Hi All,

I just had an oil changed performed on my 2011 Dodge Caravan Express at my local dodge dealer. After I drove it home (5+ miles), I checked my oil and it seemed slightly below the small "safe" area on the dip stick.

So... I checked my paperwork and noticed it said they put in 5 quarts of oil. I then looked at the manual and it said capacity is up to 6 quarts.

How much oil SHOULD go into this on an oil change? 5 or 6?

 

I assume you have the 3.6L engine, it takes 6 quarts of 5w-30 oil with a filter change.

 

Thanks!

And to be clear, any dealer should have known to put 6 quarts in, correct? What concerns me is not just that they measured low via the dipstick, but it even says 5 quarts on the receipt! Shouldn't their system have told them 6 or something when they punched in the VIN?

 

I would go to the dealer and print this information and take it with you, Tell the dealer you were shorted a qt of oil and they need to top it off. At no charge. Yes the techs and parts department should have a list either on the wall or tool boxs to know what oil goes into what cars or trucks and how much.
SPECIFICATIONS


ENGINE
Description Type Part Number Capacities
U.S. Metric
Cooling System
♦ Engine Coolant (3.6L Engine) MOPAR® Antifreeze/Coolant 5 Year/100,000 Mile Formula HOAT (Hybrid Organic Additive Technology) 1 Gallon - 05066386AA 13.4 Quarts 12.6 Liters
♦ Engine Coolant (2.8L Engine) MOPAR® Antifreeze/Coolant 5 Year/100,000 Mile Formula HOAT (Hybrid Organic Additive Technology) 1 Gallon - 05066386AA 17.3 Quarts 16.6 Liters
Engine Oil with Filter
♦♦ Engine Oil (3.6L Engine) MOPAR® API Certified SAE 5W-30 engine oil, meeting the requirements of Chrysler Group LLC Material Standard MS-6395. 1 Quart - 04761838AB 6 Quarts 5.6 Liters
4 Quarts - 04761844AB
♦♦♦ Engine Oil (2.8L Diesel Engine) SAE 0W-40 Diesel Engine Oils confirming to API (American Petroleum Institute) Quality CI-4 or CJ-4. For countries that use the ACEA European Oil Categories for Service Fill Oils, use engine oils meeting the requirements of ACEA C3 and approved to MB 229.31 or MB 229.51. 1 Quart - 05127394AA 7 Quarts 6.6 Liters
Engine Oil Filter (3.6L Engine) MOPAR® Engine Oil Filter Kit 68079744AA N/A N/A
Engine Oil Filter (2.8L Diesel engine) MOPAR® Engine Oil Filter 5003558AA N/A N/A
Fuel (approximate)
Fuel Selection (3.6L Engine) 87 Octane or higher Unleaded N/A 20 Gallons 76 Liters
Fuel Selection (2.8L Diesel Engines) Use only the best quality fuel with a calculated Cetane Index of 50 or higher. In addition, the manufacturer recommends using diesel fuel with a sulfur content of less than or equal to 15 ppm. N/A 20 Gallons 76 Liters
A/C Refrigerant System
Front A/C Only R-134a 82300101AB 1.81 Pounds 0.82 Kilograms
Front and Rear A/C R-134a 82300101AB 2.53 Pounds 1.15 Kilograms

♦ System fill capacity includes heater and coolant recovery bottle filled to MAX level.
♦♦ For countries that use the ACEA European Oil Categories for Service Fill Oils, use the recommended engine oil that meets the requirements of ACEA C3, and approved to MB 229.31 or MB 229.51 only. Refer to your engine oil filler cap for correct SAE grade.
♦♦♦ If equipped with a particulate filter, use SAE 5W-30 Diesel Engine Oils confirming to API (American Petroleum Institute) Quality CI-4 or CJ-4. For countries that use the ACEA European Oil Categories for Service Fill Oils, use engine oils meeting the requirements of ACEA C3 (LOW ASH) and approved to MB 229.31 or MB 229.51.
CAUTION: Nominal refill capacities are shown. A variation may be observed from vehicle to vehicle due to manufacturing tolerance and refill procedure.




