern on a engine.Its also used to know how far certain brands of oil can be run in a certain engine.Amsoil is the top tire of EXTENDED drain oils.The over the counter oils being sold only Mobil HIGH MILEAGE is a extended drain oil.Mobil 1 is NOT a extended drain.Lots of folks push one year or 15,000 miles between oil chages.I have done that but at 20k oil change intervals in years past on several different cars that I drove over 200k. There is knowledge to be had on Bobs site.It has a very large following.

 

I did the first oil change around 1200 miles or so.. I plan to change every 3k on regular oil. I go 5k when using synthetic. Also switched to Mopar filters since I here Fram isn't the best choice.

In regards to the long intervals from VW. I remember Audi & VW running into sludge issues on the 1.8L Turbo engines due to extended intervals.

Many BMW owners will pay out of pocket to change there oil at 5k or 7k then take the car back at 15k for the dealer to change the oil again under the maint agreement.

Many concentrate on the oil OR purchase extended life oil often forgetting the weak link - the oil filter.

 

You can run any quality dino oil 5k with no issues.The over the counter synthetics 7500 easily.The Hemi I have read is easy on oil.

 

The key to all of this is what will comply with your warranty? My 09 book says Oil change every 6,000 miles or 6 months. So I make sure I don't exceed either condition. There are times I change the oil because I hit 6 months in time. In general, I change the oil at 3,000 miles or 6 months. The 6 months usually comes up first. Lots of short trips.

 

Just go to my dealership. Your interval will be only 86 miles. Then the oil drain plug automatically falls out, forcing you to find another plug and add in another 7 qts of fresh oil. No waiting for a stupid computer to tell you when you need a change....

 

Did you go back and personally thank the person that worked on your truck.