SPARK PLUGS
Description Type Part Number Gap
U.S. Metric
Spark Plugs (3.6L Engine) Champion® SP149125AD (RER8ZWYCB4) 0.040 in 01.0 mm


TRANSMISSION
Description Type Part Number Capacities
U.S. Metric
Automatic
62TE Service Fill MOPAR® ATF+4 Automatic Transmission Fluid 1 Quart - 05013457AA 5.5 Quarts 5.2 Liters
1 Gallon - 05013458AA
♦ 62TE Overhaul Fill MOPAR® ATF+4 Automatic Transmission Fluid 1 Quart - 05013457AA 9.0 Quarts 8.5 Liters
1 Gallon - 05013458AA

♦ Dry fill capacity. Depending on type and size of internal cooler, length and inside diameter of cooler lines, or use of an auxiliary cooler, these figures may vary. Refer to the appropriate service information for the correct procedures.
CAUTION: Nominal refill capacities are shown. A variation may be observed from vehicle to vehicle due to manufacturing tolerance and refill procedure.




CHASSIS
Description Type Part Number Capacities
U.S. Metric
Chassis Systems
♦ Brake Master Cylinder MOPAR® Brake Fluid DOT 3, SAE J1703. 12 oz. Bottle - 04318080AB N/A N/A
32 oz. Bottle - 04318081AB
♦♦ Power Steering Reservoir MOPAR® HYDRAULIC System Power Steering Fluid 32 oz. Bottle - 04318081AB 2.5 Pints 1.2 Liters

♦ If MOPAR® Brake Fluid DOT 3 is not available, then MOPAR® Brake and Clutch Fluid DOT 4 (04549625AC), is acceptable.
♦♦ If MOPAR® Power Steering Fluid +4 is not available, then MOPAR® ATF +4 Automatic Transmission Fluid (05166226AA), is acceptable.
CAUTION: Nominal refill capacities are shown. A variation may be observed from vehicle to vehicle due to manufacturing tolerance and refill procedure.

 

Thanks. I did speak with them yesterday and have the situation rectified. However, they're not open until Monday so I'll have to go then.

That being said, is it dangerous to drive the car on 5 quarts of oil instead of six? On the dipstick, it's slight below the marked area labeled "safe." Do I risk damage to my new car at this level or is this acceptable until I can make it back in?

Thanks, newbie here.

 

if you that afraid to do it dont drive but if you have too just add a bit of oil to it same grade of course.

 

Not afraid, really. Just unsure. I know very, very little about cars. I know some cars naturally burn oil anyways, I just wasn't sure if 1 quart is within that normal tolerance or not.

 

my 5 cents here. Did you check it on hot engine or cold? If you checked after you drove 5 miles, the oil dipstick could probably show lesser amount than it really is in it. When it cools than the oil will drip down completely and then you can check it with more accuracy. (But in any case if it says 6 quarts - they should've added 6).

 

I checked it on both and it showed slighty below the "safe" area both times (hot and cold). I actually just added another quart and it shows above the safe area, nearly to the little "bump" in the dipstick.

Am I now over? Do I need to drain some oil? How do I do this?

Ugg! Thanks for the help!

 

Hi,

My wife bought a used 2011 GC from a local Chrysler dealership. I checked the oil level and it was really high, like a couple inches above the high mark. The oil looked okay as far as condition, it didn't appear contaminated or anything obviously wrong. The dealership looked at it again and told her it was fine, that the level would go down on its own. Anyways I assumed that they were morons and I changed the oil and filter myself and set the oil level to just meet the low end of the safe level. I notice that there is a fair bit of difference between checking oil level when the engine is warm and when cold, when cold it will show perhaps 1/8" above the top of the safe mark. This is my first experience with the 3.6 so I'm not sure if that much difference between warm and cold levels is normal. She's done about 2000 kms since I changed the oil and the level hasn't changed and the oil looks good.

Don Cooper